WILMINGTON, Ohio - The Wilmington College baseball team fell to the University of Mount Union in a pair of three-run contests at Tewksbury-Delaney Field on Sunday, losing a back-and-forth game one 15-12 and the nightcap 6-3.
In game one, Corey White gave the Purple Raiders a two-run lead with a home run to left in the first. White wasn't done, however, as his two-RBI single to left field was part of a five-run third inning.
Trailing 7-0, Wilmington got one run back in the third on a sacrifice fly from Evan Kelsey that scored Corbin Craft, but after a scoreless top of the fourth, the Fightin' Quakers got the bats going in the bottom of the inning. A Joe Legin sacrifice fly scoring Jesse Reliford started the scoring, and four Quakers – Corbin Craft, Evan Kelsey, Owen Baumann and Reliford – all tallied RBI-hits for Wilmington in the inning. Aided by a Mount Union error, the hosts sent a dozen to the plate in total, tallied seven hits and plated eight runs to take a 9-7 lead.
After a scoreless inning from both teams in the fifth, Owen Baumann extended the Quakers' lead with a single down the right field line scoring Jared Lammert in the bottom of the sixth. The Purple Raiders tied the game in the seventh as Zack Mazza hit a solo home run and two runs scored on a failed pickoff attempt. With the game tied 10-10, the Wilmington bullpen couldn't hold as the visitors struck for two more runs in the eighth and three in the ninth.
Down 15-10, Caleb Scott missed a home run by mere inches as his shot to left center hit the fence and scored both Reliford and Tyler Shaneyfelt. Wilmington wouldn't get the tying run to the plate, however, as a strikeout and groundout ended the game.
Jeremy Sassano, who relieved Mount Union starter Ryan Osman in the fourth inning, earned the win pitching the final 5.1 innings and allowing two earned runs. Shaneyfelt, who relieved Wilmington starter Thomas Hueber in the seventh, allowed four earned runs on seven hits to take the loss.
Mazza and White led the way for Mount Union with three hits and three runs scored each while White drove in a game-high five RBIs. Baumann finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs for Wilmington in defeat.
In the nightcap, Mount Union utilized the long ball with a two-run home run in both the second and fourth innings to build a 5-1 lead. Wilmington would load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning, but scored just a single run as a double play halted any further offensive production.
Unfortunately for the hosts, that would be a theme as the Purple Raiders' defense would turn a total of four double plays in the game. Despite that, the Quakers got two runs in the eight in RBI-singles from Baumann and Reliford and got the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. Evan Kelsey singled through the right side, but Lammert, who made an aggressive turn from second, was thrown out trying to get back to the bag to end the game.
Dwayne Sumler earned the win with a quality start of six innings pitched and one earned run allowed. Colin Skufca got the three-inning save for the Purple Raiders. Aaron Boster took the loss for Wilmington despite pitching a complete game in the best start of his career. The freshman allowed six earned runs on a dozen hits with seven strikeouts including not allowing a run over the final four innings.
Lou Cardona finished 4-for-4 for Mount Union while Walker Marlowe and Chase Angotti hit the home runs. Baumann was the lone Quaker to have a multi-hit game in the nightcap.
Wilmington (7-23, 6-20 OAC) faces Capital University for a four-game series next weekend.
Wilmington (7-23, 6-20 OAC) faces Capital University for a four-game series next weekend.
