Senior Hunter Justus (Circleville, OH/Logan Elm) smacked a two-out, two-run double to lift Wilmington to the win in the opener as the Quakers split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader with Muskingum. Wilmington claimed the first game, 6-5, before losing the nightcap, 6-2.
The double helped get him off the hook for the loss, and snapped WC's 14-game losing streak.
The seventh inning started with a pinch-hit single from sophomore Alex Finney (Crestline, OH/Buckeye Central), who was promptly pinch ran for. FreshmanClay Cleaver (Pleasant Plain, OH/Little Miami) added more fuel to the Wilmington rally with a bunt single down the third baseline. However, a popped up bunt attempt and deep fly ball threatened to short circuit the threat.
But, Justus jumped on the first pitch he saw and lined it into the left-center field gap allowing sophomore Mike Orahood (South Vienna, OH/Northeastern) to race home with the tying run and Cleaver to cross the plate with the winning tally.
Muskingum took the early lead with two runs in the second and an unearned run in the third. The score stayed that way until the Wilmington half of the fourth.
Senior Cameron Schwalbach (Circleville, OH/Circleville) started the scoring barrage with a one-out single, which was followed by a walk to sophomore Roenick Whitney (Goshen, OH/Goshen). Freshman Max Ramsey (Waynesville, OH/Waynesville) and junior Jake Vinkovich (Circleville, OH/Circleville) recorded back-to-back RBI singles to pull the Quakers to within 3-2.
One out later, Cleaver drove a pitch into left field for a two-out, two-RBI single to give WC the lead. Muskingum added two runs in the sixth inning to reclaim the advantage, but it didn't last long.
Freshman Corey Walker (Hillsboro, OH/Hillsboro) improved to 1-2 on the season, hurling 1 2/3 innings of relief without allowing a hit.
Cleaver finished 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while Justus added two hits.
Muskingum claimed the lead in the nightcap with four runs in the second inning and held on for the 6-2 victory. A two-out, two-run blooper got the Muskies on the board, and that was followed by another two-out single.
The Muskies added to their advantage with two runs in the eighth before WC attempted to embark on a comeback.
A two-out double by Whitney got the Quakers a run closer in the eighth, but it was the ninth inning that got the Muskies hearts pounding. After dropping two straight games in their last at-bat, Muskingum had to be a little nervous as WC loaded the bases with just one out and the middle of order coming through.
However, Justus was returned on a deep fly ball that was hauled in on the warning track and Whitney lined out to left field.
Whitney finished with three of Wilmington's eight hits, while Bean had two hits in the loss.
Vinkovich (0-4) suffered the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) in 7 2/3 innings. He recorded one strikeout, while yielding six hits.
Wilmington (4-16) travels to Wittenberg Wednesday for a non-conference nine-inning affair.