CIRCLEVILLE – While the chances were plentiful, the runs were scarce as the Wilmington College baseball team lost to Ohio Christian Wednesday, 9-3, in non-conference action.
Wilmington was just 4-for-24 with runners in scoring position, and they had the leadoff runner on base in five of the first six innings.
The biggest non-scoring threat came in the second inning as Tyler Schrock (Waynesville, OH/Waynesville) opened the inning with a single and Roenick Whitney (Goshen, OH/Goshen) doubled. However, pop ups on back-to-back pitches and a strikeout ended the threat.
Ohio Christian took the lead in the bottom half of the frame with four runs.
The Fightin' Quakers scored their first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning as Schrock led the inning off with a double, and moved to third on a wild pitch. He scampered home on a single by Corey Walker (Hillsboro, OH/Hillsboro).
Despite the final numbers, Tyler McDaniel (Trenton, OH/Edgewood) was spectacular on the mound. On just one days rest, he mowed through the Trailblazers. He threw four innings against Mount Union Monday.
The southpaw came on in relief in the second inning, and gave up two singles. From that point on, he was simply special. He allowed just two hits to the next 21 batters, and had a stretch in which he retired 12 straight batters. The string of 12 straight was snapped on a bloop single in the eighth inning, but unfortunately, it opened the flood gates.
An infield single and walk loaded the bases, and OCU's leadoff hitter – Jordan Dicks – cleared them with a double. A walk and back-to-back singles brought home two more runs and chased McDaniel from the game.
He finished with a career-high 6 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Luke Matthews (Centerville, OH/Centerville) started and took the loss (0-1), lasting just 1 1/3 innings. He allowed three earned runs on four hits.
Wilmington tacked on two runs in the ninth as Clay Cleaver (Pleasant Plain, OH/Little Miami) drew a bases -loaded walk and Kyle Short (Trenton, OH/Edgwood) brought home another run with a groundout.
Jake Robinson (Westerville, OH/Central) had a career-high four hits with two doubles and a run scored. He reached second with no outs in his first two at-bats, and was at second with one out in his third at-bat, but wasn't able to cross the plate.
Schrock was 2-for-5 with a run scored and Walker was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Wilmington (3-32 overall) returns to action 4 p.m. Thursday, hosting Ohio Christian at Tewksbury-Delaney Field.