Baseball drops hard-fought 4-3 decision at Anderson (Ind.)

By Caleb Scott

WESTFIELD, Ind. — The Ohio Northern baseball team saw its 6-game winning streak snapped as it dropped a tough 4-3 decision to Anderson (Ind.) on Thursday afternoon at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana.

The Polar Bears fall to 10-4 overall, while the Ravens improve to 10-9.

Seniors Kyle Schlade (Hamilton/Talawanda), Brandon Kasberg (Mentor) and Hayden Shenefield (Powell/Worthington Kilbourne) led the way offensively for ONU, recording a pair of hits each.

Schlade added a run scored and an RBI for ONU.

After a scoreless first inning, ONU struck first in the top of the second inning as Schlade hit a single to left field and plated senior Jason Burkett (Maumee) to give ONU a 1-0 lead.

Anderson answered in the bottom of the second inning, knotting the game at 1-1.

The Ravens scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking a 3-1 advantage, before Northern answered with back-to-back runs in the top of the sixth and seventh inning to tie the game at 3-3.

In the top of the sixth inning, Schlade scored on an RBI single from junior Luke Klinehoffer (Zanesfield/John Glenn) before the tying run came in the top of the seventh inning as freshman Michael Rocco (Zionsville, Ind.) scored following a fielders choice from senior Jordan Bostater (Bryan).

The Polar Bears would surrender the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning as Anderson scored the go-ahead run to seal the 4-3 victory.

Sophomore Nate Bye (Thorntown, Ind./Western Boone) led Northern on the mound, striking out five batters through 6.0 innings of work.

Northern will return to action on Saturday afternoon as it kicks off its Ohio Athletic Conference schedule with a twinbill against Heidelberg at 1 p.m. at Wander Field.