CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — It wasn't the best start for Baldwin Wallace at the Division III Men's College World Series, and now the team's run is on the brink of ending if it doesn't turn things around quickly.
The seventh-seeded Yellow Jackets fell to No. 2 Eastern Connecticut Stat 10-3 Friday in the opening round of the championship baseball tournament. BW actually led 1-0 heading into the sixth inning, but the pitching and defense faltered late.
Padua Franciscan alum Alex Ludwick gave the Jackets (37-12) the early edge with an RBI single in the second, and starter Dawson Gabe was able to work his way out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the fifth. But after Gabe walked the first two batters in the bottom of the sixth, CVCA grad Drew Wilson relieved him and promptly hit a batter, allowed an RBI single, issued a bases loaded walk, and let another run score on his own throwing error. When the dust settled, the Warriors led 3-1.
ECSU (45-3) added two more in the seventh off Wilson (9-3) before BW fought back to make it 6-3 in the eighth. Unfortunately, it was all downhill from that point, as Waynedale product Steve Spidell allowed four unearned runs thanks to a throwing error by third baseman Sean Kolenich, his second of the evening. In all, the Yellow Jackets committed four errors as a team, leading to five extra runs.
Jason Claiborn paced the Warriors' lineup with a triple and four RBIs. Righty Billy Oldham (11-2) picked up the win by giving up just two runs and striking out 10 over 6 1/3 innings.
Baldwin Wallace will play again Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in the elimination bracket against the loser of Friday's matchup between 3-seed LaGrange and 6-seed Trinity (Texas), with both teams involved needing a victory to stay alive in the World Series. Eastern Connecticut will face the winner of tonight's game tomorrow at 8:45 p.m. for a trip to the semifinals.
