Racers Settle for Split with Wright State-Lake
Site: Lima, Ohio (Racer Field)
Scores: Wright State-Lake 4, #RV UNOH 3; UNOH 8, Wright State-Lake 1
Records: UNOH (14-6), WSU-L (3-3)
Next UNOH Event: Sat. Mar. 21 vs. Aquinas College – Lima, Ohio (Racer Field) – 1 p.m.
LIMA, Ohio – The University of Northwestern Ohio baseball team entered play on Sunday afternoon with a chance to set a new UNOH record for longest winning streak. While they were unsuccessful in that endeavor, the Racers did finish their non-conference schedule on a high note, taking five of six games in a four day span.
UNOH struggled offensively in the first game, yet their pitching held them in the game before the Racers fell 4-3, and in game two, UNOH ripped seven extra-base hits to take an 8-1 win.
"It was a disappointing split today, but our men are tired, banged up, and ready for a break," said Head Coach Kory Hartman after the games. "We had chances to score and separate ourselves from them, but with our inability to score with runners in scoring position, and them making plays, we were unable to do that. I thought Ryan Carter threw the ball very well today and could be looked at to fill that midweek or weekend role for us."
The Lakers scored first in the top of the second inning of game one, but in the bottom of the frame Jose Cruz scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1. Wright State Lake jumped right back in front in the third, scoring twice, but again in the bottom of the inning UNOH responded – this time it was Alex Leach with an RBI single to pull the Racers to within one.
The Racers' deficit was 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Racers loaded the bases and Brett Akins drew a walk to force in Cruz and pull UNOH to within one. The Lakers went to the bullpen after the free pass, lifting starting pitcher Alek Hartell in favor of Austin Baumgardner, and the momentum of the Racers was squelched. Baumgardner induced back-to-back pop-outs and a line out to left field to escape the jam and preserve the Lakers' 4-3 lead. The Racers got a runner on with two outs in the fifth frame, and the leadoff batter reached in the seventh, but they were unable to score either time, and Wright State-Lake took the win 4-3.
Baumgardner (2-0) faced the minimum in three innings of relief, walking one and earning the win. Andrew Burton (0-2) took the loss for UNOH, allowing four earned runs on six hits in three and two-thirds innings of work. Bailey Haworth (1) earned the save for the Lakers.
Cruz was 2-for-2 in the game with two runs scored to lead the Racers offense.
Game two was a pitchers' duel into the third inning, but in the bottom of the third the Racers offense broke through. Leach belted a two-out triple to right field that scored Ryan Lozada, and Zyler Cosby followed with an RBI double to put UNOH on top 2-0.
Kyle Markle doubled home Derek Waterman for the Lakers to cut the Racers' lead to 2-1, and the game remained close into the bottom of the fifth. Zyler Cobsy singled with two out in the inning, Brandon Collins doubled him home, and Akins followed with an RBI-single of his own to push the Racers' lead to 4-1 after five complete.
The Racers turned the game over to John Schreiber in the sixth, and in the bottom of the inning, the extra-base hits kept coming. Randal Muhlenkamp and Ryan Lozada hit back-to-back doubles to start the inning, Carlos Baerga, Jr. picked up an RBI single, and Leach belted his second triple of the game to highlight the four-run frame, as the Racers stretched their lead to 8-1. Schreiber worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to nail down the win for UNOH, helping the Racers to their 12th win in their last 13 games.
Ryan Carter (1-0) earned the win for the Racers, allowing one earned run on four hits in five innings of work. Carter walked one and struck out six. Riley Leubke (0-1) took the loss for the Lakers, lasting four and two-thirds and giving up four earned runs on seven hits. Schreiber (5) moved into second place on the Racers' single-season saves list, retiring all six batters he faced – two of them on strikes.
Leach scored twice and drove in two in addition to hitting his two triples; Cosby was 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI; Akins singled twice and drove in two runs; and Ryan Lozada was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
"As disappointed as we were to split today," Coach Hartman continued, "but we spoke about the body of work over the last 13 games, and it's hard to ignore our play has been at a very high level. We need to take this week to refocus, recover, and regain momentum going into conference play next weekend."
The Racers will return to play on Saturday afternoon, continuing their 16-game homestand when they welcome the Aquinas College Saints (3-5, 0-0 WHAC) to Lima for a four-game weekend series. The teams' will play double headers on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. both days.