Baseball falls just short in a close game against Beloit (Wis.) 9-8

DAVENPORT, Fla. — The Ohio Northern baseball team continued its 12-game spring break trip with a close loss against Beloit (Wis.) 9-8 on Monday afternoon.

The Basics

• Records: Ohio Northern (5-3 overall), Beloit (Wis.) (4-3 overall).
• Venue: NERP Field #4 - Davenport, Fla.

The Game

• Ohio Northern trailed 1-0 going into the 2nd inning, but tied the game on an RBI single by junior Sam Sells (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange), and took the lead when Sells stole home later in the inning.
• In the bottom of the third, sophomore Devin Morris (Archbold) delivered an RBI triple, making it 3-1. 
• ONU's offense kept moving, scoring 4-runs in the bottom of the fourth, including a solo homer by senior Andrew Stechschulte (Findlay), and a 3-run double by junior Chase Armstrong (Louisville, Ky./Trinity) to go up 7-1.
• Beloit eventually retook the lead, and entered the bottom of the ninth leading 9-7.
• The Polar Bears kept battling, and scored on an RBI single by sophomore Kyler Lapp (Hall, Ill.)
• However, the tying run was stranded on second as Northern fell just short.
• Sells and Morris led the Polar Bear offense with two hits apiece on the day.

Notables

• Northern trails in the series all-time against Beloit 1-0.
• Through 8 games this season, sophomore Evan Russ (Westfield, Ind.) leads the Polar Bears with a .538 batting average, going 14-for-26 with 12 RBI.
• Stechschulte now has 90 base hits in 94 career games.
• Armstrong now has 90 base hits in 82 career games.
• Ohio Northern is in its 120th season of baseball. The Polar Bears are 1471-1157-20 all-time, a winning percentage of .560.
• 14th-year head coach Gene Stechschulte is now 283-209 at Ohio Northern for a winning percentage of .577.

Up Next

• The Polar Bears will continue its spring break trip on Tuesday with a 1:45 pm game against Calvin (Mich.)