Klinehoffer hits two home runs, leads Baseball in double header split at Ohio Wesleyan

By Caleb Scott

DELAWARE -- Junior Luke Klinehoffer (Zanesville/John Glenn) hit two home runs and led the Ohio Northern baseball team is it dropped game one 7-5, before picking up an impressive 22-1 victory in game two of a twinbill at Littick Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Polar Bears move to 25-11 overall, while the Battling Bishops move to 16-19.

Klinehoffer led the way offensively, tallying six hits in the contests, four RBI, and four runs scored.

Ohio Wesleyan got on the board first in game one with an RBI double to right center field to plate a run and give OWU a 1-0 lead after two innings.

The Bishops added one more run in the bottom half of the third inning with a lead off solo home run to push the lead to 2-0.

Klinehoffer gave ONU life in the top half on the sixth inning, sending a solo shot over the left field fence to cut the lead to 2-1.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bishops extended the lead to 4-1 and before adding three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to push the lead to 7-1.

Northern would try to rally in the top of the ninth as senior Hayden Shenefield (Powell/Worthington Kilbourne) got on base with a lead off single before fellow senior Dan Barna (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) hit a 2-RBI home run to cut the lead to 7-3.

After sophomore Phil Buckingham (Wayne/Elmwood) got on base, senior Kyle Schlade (Hamilton/Talawanda) hit an RBI double the center field fence and pulled ONU within 7-4.

With two on, Klinehoffer would hit a double to the left field fence to plate Schlade, but ONU could not get any closer as OWU went on to take game one 7-5.

Klinehoffer's second home run of the afternoon came on the second pitch of game two, sending a shot over the left field fence to give Northern an early 1-0 lead.

Senior Jason Burkett (Maumee) added to the ONU lead in the top of the first inning with a 2-RBI double to right center field to push the lead to 3-0.

Shenefield was able to draw a bases loaded walk in the top of the second inning to earn an RBI and push the Northern lead to 4-0.

Freshman Will Davis (Upper Arlington/Bishop Watterson) took advantage of the loaded bases, dropping in a 2-RBI single behind the shortstop to extend the lead to 6-0.

Northern added three more runs in the top of the third inning as three runs scored on two wild pitches as Northern went up 9-0.

After OWU scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning, Burkett scored in the top of the fourth inning, following a single from junior Caleb Thomas (Strongsville) to push the lead to 10-1.

In the same inning, Klinehoffer drove home Thomas and gave ONU a comfortable 11-1 lead.

After the Polar Bear defense held the Bishops scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, Davis hit his first career home run in the top of the sixth inning to add to the lead and put ONU on top 12-1.

With the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning, Buckingham grounded into a fielders choice as Thomas scored, before a throwing error on the same play allowed senior Brandon Kasberg (Mentor) to score and give ONU a 14-1 lead through six innings.

ONU closed the game out scoring eight runs in the seventh inning to claim game two 22-1.

Northern returns to action on Monday afternoon with a 4 p.m. matchup against Wittenberg at Wander Field.