Baseball fends off Johnson & Wales (R.I.) comeback attempt to take a 10-7 victory

By: Monique Bowman

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Ohio Northern extended its winning streak to three games following a 10-7 win over Johnson & Wales (R.I.) Wednesday afternoon at the Ripken Experience Division III Week at Griffith Field.

The Polar Bears (3-0) scored in the first five innings, going up 4-1 at the start of the fourth inning. In that inning, ONU put up two more runs when pinch runner Devin Kisor and junior Eric Yunker would score on a Wildcat throwing error.

J&W (0-3) would close in on ONU's lead in the bottom of the inning posting three runs to take the scoreboard to 6-4.

Northern would score one more in the fifth for the 7-4 lead before the Wildcats put up one run in the bottom of the fifth and two in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 7-all.

Sophomore Matt Hampshire would get the Polar Bears over the hump late in the game, cracking the ball deep into left field for a triple to start the eighth inning. Classmate Cory Martin would come up next to single and drive in Hampshire for the 8-7 lead.

Scoring in the inning would continue when an Erik Stegman's single to left center field advanced Martin to second. The two then took another base on a center fielder ball fumble and then freshman Brian Thomas would double to bring in the two waiting runners.

Martin had a great day at the plate, with three hits in four at-bats, scoring twice and batting in one run. Hampshire subbed in and went 2 for 3 with one run scored.

As a team, ONU went 4 for 4 in stolen bases, with Stegman, senior  Adam Yunker, freshman Josh Murphy and junior Chad Coward all tallying one.

"We bent but didn't break today, which is good because it shows we can maintain our composure," says head coach Justin Bergman. "Pitching wasn't great and we left a lot of guys on bases but we still scored 10 runs which is great."

The Polar Bears have a day off before resuming play Friday with a 3 p.m. game against Wilkes (Pa.).