McMann sets all-time doubles record as Baseball sweeps doubleheader with Muskingum

By Wes Mayberry

NEW CONCORD — The Ohio Northern baseball team showcased its offensive firepower Friday, pounding out 28 hits in an 11-4, 8-3 doubleheader sweep of Muskingum at Mose Morehead Field.

The Polar Bears improve to 15-9 overall and 3-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference while dropping the Muskies to 12-8, 2-4.

Fifth-year senior Corey McMann (Flower Mound, Tex./Liberty Christian) tallied a home run and a pair of doubles in a five-hit day, becoming ONU's all-time leader in career doubles with 47. The old mark of 46 was shared by Luke Klinehoffer (2016-2019) and Scott Bush (1998-2001). McMann finished with three RBIs on the day.

Freshman Chase Armstrong (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) was also a major part of the offensive explosion, finishing with a combined seven hits, including two home runs and two doubles, to go with five RBIs.

Northern tallied 15 hits in Game 1, and McMann led off the scoring with a two-run homer in the top of the first inning.

Freshman Robbie Reed (Goshen, Ky./Trinity) added a three-run blast in the fourth, putting ONU up 5-1.

After the Muskies plated a run in the fifth, Armstrong hit the first of his two homers in the game, a solo shot in the sixth that put Northern up 6-2.

MU scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to two, but the Polar Bears extended their lead to 9-4 in the top of the seventh courtesy of an RBI double from senior Nate Webb (Bath, Ind./Union County) and a two-run homer from Armstrong.

Northern capped the scoring with a two-run ninth that included an RBI single from sophomore Andrew Stechschulte (Findlay).

Senior Tim Knapschaefer (Maria Stein/Marion Local) earned the win on the mound for ONU, improving to 2-2 on the season. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six over five innings.

Junior Noah Truax (Lewis Center/Bishop Watterson) earned his first save of the season, and fourth of his career, after pitching a hitless final three innings with two walks and two strikeouts.

Armstrong and McMann each finished with a team-best three of ONU's 13 hits to lead the offense in Game 2.

Trailing 2-0, the Polar Bears tied the score in the top of the fourth, which was highlighted by an RBI double from senior Jacob Wenning (Coldwater).

Northern added two more runs in the fifth via RBI doubles from junior Logan Stevens (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) and McMann.

RBI singles from sophomore Hunter Kauser (Paulding) and junior Dakota Durick (New Castle, Ind.) extended the ONU lead to 6-2 in the sixth.

Northern added an RBI single from Armstrong in the seventh and a solo homer from Webb in the ninth.

MU capped the scoring with a ninth-inning sacrifice fly from Sam Palmieri.

Senior Jack Hutchins (Bright, Ind./East Central) got the pitching start for ONU in the game and earned the win to improve to 4-2 on the season. He allowed two runs on nine hits and tallied four strikeouts over 7.1 innings.

The Polar Bears return to action on Tuesday when they host an OAC doubleheader against Wilmington beginning at 1 p.m.