Strong fourth inning lifts Baseball past Pitt.-Greensburg at RussMatt Invitational

By Caleb Scott

AUBURNDALE, Fla. — The Ohio Northern baseball team used a strong fourth inning effort to defeat Pitt.-Greensburg Tuesday afternoon in Auburndale, Fla. at Lake Myrtle Park. 

The Polar Bears improve to 4-1 overall with the victory.

Senior Kyle Schlade (Hamilton/Talawanda) recorded four hits, while sophomore Luke Klinehoffer (Zanesville/John Glenn) had three hits to lead the Polar Bear offense, and juniors Dan Barna (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) and Jason Burkett (Maumee) each added two hits and two runs for Northern.

After the Bobcats struck first in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead, Northern would answer with a 2-run third inning to take a 2-1 lead.

After Barna singled to left center, Klinehoffer would hit an RBI double down the left field line and plate Barna to tie the game at 1-1.

On the ensuing at bat, junior Brandon Kasberg (Mentor) ground out to the shortstop and drive Klinehoffer home to give ONU the 2-1 lead.

Northern would add to its lead in the top of the fourth inning as junior Hayden Shenefield (Powell/Worthington Kilbourne) was walked, Schlade singled and Burkett reached on a fielders choice, before sophomore Adam Wilson drove Shenefield home with a single to right center to push the lead to 3-1.

Barna wasted no time in adding to the lead as he found the gap in left center with a 2-RBI triple that plated Wilson and Burkett to give ONU a 5-1 lead.

Kasberg would continue the solid hitting for Northern in the fourth inning as he doubled down the right field line to plate Barna and extend the lead to 6-1 after four innings.

Burkett was able to add to the lead in the top of the sixth inning as he doubled to right center before stealing third and scoring on the throw to push the lead to 7-2.

Schlade would add to the lead in the top of the seventh inning as he doubled into right field and brought sophomore Caleb Thomas (Strongsville) home to push the lead to 8-2.

Pitt.-Greensburg would add 4 runs in the bottom of the eighth and ninth to close the gap to 8-6 but were unable to overcome the deficit as Northern went on to win 8-6.

Freshman Josh Mohr (Oregon/Clay) earned the victory on the bump for ONU as he went 6.0 innings and fanned 10 batters in his collegiate debut.

Junior T.J. Storer (Loveland/Moeller) posted his second save of the season in the victory.

The Polar Bears will return to action tomorrow morning as they take on St. John Fisher at Lake Myrtle Park at 9:15 am.