Lexington, KY: After the opening weekend series in North Carolina was cut short for weather, the Big Red baseball team got back to action in the Transylvania Round Robin showcase at Legends Field in Lexington, Kentucky. The No. 5 Denison squad would first face another Ohio foe, the Yellow Jackets of Baldwin Wallace. The Big Red would take the game in dominant fashion, downing Baldwin Wallace 8-0.

 

(No. 5 Denison 8, RV Baldwin Wallace 0)

To kick off the battle of two Ohio powerhouses, senior Will Rettig would kick the game off with a looking strike three before the defense posted a zero in the top of the first. The Big Red would strike first in the bottom of the frame following a rocket down the line by Cade Nowik to score Jack Lutte(unearned).

After another scoreless inning from Rettig, the Big Red would continue to grow their lead in the second inning. Ethan Smith would collect his first career hit for the Big Red before being scored by a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt by Bobby Haarde.

Following a scoreless third inning, Haarde would continue to work the field, tallying yet another RBI on a sacrifice bunt to score Kelly Crittenberger. Rettig would continue to deal, hurling scoreless fifth and sixth innings. The Big Red were able to put pressure on the Baldwin Wallace pitching staff, forcing three separate arms in the bottom of the sixth. Erik Sundgren would earn his first RBI of the season after wearing a fastball with bases loaded to take a 4-0 lead. 
 

In the top of the seventh, Rettig would close his outing with control. The Yellow Jackets would find a spark with a double off the center field wall. However, Rettig responded with back-to-back K's before rolling a ground ball to Nowik to keep the visitors at zero runs. In the bottom half, Fishbein would take home on a wild pitch to move the lead to 5-0.

Out of the bullpen, Ryan Paganelis would record a three-up three-down top of the eighth with two strikeouts and a smooth field and throw by Flynn Shoop.

To lead off the bottom of the eighth, Haarde found himself on base after a hit by pitch. Lutte reached by error on a ball that was laced to deep center field. Fishbein drew a walk with bases loaded to move the game to 6-0. With two outs and the bases juiced, Jack Rollo would rope a base hit up the middle to score Nate Lloyd and Brady Olsen.

To highlight the defensive day, Rettig dealt 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, fanning nine, and walking zero. Ryan Paganelis and Connor Remley would slam the door shut, tossing back-to-back 1-2-3 innings and striking out three. 

In the box, the Big Red were able to capitalize on the three errors from the Yellow Jackets. Haarde and Fazio led the way with two RBIs. Collectively, the Big Red were able to draw eight walks and four hit by pitches.

 

Up Next: Denison will take the field in Lexington again tomorrow, February 28,  against the Gorloks of Webster University at 1 P.M.