GRANVILLE, Ohio — The
Earlham College baseball team finished the North Coast Athletic Conference West Division portion of its schedule on Wednesday with a visit to
Denison University.
The Big Red (21-15, 11-5) won the first contest 2-1 in eight innings to clinch the division title before taking the second game 12-0.
In the opener,
Denison grabbed an early 1-0 advantage with a run in the first inning against Earlham starter
Adam Painter (4-6). Painter, who was credited with a complete game, tossed seven innings giving up 11 hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Trailing by a run heading into the seventh, the Quakers started a rally that would eventually send the contest to extra innings. With one out,
Corey Murray singled and
Nate Reynolds was inserted as a pinch runner.
Nate Chandler followed with an infield single. Reynolds and
Chandler then executed a double-steal to put runners at second and third.
Ross Yoho walked to load the bases.
Chris Tillery tied the game at 1-1 with a groundout that scored Reynolds.
Denison scored the winning run against Painter in the bottom of the eighth to claim the NCAC West Division crown.
Tyler Schroeder led the Quakers with two hits.
Game Two
Denison scored twice in the third inning and added another tally in the fourth before putting nine runs on the board in the fifth.
Earlham starting pitcher
Shawn Kinnett (1-6), who got one out in the fifth before giving way to Corey Murray, took the loss.
Andrew Morrical had Earlham’s hit in the second contest with a single in the third inning.
The Quakers (8-24, 2-14) will play in a pair of doubleheaders against Berea College this weekend at McBride Stadium. The first game on Saturday is at 5 p.m. The opener on Sunday is at noon.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score