Ohio Northern Takes Two From Baseball

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Senior Jason Burkett (Maumee, Ohio) and junior Luke Klinehoffer (Zanesville, Ohio) had four hits apiece to help the Ohio Northern baseball team sweep a doubleheader over Wentworth Institute of Technology. The Polar Bears took the first game, 10-0, and rallied for a 7-4 win in the nightcap.

GAME ONE:  Ohio Northern 10, Wentworth 0
Ohio Northern took a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning, thanks to an RBI double from senior Hayden Shenefield (Powell, Ohio) and RBI singles from Burkett and sophomore Phil Buckingham (Wayne, Ohio). Three other runs came by way of Wentworth errors.

The Polar Bears got an RBI single from Burkett in the second to extend their lead to 7-0 and scored three times in the third inning, thanks in part to an RBI single from Klinehoffer and an RBI single from senior Jordan Boaster (Bryan, Ohio).

Burkett picked up the win (1-0) as he pitched five innings of three-hit, shutout ball while striking out five. He helped his cause at the plate by going 3-for-4 with two RBI while Klinehoffer also had three hits.

Senior Tyler Weninger (Chandler, Ariz.) was tagged with the loss (0-1), allowing four unearned runs in four innings. Sophomore Caleb Eaton (East Hampstead, N.H.) pitched three scoreless innings in relief. Senior Tim Elrick (Plymouth, Mass.) had two of Wentworth's three hits.

GAME TWO:  Ohio Northern 7, Wentworth 4
Wentworth jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning with recording a hit as sophomore Owen Swanson (New Milford, Conn.) led off with a walk, Weninger followed with a walk, and junior Andrew Elliott (Rockland, Mass.) loaded the bases with the third walk of the inning. During Elrick's at bat, Swanson scored on a balk call and Elrick followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Weninger.

The Leopards extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Senior Bryon Kucharski (East Haven, Conn.) led off with a single and advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt. Kucharski moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Cole Fritz (Peoria, Ariz.) and scored on a sacrifice bunt from junior Anthony de la Cruz (Lynn, Mass.).

Burkett delivered a two-run triple in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-2 and came in to score the tying run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior Kyle Schlade (Hamilton, Ohio). The fifth inning saw the Polar Bears take the lead, 7-3, thanks to an RBI single from junior Caleb Thomas (Strongsville, Ohio) and a two-run single from freshman Matthew Burkett (Maumee, Ohio) while Ohio Northern scored its seventh run on a Wentworth error.

Wentworth got a run back in the top of the seventh as junior Ross Golebiewski (Lyme, Conn.) was hit by a pitch with one out and Fritz delivered a two-out triple to score him.

Sophomore Troy Wagner (Liberty Township, Ohio) picked up the win in relief (1-0) as he allowed one run on one hit in 1.1 innings of work. Senior T.J. Storer (Loveland, Ohio) picked up his second save of the season as he shut down all four batters he faced. Thomas had two hits to pace the offense.

Senior Robby Sheldon (Dover, N.H.) was tagged with the loss (0-1) after allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and striking out four. Fritz, Kucharski, and freshman Aidan French (Chicago, Ill.) each had hits for Wentworth.

The Leopards square off against SUNY Poly on Friday morning in a doubleheader.

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