OWU Baseball Fall Classic

Just this past week, OWU Baseball finished up their fall intersquad scrimmages, Red and Black.

Team Red was led by captains Jack Bates, Hank Holman, Blake Petit, and Zane Vitense. On the flip side, Colton Moone, Parker Tomlin, Alex Snyder, Matt Spencer, and Carter Vilevac anchored down team Black.

With each team's captains set, the draft took place on October 1st. The next day, festivities took off, and the games were underway.

Game One started out hot with Alex Snyder of team black hitting a home run early in the game off Jacob Lowery. The offense did not stop in the bottom of the first, and team Black would pile on 7 runs in game one, while team Red could only muscle up 3 runs. Nate Cory would get the win.

Game Two started similarly. Team Red would roll out Zane Vitense, and at the top of the first, after some early traffic on the base paths, Alex Snyder would put another one out for a 3-run home run. Team Red would get some late offense on the back of a Dom Muratori RBI single and a Luke Johnson RBI double, but would eventually fall short 10-4, with Paul Krueger getting the win for Team Black. 

After a rainout that pushed the series after fall break, team Red saw an opportunity and pounced! On the brink of elimination, team Red would scratch across an early run in the top of the first to take a one to 1-0 lead.

Retaliating, team Black would score in the bottom of the first on a Matt Spencer RBI single. A Luke Johnson RBI double in the top of the third would give team Red the lead, and they wouldn’t give it back. JJ Earley came in and closed the game out for Red, giving them a 6-4 victory, and Cam McKenzie the win.

Game four would begin with Zane Vitense throwing a scoreless first inning, before recording a sacrifice fly to take the lead 1-0. Team Black was able to scratch across a few runs in the top of the 4th, but a late Henry Isaacs RBI double would ensure the lead and give the save opportunity to Hank Holman. Holman would convert, and team Red would tie the series up at 2 wins a piece, and Zane Vitense would get the win.

The decisive game five was set, with Tyler Mathews taking the mound for team Black and Jacob Lowery for team Red. After two scoreless innings from Tyler Mathews, team Black would score a run in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead.

A solo shot by Alex Snyder in the bottom of the 5th would extend the lead for team Black. An RBI double by Jack Bates in the top of the sixth would put team Red within striking distance, but Nate Hurley would come in to protect the lead.

A late three-run home run by Alex Snyder would seal the deal on the game, with team Black defeating team Red 8-4 to win the series, three wins to two wins. Senior Alex Snyder erupted in the series, for four home runs in just three games played, and subsequently took home the series MVP.