FLORENCE, KY – The Wilmington College baseball team had its comeback fall short as they fell to Mount St. Joseph Monday 9-7 in non-conference action at UC Health Stadium.

"I am proud of what they do now," said Wilmington head coach Dan Cleaver. "They are not hoping to win. They are putting pressure on teams, and we are going to win some games this year because our attitude is terrific."

The Fightin' Quakers had the tying run on second base with the team's leading hitter at the plate with two outs. However, junior Tyler Schrock (Waynesville, OH/Waynesville) grounded out to end the game.

Freshman Jake Robinson (Westerville, OH/South) almost single-handedly brought Wilmington back. A three-run blast in the top of the eighth pulled the Fightin' Quakers to within 9-5, and his two-run shot in the top of the ninth got WC to within two runs. He finished 2-for-5 with three runs scored and five RBI.

Wilmington got on the board in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a bout of wildness from the Lions starter. WC took advantage of two walks, two hit batters and a throwing error.

It didn't last long as MSJ put a three spot on the board in the bottom of the frame. A one-out hit batter and an RBI triple knotted the game. An RBI infield single brought home another run, and following an error, the Lions got another RBI single.

The Lions tacked on four more runs in the third inning to chase starter Samuel Cranor (Cincinnati, OH/LaSalle). The sophomore took the loss (1-2), allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings.

"He didn't give up a lot of hard hit balls, that is true, but the three runs in the first inning is all because Sam had his head someplace else," said Cleaver. "We had an easy ground ball to first base and he decided not to cover the bag. That would have been out number three, and they go on and score (two) runs after that."

Mount St. Joseph recorded single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to take a 9-1 lead.

Senior Mike Orahood (South Vienna, OH/Southeastern) hit a two-out double to score junior Tyler Schrock (Waynesville, OH/Waynesville) with Wilmington's second run of the game.

Freshman Jake Washburn (Morrow, OH/Little Miami) hurled two innings of scoreless relief to give WC a chance. Junior Billy Foster (Xenia, OH/Xenia) and junior Luke Matthews (Centerville, OH/Centerville) each allowed an earned run in relief.

Wilmington (3-7) travels to Oberlin for a non-conference doubleheader 1 p.m. Tuesday.