Lexington, Ky. — Following a shutout victory over Baldwin Wallace, the No. 5 Denison baseball team took the field on Saturday against the RV Webster Gorloks. From the first pitch, Denison set the tone and never looked back, piling up 20 runs on 20 hits in a commanding performance. The 20–4 victory pushes Denison to 3–1 on the season and marks the program's highest single-game run total since the Granville Regional, when the Big Red erupted for 26 runs in a win over Rowan .
No. 5 Denison 20, RV Webster 4 - 7 Innings
The Big Red offense came out swinging, posting three runs in the top of the first courtesy of back-to-back RBI knocks from Owen Miller and Kelly Crittenberger. First year lefty Andrew Montero got the start on the mound for Denison and helped the Big Red win the inning after a scoreless frame. After two quick outs in the top of the second, Bobby Haarde sparked a rally with a triple into left-center, and Jack Lutte brought him home in the next at-bat with a single up the middle, while Max Fishbein reached on a centerfield error to keep the inning alive.
Senior Erik Sundgren would clear the bags with a three-run opposite field homer into the Denison bullpen to give the Big Red a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second. Following a scoreless third inning, the Big Red would explode for six runs on five hits in the top of the fourth. Miller would stay hot, scoring Sundgren and Lutte with a two RBI single. Andrew Fazio would knock in his second triple of the year, clearing the bags for two more runs. In the ensuing at bats, Haarde and Eron Vega would drive in the final two runs of the frame to push the Big Red lead to 13-0. After a scoreless three innings on the mound, Montero would exit with three strikeouts, no walks, and two hits.
The relentless offensive showing would not let up. In the top of the fifth, the Big Red would tack on another six runs on six hits to bring the lead to 19-0. Crittenberger, Lutte, Cade Nowik, and Kuyper Lashutka would pick up RBIs.
In the final frame for the offense, Lashutka belted a solo shot homer over the left field wall to put the exclamation point on the 20-0 shutout.
The Big Red would use five arms in the combined shutout victory. Following Montero was Cooper Marrs, Noah Shapo, Evan Cerretani, Max Mullen, and Zack Shook. The staff would allow three hits and toss nine strikeouts.
The Big Red offense tallied 20 hits in the rout. Sundgren led the way with a perfect 3-3 performance at the plate. Sundgren, Lutte, and Miller all added three RBIs. Fazio and Haarde collected the pair of triples and Lashutka picked up the other home run. Five others would add multiple hits and Jackson Loomis would collect his first career hit.
Up Next: The Big Red will close out their weekend in Kentucky on Sunday, March 1, against the hosting Transylvania Pioneers at 3:00 PM.
