Ohio Wesleyan 6, Bluffton 5
Ohio Wesleyan 7, Bluffton 1

Junior second baseman Zach Bott (Dublin/Coffman) scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Ohio Wesleyan over Bluffton in the opener of a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday in Chillicothe.

The doubleheader sweep marked the 100th career win for Bishop head coach Tyler Mott.

In the nightcap, senior outfielder James DiBiasio (Westlake) drove in 3 runs and junior righthander Steve Skarsten (Phoenix, Ariz./Mountain Pointe) scattered 4 hits over the first 6.0 innings to help the Bishops complete the sweep.

Ohio Wesleyan trailed, 5-3, going into the bottom of the seventh of the opener when sophomore third baseman Sean Vollenweider (Westerville/St. Francis DeSales) led off with a single and moved to second and third on successive infield outs.  Senior outfielder Seth Frentsos (Delaware/Hayes) reached on a throwing error by Beaver shortstop Nick Broyles, scoring Vollenweider.  Bott followed with a single to center, and when Bluffton centerfielder Miles Richardson misplayed the ball, Frentsos scored and Bott advanced to third.  Bott then scored the game-winning run on a balk by Beaver reliever Ben Roeschley.

The Bishops had taken a 2-0 lead in the first on RBI doubles by senior first baseman Nathan Strome (Sidney) and Frentsos, and added a run in the second on a double by senior first baseman Tim Knezovich (Columbus/Briggs).

Kyle Niermann launched a solo homer in the third to put Bluffton on the scoreboard, and the Beavers took the lead with 4 runs in the fifth, highlighted by a Niermann RBI single and a 2-run triple by Broyles.

Senior righthander Kevin Schindler (Mentor) started on the mound for Ohio Wesleyan, and freshman lefthander Charles Cooper (Columbus/Upper Arlington) picked the win in relief.

Roeschley was the losing pitcher in relief for Bluffton.

The nightcap saw Strome stake the Bishops to a 1-0 lead with an RBI in the top of the first, only to see the Beavers answer in the bottom of the inning as Broyles reached on Vollenweider's error and scored on a double off the bat of Tyler Stephenson.

DiBiasio put the Bishops ahead in the second with an RBI ground out, then doubled home 2 runs to highlight Ohio Wesleyan's 3-run fourth.

Senior shortstop Steve Gaydos (Strongsville) singled in a run in the fifth, and freshman outfielder J.J. Buckey (Toledo/Ottawa Hills) followed with a sacrifice fly to complete the scoring.

Skarsten scattered 4 hits and did not allow an earned run during the first 6.0 innings.  Sophomore righthander Greg Hock (Lewis Center/Bishop Watterson) and junior righthander Brandon Sega (Columbus/Upper Arlington) combined for 3.0 innings of scoreless relief.

Miles Richardson was the starting and losing pitcher for Bluffton.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2