BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team defeated Messiah (Pa.) University by a score of 11-2 in game two of the best-of-three at Fisher Field to advance to the NCAA Division III College World Series which starts on Friday, May 29, their fourth trip in program history after previously making it in 2014, 2022 and 2023.
The Yellow Jackets offense had 11 runs on 14 hits led by junior second basemen Carson Petrecca (Willowick/Eastlake North) once again who had a home run and a double in the top half of the second and third, respectively, after the Yellow Jackets went the first inning without scoring. Petrecca hit his second home run of the weekend and his 3rd of the NCAA Tournament.
"Coach has confidence in us but it's also all the hours in the cages too," Petrecca said, "I work really hard for games like this and it has paid off so far."
On the mound, the Yellow Jackets were led by number two starter junior right-hander Matt Moscarino (Strongsville/Padua Franciscan), who went six innings and allowed only two runs while striking out two. He earns his fifth win of the season after receiving a no decision in the win against Wisconsin-Lacrosse last Saturday.
"It's really the support system I have, the guys in the dugout cheering me on, and all of that," Moscarino said, who got into a jam in the bottom of the third inning, allowing two runs and getting out of the inning after Messiah left runners on first and second base.
The team heads into the College World Series with a record 36-10 and 16-2 their last 18 games, their best 18-game stretch of the season after losing five out of nine from March 31-April 14.
"We have a lot to be grateful for," coach Harrison said, "we get to do this stuff and we don't have to do it," "we wouldn't be showing our true selves if we were ungrateful," he noted.
Scoring Summary
Top 2nd – Petrecca hit a solo shot over the left center field wall for his eighth of the year
Top 3rd – Petrecca doubled, also to left for his third RBI of the day
Top 3rd – Sophomore left fielder Mario Escano (Broadview Heights/North Royalton) hit a sacrifice fly to score the fourth run of the day for the Brown and Gold
Top 4th – Senior right fielder John Panstares (Westlake/St. Ignatius) had an RBI single to left field, scoring Petrecca
Top 4th – Senior third baseman Sean Kolenich (Parma/St. Edward) had a single to center field which scored the second run of the inning
Top 4th – Senior OAC Player of the Year Dennis Ritlinger-Nirider (Grove City) had an RBI single to make it a 7-2 ballgame
Top 4th – A throwing error by the Falcons pitcher allowed Kolenich to score from second base
Top 4th – Sophomore first baseman Matt DelDuca (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) hit a sacrifice fly to end a four-run inning
Top 6th – Junior designated hitter Colin West (Westborough, Mass./Worcester Academy) hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 10-2 Yellow Jacket lead
Top 7th – Junior catcher Mason Fixx (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) had a double into a left to score the final run of the day, which was his third straight game with an RBI double and fourth of this tournament
At the Plate
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Kolenich was 2-for-5 with an RBI single and a double
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West went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a run scored
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DelDuca was also 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored
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Petrecca was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and a walk
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Panstares finished the day going 2-for-5 with an RBI single
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Fixx had an RBI double and also added two walks to go with his day
On the Mound
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Moscarino was the starter and winner for the Yellow Jackets; he threw 91 pitches to go with his totals
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Senior two-way player Nolan Kellicker (Dover) came on in relief in the bottom of the seventh and threw three innings, going three innings while allowing just three hits, striking out one and issuing one walk on 42 pitches which marks his shortest outing of the postseason
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets return to the field for the NCAA Division III World Series, which starts on Friday, May 29 at Classic AutoGroup Park, home of the Lake County Captains, the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. More information on dates and times for the games will be provided later in the week.
