Playing to improve their record to above .500, the Wildcats welcomed the Benedictine Bengals to Baldwin Wallace University on Wednesday afternoon. Having already lost in the postseason, all Benedictine had to play for was pride, and for one more win before packing up the equipment for the season.
The Bengals came ready to upset the Wildcats, and the visitors almost did that just. The Bengals took Saint Ignatius into the bottom of the seventh with the game tied at 2-2.
Bengals closer Josh Boswell came on to try and force extra innings in Berea. However, Seth Warren and AJ Gaich led off the home half of the seventh with back-to-back singles to get the winning run on base.
Ryan Jacobs, the pure baseball player he is, laid down a perfect sac bunt down the third base line to move Alec Guy, pinch running for Warren, and Gaich over to get the winning run on third. Boswell and the Bengals then intentionally walked Drew Asadorian to load the bases for the potential double play. However, it did not pay off for the Bengals.
As a pinch hitter for the ‘Cats, Adams drew a hit by pitch on his left shoulder to walk home the winning run from third base. Guy trotted home and the Wildcats defeated the Bengals, 3-2, in a unique ending to the contest.
Saint Ignatius and Benedictine are known for their West side-East side rivalry on the hardwood, but this might be the start of a solid matchup every year on the diamond.
The contest was a pitching duel for most of the game. After allowing the first run of the game in the first frame, Saint Ignatius starting pitcher Erik Demchuk settled down and threw a solid 4 ⅓ innings, striking out three, allowing two runs, and yielding just three hits. It was his best outing of the year even though he received a no-decision.
For Benedictine, Levi Pokersnik was outstanding just like Demchuk. The only rough inning he had was the second, in which the Wildcats took their first lead. In that inning, after back-to-back singles by Jack Eyink and Warren, AJ Gaich lined an opposite field triple past the left fielder to bring home Eyink and Warren and grant the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.
Other than that, Pokersnik squeezed out of several dangerous jams. He finished throwing 3 ⅓ innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, walking four, and striking out three.
Griffin Hunt came on in the fourth to hold the tie for the Wildcats, and he finished with three big strikeouts and just one hit allowed.
The contest was another team win for the Wildcats. The Baseball Cats notched their fifth win in a row and moved above .500 for the first time since their first game after a 1-0 win over Bishop England (SC) and started the season off at 1-0.
Saint Ignatius now gets set for its fourth game in six days on Thursday back at Baldwin Wallace as they welcome the 16-2 Solon Comets at 5 p.m.