UNOH Opens Strong in Saturday Doubleheader

LIMA, Ohio – After a recent shift in the schedule, the No. 19 University of Northwestern Ohio Baseball Team hosted Saint Ambrose University at the St. Rita's Sports Complex with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

The Racers (12-7) opened the day with a massive eight-run first inning prior to claiming game one 14-8. SAU (1-1) recoiled with a 8-7 victory in the second half of the twin bill.

To kick-start the offensive explosion, Kyle Fisher doubled down the right field line before swiping third base. Erich Gonzalez, the designated hitter in the opener, drove in Fisher. The inning soon looked to be quick as a fly out by James Cardona made it two outs with Jeff Cardenas on first following a walk. UNOH then rattled off seven singles with a hit-batter thrown in to boost the offense.

The Fighting Bees did not surrender as they responded with a trio of runs in the top half of the second and five more in the fourth, but UNOH provided consistent offense, including a solo homer by Jose Paulino in the second, as it was held scoreless in only the fourth inning.

Fisher also provided one of the most impressive defensive plays in program history as the junior scaled the wall in right-center field to rob a would-be home run by Jake McCabe in the seventh inning.

Steven Amos (1-0) came into the game in relief with two on base with two outs in the top of the fourth and surrendered the next 10 batters in succession through 3.1 perfect innings. Seven of those outs were via strikeout.

The third inning of the second game proved fatal to UNOH as it surrendered five runs which included two unearned runs in the frame, losing a 5-1 lead in the process.

The Racers reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of runs, but a two-run, two-out home run by Matt Baldwin of SAU provided the final runs of the game during the top of the seventh.

Damon Proctor (4-0) pushed through six innings on the mound before getting relieved in the seventh by Abrahan Flete (0-3). Flete was credited with the loss.

The Fighting Bees and Racers return to action with a second doubleheader scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 19. Those games will begin at 12 PM.