GRANVILLE, Ohio (April 9, 2024) – The No. 2 Denison University baseball team fell in North Coast Athletic Conference action for the first time over the last two seasons as the Battling Bishops brought out the bats against the Big Red and were hot early with six runs scored in the first three innings to win game one 7-4 at the Big Red Baseball Field. Then in game two, the Big Red came out on top by a final score of 8-3.
 
Game 1 (No. 2 Denison 4, Ohio Wesleyan 7):

• It looked like it was going to be a good day as usual for the Big Red as Jack Rollo (2-1) pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first and Denison got on the board in the bottom of the first after a one-out single up the middle by Eric Colaco and an RBI-double to left center by Jack Lutte to score Colaco.
• However, a 6-4-3 double play ended the first inning and left two runners on base, and double plays and runners left on would be a theme of the game working against the Big Red.
• OWU answered Denison's run in the first inning with a hit by pitch to lead things off in the second inning before back-to-back singles to load the bases. That was followed by an RBI-groundout to tie it before a two-run single up the middle gave the Bishops the lead.
• The Big Red got a run back in the bottom of the second as Jack Steel led off with a double to left center, advanced to third on a bunt single by Jake Blozy and then scored on a double steal when Blozy drew the throw down to second base.
• Then in the top of the third inning, the difference in the game came as a two-out rally starting with a triple and a hit by pitch were followed by a huge three-run home run to right center field by OWU's Edrick Padilla.
• The bottom of the third inning for the Big Red ended with another 6-4-3 double play, and then another two-out rally for the Bishops in the top of the fourth led to another run as a two-out single was followed by a wild pitch to move the runner into scoring position for an RBI-double to left center.
• Denison made it 7-3 with a one-out double down the right field line by Noah Leib and an RBI-groundout by Colaco in the bottom of the fifth, and then in the seventh inning a two-out double to right center by Colaco scored Leib again to make it 7-4.
• Groundouts in both the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings left two runners on base in both innings for the Big Red, who brought the tying run to the plate again in the ninth inning before the third double play of the game by the Bishops' defense, this time of the 5-3 variety, ended the game.
• Denison outhit OWU 11-9 but finished with nine runners left on base compared to three for the Bishops.
• In the top two spots in the lineup, Leib was 2-for-5 with two runs scored while Colaco was 2-for-5 with two RBI's. Lutte was 2-for-2 with two walks and an RBI while Steel was 2-for-4. All four players had a double.
• Nate Dinges (2.2 innings; 3 hits; 1 run), Ryan Starr (1 inning; 1 hit; 0 runs) and Michael Gray (2.1 innings; 0 hits, 0 runs) limited the Bishops to just one run over the final six innings.
• The Big Red pitching staff did not issue a single walk, but two hit by pitches by Rollo in the early innings did not help his cause.

 
Game 2 (No. 2 Denison 8, Ohio Wesleyan 3):

• The bottom of the first inning started with a leadoff double to left center by Blozy, who stole third and scored on a fielder's choice by Lutte, who then scored himself on a double down the left field line by Leib.
• Then with two outs still in the first inning, back-to-back walks by Cade Nowik and Erik Sundgren were followed by an RBI-single to left center field by Owen Wilson.
• After a two-out, two-run single through the left side in the top of the second inning, OWU tied it with an unearned run in the top of the third as a dropped third strike put a runner on base before the run ultimately scored on a passed ball with two outs in the inning.
• Denison immediately responded with three runs in the bottom of the third as after Leib led off with a double to left field, the Big Red got runs on an RBI-groundout to second base by Sundgren, an RBI-single to right field by Colin Ravin, and an RBI-single up the middle by Alex Vasquez. The inning ended with the fourth double play of the afternoon turned by the Bishops' defense.
• Vasquez added another RBI with a two-out single to right field in the bottom of the fifth.
• George Viebrock (4-0) followed with a 1-2-3 top of the sixth inning to finish his day with six innings pitched allowing six hits, three total runs, two earned runs, zero walks and five strikeouts.
• Manny Nager then came on to pitch in the top of the seventh and recorded seven straight outs before ultimately finishing with his second save of the season. Nager finished with only one hit allowed, no walks and four strikeouts in his three innings as the Big Red did not issue a single walk for the second game on the day.
• Denison finished with 11 hits for the second time on the day as Leib was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI's and Ravin and Vasquez were both 2-for-4.
• The Big also left nine runners on base for the second game in a row.

 
Records:

• No. 2 Denison moves to 22-3 overall and 5-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference while OWU moves to 13-10 and 3-3.

 
Next Up: Denison will host Case Western Reserve University for a single nonconference game at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Apr. 10).