The Scots were on an absolute rampage over the past week, winning six games in a five day period to finish the season 31-7 and secure the top spot in the NCAC East. The Scots (31-7, 13-3 NCAC) even pulled off a dream win for any Ohio team by winning a game at Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians, on April 21.
In a true showcase of the graduating seniors, that game was won in the first three innings, with the Scots beating Case Western Reserve University 13-5. The game was sealed in the third inning with Wooster up 3-0 when Matt Groezinger ’10 hit a 380-foot two run home run into the right field bleachers and when Shane Swearingen ’10 knocked in a two out base clearing RBI to put the Scots up 8-0. Despite a more effective pitching performance from Case Western (27-18) as the game continued, the Spartans were never able to recover from the early torment unleashed by the Scots.
Pitching for the Scots was Justin McDowell ’11, who only went three innings before being pulled to let the seniors see some action. In those three innings he allowed just one hit and struck out one batter. After him, Keenan White ’13, Colin Meinzer ’12, Matt Barnes ’11, Tanner Hall ’10, Nate Gemberling-Johnson ’10 and Matt DeGrand ’10 would all have the chance to take the mound where recent Indians greats CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee had constructed Cy Young winning seasons.
Over the next four days the Scots continued their winning ways, beating Denison University (21-16, 11-5 NCAC) once and Hiram College (2-29, 1-15 NCAC) four times all at Art Murray Field. In the Denison game, the Scots scored one run in each of the first three innings to be ahead 3-2, before the Scots would play smart baseball and score four runs on RBI singles, putting them up 7-2, eventually leading them to win 10-2. On the day, the most notable offensive performance came from Chris Wood ’10, who went 3-3 with three RBIs and a walk.
In the games against Hiram, who were 6-25 entering the four-game series, the Scots reminded everyone why they are the No. 3 team in America, winning the four games by scores of 14-0, 15-3, 18-4 and 5-1.
The team made history in the second of the four games, when behind the bats of Greg Van Horn ’11, Matthew Johnson ’10, and Groezinger twice the Scots were able to set an NCAA Div. III record by hitting four triples in one inning. Groezinger’s two triples makes him the sixth man in Div. III history to accomplish this feat. Also of note, Johnson went 11-for-12 over the four games against the Terriers, with five RBIs, 10 runs scored and a walk.
The Scots played Wabash College in the first round of the NCAC tournament on Thursday.† A win would propel the Scots into the final games of the tournament, played today and tomorrow at Chillicothe, Ohio.