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Ohio Northern University

Baseball splits double header with Western New England, winning 7-6 and falling 11-5

Baseball splits double header with Western New England, winning 7-6 and falling 11-5
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March 8, 2026

DAVENPORT, Fla. — The Ohio Northern baseball team split its second double header of the weekend with Western New England (Mass.), winning game one 7-6 on a walkoff, but dropping game two 11-5 on Sunday.

The Basics

  • Records: Ohio Northern (6-1 Overall), Western New England (Mass.) (1-2 Overall).
  • Venue: NERP #1 - Davenport, Fla.

Game One - W, 7-6 (9 Innings)

  • Ohio Northern came out hot with senior Chase Armstrong (Boonville, Ind) hitting an RBI double to make it 1-0 in the top of the first. Junior Evan Russ (Westfield, Ind.) knocked a 2 RBI single right after and later scored on a ball by freshman Tyler Rinehart (Boonville, Ind.) to wrap up the 4-run inning.
  • Kyle Callahan (Brunswick) launched a solo homer in the top of the 4th to make it 5-0 for the Polar Bears.
  • The Golden Bears didn't go away quietly as they plated 2 runs in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings to go up 6-5.
  • Down to its final two outs, Armstrong ripped his second RBI double of the game to even the score at 6-6.
  • After a scoreless 8th inning, freshman Carson Stevens (Wyoming) sent a solo shot over the right field fence to retake the Ohio Northern lead at 7-6.
  • Sophomore Konnor Brogan (Salem/South Range) got the win for Northern as he pitched the final 3.0 innings without allowing a single run and struck out 5 hitters.

Game Two - L, 5-11

  • The Polar Bear offense was first to strike in the bottom of the first of game two thanks to an RBI single from junior Kyler Lapp (Hall, Ill.).
  • Western New England managed to answer with a run of their own in the top of the second. 
  • With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third Armstrong recorded another RBI after a fielder's choice to put ONU up 2-1.
  • Once again the Golden Bears answered the call to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the 4th. 
  • In the top of the 5th, Western New England jumped on top thanks to a 2-run home run. They added 2 other runs in the inning to make it 6-2. 
  • Lapp chipped away at the defecit with a 2-out, solo home run to left field.
  • WNE added five more runs to their lead to make it 11-3.
  • Ohio Northern managed to get 2 runs back in the bottom half of the 7th thanks to an RBI triple by Stevens and Lapp later knockig Stevens in. 

Notables

  • Lapp and Armstrong led the way at the plate, Lapp going 3-for-6 with 3 RBIs including a solo homer and Armstrong going 2-for-7 at the plate with two doubles to go with 3 RBIs.
  • Ohio Northern and Western New England are now tied 1-1 with these two matchups marking the first two meetings between the programs. 
  • ONU's 6-0 start marks a best start to a season since 1988 when the team started 7-0.
  • Senior Chase Armstrong (Boonville, Ind) is 5th all-time in ONU history in home runs (24) and doubles (38), 6th in RBIs (113), and is 8th in walks (80). 
  • Armstrong (127), and Stechschulte (124), Reed (123) and Lapp (106) are all members of ONU's a00-Hit Club. 
  • Ohio Northern is in its 121st season of baseball. The Polar Bears are 1498-1164-20 all-time, a winning percentage of .558.
  • 15th-year head coach Gene Stechschulte is now 311-217 at Ohio Northern for a winning percentage of .585.

Up Next

  • The Polar Bears will continue play in the RussMatt invitational with a Monday afternoon matchup against Suffolk (Mass.) at 2 pm.