TIFFIN, Ohio – The No. 15 nationally ranked Baldwin Wallace University Baseball team swept a doubleheader against Heidelberg University at Peaceful Valley Field by scores of 11-6 and 7-1 in an eight-inning contest that was shortened by rain to clinch a spot in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament in two weeks from now.
The Yellow Jackets (24-8, 11-3 OAC) had a solid offensive performance in both games, getting 11 hits in the first game and tallying 10 in the second game to sweep their second consecutive conference doubleheader.
Game One (BW 11-6)
Scoring Summary
Top 3rd – Junior designated hitter Colin West (Westborough, Mass./Worcester Academy) got the scoring started for the Yellow Jackets, having a single to score two runs and tie the game up at 2
Top 3rd – Junior first-baseman Ryan Gordon (Strongsville) had a double to give the Yellow Jackets their first lead of the day at 3-2
Top 5th – Senior third-baseman Sean Kolenich (Parma/St Edward) hit a solo home run to extend the BW lead to two runs
Top 6th – West had a double to left center field to score two more runs for his third and fourth RBI's of the day
Top 8th – After Heidelberg cut the lead in half to 6-4, Gordon had another single to make it a 7-4 lead in favor of the Yellow Jackets
Top 8th – Sophomore designated hitter Yuri Bellina (Medina/Padua Franciscan) had a sacrifice fly, which scored Kolenich
Top 9th – Senior right-fielder Reid Fleming (Pickerington/North) had a bases-clearing triple to give the Yellow Jackets insurance after only leading 8-6 before this swing
At the Plate
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Kolenich was 3-for-4 with a home run and five runs scored
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West was 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, and four RBI
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Fleming was 1-for-1 with a bases-clearing triple to total three of the Yellow Jackets' 11 RBI for the day
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Gordon was 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and a walk
On the Mound
Game Two (BW 7-1)
Scoring Summary
Top 1st – West had an RBI single to score the first run of the game and give the Brown and Gold a 1-0 lead
Top 3rd – Kolenich had a double to right center field, which scored two runs
Top 5th – Senior catcher Brady Bly (Mason/William Mason) hit a three-run bomb down the left field line to open up the lead for BW by a score of 6-0
Top 8th – OAC Hitter of the Week Dennis Ritlinger-Nirider (Grove City) had a double to add an insurance run in the top half of the eighth
At the Plate
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Ritlinger-Nirider was 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, a walk, and a run scored
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Bly hit a pinch-hit three-run home run, which was the first of the season
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Gordon reached base three times, going 1-for-3 with two walks
On the Mound
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Senior right-hander Tyler Walker (Fairlawn/Copley) pitched six shutout innings and struck out four batters, allowed just two hits, and issued only one walk
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Junior right-hander Andrew Reynolds (Norton/St Vincent-St. Mary) made his first collegiate appearance and pitched one inning before the game was called by rain
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets are on the road for one more game, a rescheduled contest at 23rd-ranked Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) tomorrow, April 23. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., and fans can
click here for complete coverage of the game.
