Yellow Jacket Baseball Team Ends Spring Trip at 8-2 Overall as BW Beat WPI, 18-4, on the Final Day
BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team ended its most successful spring trip in more than 30 years as it finished 8-2 overall on its seven-day, 10-game trip to Ft. Myers, Florida and the Gene Cusic Classic. Today (March 13), BW defeated Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Mass.), 18-4, behind the hitting and pitching of junior sensation Mike Turchan (Mayfield Heights/ Mayfield).
In the game, Turchan was four of five at the plate with five runs scored, his fifth homerun of the trip and four runs batted-in. On the mound, Turchan tossed the first six innings, allowing four hits and striking out a career-high 10 to improve to 2-0 overall in 2004. For the trip at the plate, Turchan was an amazing 20 of 33 (.609 batting average) with 20 runs scored, seven doubles, a triple, five homers and 19 RBI. On the mound, he was 2-0 with 15 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched. Defensively, Turchan played eight games at third base and did not commit a single error.
The Yellow Jackets put the game away on WPI with an eight-run second inning that erased a 1-1 tie. The Yellow Jackets then scored three runs in each the third, fourth and fifth innings to lead 18-1.
In addition to Turchan at the plate, sophomore shortstop/ OF Dan Melito (Massillon Washington) was also four of five with three runs scored, his third homer of the trip and a game-high five RBI. Others having two hits in the game included junior SS Jason Albright (Camp Hills, Pa./ East Pennsboro) and sophomores Mike Farrell (Wickliffe), Jim Yezbak (Strongsville) and Jeff Cicerchi (Strongsville). Yezbak had a double, his first career homer and five RBI.
In addition to Turchan on the mound, junior Jay Watson (New Philadelphia), junior Nick Slater (Wooster/ Norwayne) and freshman Nick Vernon (Louisville). Both Watson and Slater tossed scoreless innings.
The Yellow Jackets return to Berea tomorrow (March 14) and open northern play next Saturday, March 20 with a nonleague doubleheader at traditional rival Wittenberg University at 1:00 p.m. The next day, BW is scheduled to play NAIA foe Urbana University.
In the game, Turchan was four of five at the plate with five runs scored, his fifth homerun of the trip and four runs batted-in. On the mound, Turchan tossed the first six innings, allowing four hits and striking out a career-high 10 to improve to 2-0 overall in 2004. For the trip at the plate, Turchan was an amazing 20 of 33 (.609 batting average) with 20 runs scored, seven doubles, a triple, five homers and 19 RBI. On the mound, he was 2-0 with 15 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched. Defensively, Turchan played eight games at third base and did not commit a single error.
The Yellow Jackets put the game away on WPI with an eight-run second inning that erased a 1-1 tie. The Yellow Jackets then scored three runs in each the third, fourth and fifth innings to lead 18-1.
In addition to Turchan at the plate, sophomore shortstop/ OF Dan Melito (Massillon Washington) was also four of five with three runs scored, his third homer of the trip and a game-high five RBI. Others having two hits in the game included junior SS Jason Albright (Camp Hills, Pa./ East Pennsboro) and sophomores Mike Farrell (Wickliffe), Jim Yezbak (Strongsville) and Jeff Cicerchi (Strongsville). Yezbak had a double, his first career homer and five RBI.
In addition to Turchan on the mound, junior Jay Watson (New Philadelphia), junior Nick Slater (Wooster/ Norwayne) and freshman Nick Vernon (Louisville). Both Watson and Slater tossed scoreless innings.
The Yellow Jackets return to Berea tomorrow (March 14) and open northern play next Saturday, March 20 with a nonleague doubleheader at traditional rival Wittenberg University at 1:00 p.m. The next day, BW is scheduled to play NAIA foe Urbana University.
FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact SID Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX Machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.