Baseball running on all cylinders in 5-2, 12-3 league sweep of Wilmington
By: Jay Garneau
ADA – Utilizing timely hitting and efficient pitching, the Ohio Northern baseball team swept Wilmington in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader by scores of 5-2 and 12-3 at Wander Field on Tuesday afternoon.
With its first doubleheader sweep since its spring trip in early March, ONU improves to 10-18 (4-7 OAC), while Wilmington falls to 6-19 (3-9 OAC).
Junior Devin Kisor finished the day 5-for-7 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored, while freshman Matt Magni went 8.0 innings in the nightcap, allowing one run and no walks, fanning six batters to lead ONU.
Senior Eric Yunker also went 4-for-7 with three RBIs and four runs scored. Senior Matt Hampshire went 5-for-6 with a double, walk, HBP and two RBIs, and freshman Dan Belliveau added a 3-for-7 day with a pair of triples.
ONU scored the first run of the day when Yunker singled, stole second and scored on a Hampshire single in the bottom of the first inning.
The Quakers took a 2-1 lead in the fourth, but the Polar Bears tied the game on a Belliveau RBI triple in the fifth.
After a Hampshire leadoff double in the sixth, senior Mark Hayes was hit by a pitch and Kisor hit a go-ahead RBI single. Then sophomore Brian Thomas walked and sophomore Tyler Deitering hit a two-run single to push ONU ahead 5-2.
Senior Ryan Damman received a no decision, allowing two runs on four hits in 4.0 innings.
Junior Bryce Sedio (3-3) earned the win with 2.0 scoreless innings in relief, while senior Justin Good earned his first save of the season with a scoreless seventh frame.
"The difference today was that our pitchers threw strikes," head coach Gene Stechschulte said. "It started with Damman throwing well and continued the whole day."
ONU walked just five batters over the 16 innings of the doubleheader, much less than the season average.
Hunter Justus (2-4) received the loss for Wilmington, allowing five earned runs in 5.2 innings. Offensively, the Quakers were led by Austin Newman, Andrew Snell and Brett McEvoy, as each tallied a pair of hits and a double.
The bats stayed hot for the Polar Bears in the nightcap, as ONU scored two or more runs in five of the first six innings.
Back-to-back singles from Deitering and Belliveau to start the game set the tone, and Hampshire and senior Josh Murphy each added RBI singles to give Northern a 2-0 lead.
Wilmington scored a run in the third, but Magni was able to strand runners on second and third to end the rally.
ONU broke it open in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs on three hits, capped off by a two-run double from Thomas, pushing the lead to 6-1.
Two more runs in each of the next three innings gave ONU a 12-1 lead and put the game out of reach for Wilmington.
Magni's strong outing earned him the win, as he improves to 2-1 on the season, while Jake Vinkovich took the loss to fall to 1-3.
Northern finished the game with 16 hits, as Thomas (3-for-4, three RBIs), Yunker and Kisor each had a trio of hits.
"Our hitters were patient," Stechschulte said. "They forced good hitters' counts, which led to good hitters' pitches, and our guys took advantage."
ONU will look to continue its momentum on Thursday, hosting Denison for a non-conference game at 4 p.m.
A previously scheduled contest on Wednesday against Wooster has been canceled.