Box Score Denison scored three runs in the top of the ninth but couldn't plate the tying run as The College of Wooster held off the Big Red for a 13-12 win at Art Murray Field in Wooster, Ohio. The loss puts an end to Denison's 10-game winning streak.
After two innings Denison dug themselves quite a hole as they trailed 9-2. After scoring a pair of runs in the third and the fifth that deficit was down to only three.
In the top of the sixth, Tanner Johnson and Eric Zmuda provided back-to-back one-out singles. Evan Flax drew a walk setting the table for Sam Frazen who laced a double down the left field line, scoring Johnson and Zmuda. Jack Blanchard followed with an RBI single, scoring Flax with the tying run.
The Fighting Scots regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Jacob Solomon hit a two-run double to left. The Scots tacked on two more in the bottom of the seventh to take a 13-9 lead into the eighth where the Big Red were be retired in order.
In the top of the ninth, Wooster got a quick out to lead off the inning, but Noah Hahn started the rally with a double to the gap in right-center. Brandon Morgan followed Hahn and after a pinch-hit double in the seventh, he ripped his second extra-base hit of the game down the left field line, scoring Hahn.
With Morgan on second and Phil Papaioannou at the plate, the Scots made a pitching change to Michael Wielansky who had an auspicious start by hitting Papaioannou with his first pitch. He regained his composure and get Johnson to strike out, but Zmuda drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases.
Flax responded with a clutch two-run single to center, scoring pinch runner Joe LaPlaca and Morgan. With the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on first, Frazen worked the count full against Wielansky before flying out to centerfield to end the game.
Flax was 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs and three runs scored. Hahn also went 2-for-4 with a walk. He scored two runs and drove in a pair. Brandon Morgan came off the bench and doubled in his two plate appearances.
Wooster's Drew Tornow was 2-for-5 with two triples, five RBIs and two runs scored.
Zack Huarte started the game on the mound for Denison and was removed in the second inning. He allowed four earned runs off just two hits in one inning pitched.
Ian Walsh was DU's most effective pitcher on Wednesday. He faced 11 batters and pitched 2.1 innings, scattering three hits while holding the Scots scoreless. During that time, Denison was able to battle back and tie the game. The loss went to Adam Goldstein who drops to 0-2 after pitching 2.0 innings and allowing two earned runs. The winning pitcher was Wooster's James Usher.
Denison drops to 19-6 while Wooster improves to 15-8. With Denison a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference West Division and Wooster a member of the NCAC East, this was a non-conference affair.
The Big Red will look to bounce back on Thursday, April 21 when they host Capital University at 7 p.m.