NEW CONCORD, Ohio - The Wilmington College baseball team fell to Muskingum University in a pair of games to open the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) slate for both teams on Sunday. The Fighting Muskies took game one 6-5 in come-from-behind fashion and won game two 11-1 in eight innings to complete the sweep.
In game one, the hosts tagged Quaker starter Aaron Boster for a run on two hits in the first, but the visitors utilized two Muskingum errors to score two runs in the top of the second has Tyler Shaneyfelt singled home both Evan Eilerman and Jesse Reliford. Boster settled in and retired the Muskies in order over the next two innings, and the WC offense added to its one-run lead in the fourth. Three more Musky errors along with four hits games way to three WC runs as Carter Scheben doubled down the right field line scoring Eilerman and Shaneyfelt singled to right that scored Caleb Scott.
Trailing 5-1, Muskingum added a run in the fourth and a two-out double in the seventh pulled the hosts within two. Wilmington Head Coach Tony Vittorio elected to go right to his closer, Jesse Reliford, for a two-inning save as the junior, who has three saves on the season, entered in the top of the eighth. The Muskies scored on an unearned run, but Reliford induced a flyout to center field to end the inning.
Things went awry in the ninth, however, as Muskingum's lead-off hitter reached via a single and stole second. An infield single followed that put runners on the corners, and a fielder's choice scored the tying run as the Quakers tried to go home to get the lead runner. A hit by pitch followed, and Tobie Teke drew a walk with the bases loaded to end the game.
Boster received a no-contest depside a quality start of three earned runs allowed in seven innings with eight strikeouts while Reliford took his first loss of the season. Blake Jodrey earned the win for Muskingum in relief by allowing just a single hit and a single walk over the final five innings.
Wilmington finished with 10 hits in the game with Shaneyfelt, Reliford and Jared Lammert all having two hits a piece. Dominic Gorence led Muskingum with a 3-for-5 performance.
The nightcap went in favor of Muskingum right from the start. Wilmington, which has struggled to get out of the first inning unscathed this season, fell behind 2-0 after one. Both teams added a run in the third, but the Muskies once against got to the Quaker bullpen, scoring two in the sixth, four in the seventh and two in the eighth to finish the game an inning early.
Trent Mendenhall dipped to 2-2 allowing four earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 5.2 innings. Jason Murphy, though he struckout just a single batter, allowed just two hits and a walk in an 88-pitch effort for his second victory of the season.
Weston Melick went 4-for-5 for the Muskies in game two while Evan Kelsey and Eilerman had the Quakers two hits.
Wilmington (8-10, 0-2 OAC) heads to Wittenerg Univerzity on Tuesday.
