WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Wilmington College baseball team split an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) doubleheader with the University of Mount Union on Monday, coming back to win 5-4 in 10 innings in game one and nearly completing a three-run comeback in a 7-6 loss in game two.
In game one, Mount Union scored on an RBI-single from Joey Nave in the top of the second, but starter Jared Ferenchak wouldn't allow the Purple Raiders to score again through five innings. After Ferenchak and the Wilmington defense recorded its 15th out to end the top of the sixth, Gage Bley delivered a two-out, RBI-single through the left side that scored unearned runs in the form of Antonio Miller and Gavin Perkins to put the hosts up 2-1.
Mount Union, which entered the game averaging over seven runs per game, plated a single run in three consecutive innings to lead 4-2 after the top of the eighth, but Jake Hyatt would get one of those runs back with a sacrifice fly that scored Bley in the bottom half of the inning. Ferenchak sat down Mount Union in order in the top of the ninth and a Joey Allinder RBI-double to deep left field tied the game 4-4. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Wilmington appeared to have the game won as Kleindl hit a ball deep into right field. Antonio Miller, who was tagging up on the play, was called out for leaving third base early.
Ferenchak, who pitched into extra innings for the second time in three weeks this season, retired the Purple Raiders in order in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the frame, the Quakers had the same situation as in the ninth inning: the game-winning run at third base and one out. This time, the outcome was different as Gavin Perkins hit a fly ball to center field that scored Hyatt and snapped Wilmington's 10-game OAC losing skid in walk-off fashion.
Ferenchak earned a much-deserved victory allowing two earned runs on nine hits in the 10-innings, complete-game victory. Colin Skufca took the loss allowing three earned runs on five hits with four walks in 3.1 innings pitched. Phil Mary received a no-decision despite the 10 strikeouts in six innings.
Perkins finished 3-for-4 with the game-winning RBI and two runs scored for Wilmington while Bley added a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs and two walks. Miller also had a multi-hit game.
Three Purple Raiders – Brian Livolsi, Coleman Stauffer and Nathan Duliba – all finished with two hits.
In game two, both starting pitchers – Lance Fleischman and Carson Davis – didn't allow a run through three innings by both stranding runners at third base. Mount Union would put together four hits and score three runs in including a solo home run from Livolsi and a two-RBI double from Goodall. The Quakers would get one of those runs back in the fifth as Miller, who stole two bases to get to third, scored on a wild pitch. A four-run sixth inning that follow, however, put the visitors on top 7-1.
Trailing by six, Wilmington cut the deficit in half with a three-run seventh inning including an RBI-double from Bley and an RBI-single from Kleindl. After a double play ended a potential scoring inning in the eighth, Kleindl delivered again in the ninth with an RBI-single to center that scored Miller. Kasey Bottorff then walked the bases loaded to get the hosts within a single run (7-6), but a strikeouts and flyout that followed gave the Purple Raiders the series split.
Davis earned the win allowing four earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in seven innings while Fleischman took the loss. Nick Satovich earned the two-out save for Mount Union.
Offensively, Miller finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while also stealing five bases in the game. Goodall, who became Mount Union's all-time hits leader in game two, finished 4-for-4 with three RBIs.
Wilmington (7-24, 3-11 OAC) hosts Wittenberg University for a non-conference game on Wednesday.
