CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – Senior left fielder Nick Pett's diving catch in the gap denied third-ranked Denison University a ninth-inning walk-off single and was one of a series of gold glove-worthy defensive plays that limited the Big Red on the scoreboard before they walked off the Fighting Scots 6-5 in 12 innings at the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday.
Denison (33-5) star center fielder Erik Sundgren led off the bottom of the 12th inning with a double. He moved to third when Jake Blozy's sacrifice bunt turned into a single, as nobody from Wooster (22-16-1) covered first base. After intentionally walking Cade Nowik to have a force out at home, Jack Rollo sent a grounder to Wooster shortstop Luke Rizzo, who forced out Sundgren at home. Wooster nearly turned a double play on the fielder's choice, but did not get the call at third, enabling Max Fishbein an opportunity with the walk-off run 90 feet from home. He knocked Blozy in with a single to left.
Prior to the walk-off, Denison's meat of the lineup battled Wooster sophomore Constantine Vernadakis in the ninth inning, with two reaching safely before the right-hander jammed Sundgren for a bloop popup on the infield that was caught by sophomore third baseman Zack Barienbrock. Next, Blozy's flyball to center was tracked down by senior Leo Widtmann. Pett's heroics laying out on Nowik's sinking gap liner sent the game to extra innings.
Senior right-hander Thomas Gfell sent Denison back to the dugout in order in the bottom of the 10th inning. First-year Maanav Bhatt's diving catch near the foul line in the outfield made sure of that and was one of a series of web gems by the Scots' second baseman. In the first inning, he kept Jack Lutte from reaching on a leadoff single. On that play, Bhatt made a diving stop towards first base and got the throw off in time. An inning later, Bhatt dove to stop a grounder up the middle off the bat of Nowik and had to make another diving effort on the play to beat Blozy to second for the force out.
In the sixth, senior right fielder Alex Gerdenich's cannon of an arm kept Denison from scoring a go-ahead run. He nailed Blozy at the plate after Fishbein sent a liner right at the right fielder. Gerdenich's outfield range was tested twice by Denison in the 11th, and he answered the call both times, including tracking down a long Eric Colaco fly ball near the line, which ended the inning.
Gerdenich, who was pitching in the seventh, worked out of a jam, striking out Sundgren to end the inning with Big Red runners at second and third. Rizzo nearly started an inning-ending double play prior to the strikeout, but Colaco was able to get down the line to beat out Bhatt's throw.
Wooster scored the tying run in the top of the ninth when Denison shortstop Alex Vasquez sent a potential game-ending double play throw wide of first base. That enabled Rizzo to speed home from second. Prior to tying the game at five, Rizzo legged out a one-out infield single and moved up to second when Bhatt sent a single into right field.
Senior pinch hitter Andrew Kerr walked to lead off the top of the seventh and scored to put Wooster up 4-3 when Rizzo ripped a single to left center. Kerr stole second prior to the base knock to move into scoring position.
In the fifth, Kramer's two-run single through the left side of the infield brought in Wooster's first two runs of the game. Leading up to Kramer's RBI, Gerdenich singled to left field and was replaced on the bases by junior catcher Nathaniel Huxtable on a fielder's choice. Wooster put two on when Pett singled through the right side of the infield. Later, Rizzo drew a bases-loaded walk which forced in a run that tied the game at three.
Lutte's two-run homer down the right field line opened the game's scoring in the third inning. Rollo made it 3-0 in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Wooster threatened to add to its lead in the eighth inning, but left the bases loaded. The Scots had runners on the corners after Denison second baseman Eron Vega could not locate a popup on the infield that was right above him. Denison intentionally walked junior first baseman Ryan Kramer before Kerr grounded out to Vega to end the inning.
A passed ball proved costly in the eighth inning, as it allowed the tying run to score for Denison. Blozy was hit by a pitch to start the inning, moved to second on Nowik's walk, and advanced 90 feet when Rollo rolled a grounder to Kramer at first. Later, Vasquez lifted the go-ahead sacrifice fly out to right field, which plated Nowik.
Wooster turned to sophomore Michael Scarpelli for the start, as he did not face Denison during the regular season. Wooster's strategic decision worked to perfection, as the right-hander held a 9.1 per-game scoring offense to three runs on seven hits in six innings. Gfell dropped to 2-2 after allowing a run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Rizzo went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run. Barienbrock added three hits, while Pett finished with two.
Will Rettig put Denison on his back out of the bullpen, going six innings of relief. He struck out nine and allowed two runs on six hits. Peter Lemke started for the Big Red and was overall ineffective. He exited after 4 1/3 innings, during which he allowed three runs on six hits. Offensively, Lutte went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
Wooster outhit Denison 13-11, but left 14 on base to the Big Red's 12.
Wooster now awaits the loser of Thursday's second game between Wabash College (27-13) and Wittenberg University (28-10). Wooster plays that team at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Friday at VA Memorial Stadium. The winner of the 1:30 p.m. plays a second elimination game on Friday, with that set for approximately 5 p.m. The winner of Friday's 5 p.m. game plays in the championship round on Saturday.
photo by Dani Johnson, NCAC
