Top-Seeded Racers Cruise past Cornerstone

LIMA, Ohio – The 2017 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference baseball tournament got off to a hot start for the top-seeded hosts as the University of Northwestern Ohio Racers overpowered the Golden Eagles of Cornerstone University in the first game.

Playing as the visiting team as result of a coin flip, NAIA No. 7 UNOH (40-10) opened scoring with a huge four-run top half of the second to put the early pressure on CU (24-28) as the Racers went on to a 12-2 victory.

Carlos Baerga, Jr. drove in Junior Gomez as the first run with a grounder to the first baseman. Jose Paulino followed with a two RBI single to the outfield before advancing to second on the throw. Scoring on the play were Jonathan Rodriguez and Blake Maines. The final run on the play came on a sacrifice but by Kyle Fisher which scored Paulino as Fisher reached safely on a fielding error by Kyle Herrick, the Golden Eagles' pitcher.

The Racers added a fifth run in the following frame thanks to Baerga's second RBI as he hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Jeff Cardenas.

The Golden Eagles looked to get some offense going as Jon Stewart hit a towering shot over Fisher in deep center field, but the speedy junior proved why he was named the conference's Gold Glove winner as he made a highlight-worthy grab while diving towards the wall, landing on the warning track. CU would soon capitalize on a leadoff double by Jarod Burton in the fourth as he was brought in by Aaron Krupansky's RBI single through the left side.

Three more runs were tallied by the Racers in the top of the sixth. Cardenas smoked a line drive to centerfield which was caught by the diving Jonny Abbadusky which led to Felix Correa scoring from third on the sacrifice. Maines followed suite with a single which scored Gonzalez and Fisher for two more runs.

Cornerstone used another leadoff double to pick up its second run of the contest. Evan Wagner was the first to reach before scoring on a Brady Volmering fielder's choice RBI.

In the eighth and ninth innings, UNOH added two runs in each to extend the gap to the final 12-2 score.

Maines led the Racers at the plate with a 3-for-5 outing while drawing a walk and driving in a pair of runs and scoring one of his own. Rodriguez joined him with three hits over just four at-bats. He drove in and scored one.

Also with multiple hits were Cardenas, Gomez, and Ortiz as UNOH tallied 16 total while hitting 11 RBIs.

Kyle Thomas (10-1) got the start and went 7.0 innings. He allowed six hits and two runs while striking out eight batters. Coming in as relief was Jacob Hulcher as he surrendered just one hit and sat five of the seven batters faced with strikeouts.

UNOH returns to action at the St. Rita's Sports Complex on Monday at 1:30 PM. The Racers will take on the third-seeded Indiana Tech Warriors. IT faces elimination.

Due to the forecasted low temperatures, Monday's game times have been delayed. Game one featuring Concordia (Mich.) University and Davenport University will get things going at 10 AM with the Racers and Warriors following. At Lourdes University, Cornerstone will take on Madonna University at noon in an elimination contest.