Juniors Michael Scarpelli and Constantine Vernadakis combined on a four-hit shutout of East Texas Baptist University to kick start The College of Wooster baseball team's finish to its Texas trip. Wooster beat ETBU on Friday 3-0, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 10-9 on Saturday, and capped the five-game southern swing with a 6-5 loss to ETBU on Saturday night.

Scarpelli (3-2) was dominant, allowing three hits in his seven shutout innings. He retired nine batters in a row, starting in the third inning, a frame in which he helped his cause by picking off Joaquin Costa, who reached on a walk. The right-hander escaped a sixth-inning jam, getting over to first to cover on an inning-ending grounder fielded by junior first baseman Zack Barienbrock. That stranded two ETBU runners in scoring position, including what was at the time the tying run at third.

Vernadakis nailed down the save, working around a leadoff walk in the eighth and a two-out infield single in the ninth. He struck out a pair of Tigers in the ninth for his fifth collegiate save.

Offensively, Wooster struck in the second when ETBU starter Tyler Bogusz mishandled a ball off the bat of junior left fielder Koa Siu. Siu moved up to second on the error and scored on sophomore second baseman Luke Rizzo's double to center.

Senior catcher Colin Leslie's power kept surging, as he parked a two-run homer beyond the fence down the left field line in the ninth. First-year pinch hitter Bennett Grossman reached on a double prior to Leslie's fifth round tripper over the last five games.

Outside of the homer, Bogusz (1-1) and Aiden Leonard were equally effective to Scarpelli and Vernadakis, as ETBU held Wooster to five hits in the game. The Tigers' duo struck out 11.

Senior designated hitter Ryan Kramer homered to stake Wooster to an early 2-0 lead against Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday. Wooster's lead grew to 4-2 in the fourth. First-year right fielder Owen Sherrill singled up the middle, and sophomore third baseman Maanav Bhatt scored all the way from first. Bhatt reached on a fielder's choice a batter prior.

Wooster kept up the pressure in the fourth, scoring another run on a Mary Hardin-Baylor error when Rizzo stole second. Sherrill scored on the play.

Wooster broke the Mary Hardin-Baylor game open in the fifth, utilizing a pair of homers to claim a 9-3 advantage. First-year shortstop Noah Lindberg moved into a tie with Kramer for second on the team with five round trippers on his solo shot to left center. Sherrill became the eighth different player to homer later in the inning, blasting a three-run shot left.

Riley Bender's two-run homer to left center in the eighth tied Saturday's Mary Hardin-Baylor game at nine. Wooster answered right back in the bottom of the frame, as Sherrill singled up the middle and scored on Lindberg's sacrifice fly. Sherrill moved to pitcher and nailed down the save in the ninth. Leslie caught another base stealer, completing the strike out-throw out two-for-one special before Sherrill froze Jacob Newland at the dish for the game-ending punchout.

Senior Tahj Orona was the winning pitcher against Mary Hardin-Baylor, running his record to 2-0. Sherrill's save was his first. He led the offense, finishing the Mary Hardin-Baylor game 4-for-4 with four RBI and four runs.

Jacob Haynes took the loss for Mary Hardin-Baylor, allowing a run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings. Mary Hardin-Baylor hit four homers in the game.

Wooster tied Saturday's finale against ETBU at one in the fourth inning. Leslie added a seventh homer to his 2026 line. Later, the score was five all in the top of the seventh inning. Barienbrock delivered the tying hit with a two-run double to right center.

ETBU's Kaden Wharton knocked the winning RBI double down the left field line with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Leslie picked off Kahne Nolen in the first inning and navigated Wooster through an inning-ending double steal attempt in the fifth. Bhatt kept a run off the board by throwing out the lead runner at the plate in the second inning.

First-year Henry Rouch (2-1) took the loss against ETBU. He allowed two runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings. Senior Jack Spring started and allowed four runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Leslie led the lineup in the finale, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs.

ETBU's Carter Nannini went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored for the Tigers. Carter May was the winning pitcher with two-thirds innings of relief. Conner Smeltzer earned the save. He struck out four in two innings.

Wooster is 15-5 at the midpoint of the season. Upon returning north, Wooster travels to Adrian College (10-4) for a 3 p.m. game on Wednesday, March 25.