Big fourth inning lifts Baseball in nightcap as ONU splits twin-bill with Muskingum

By Caleb Scott

ADA -- The Ohio Northern baseball team used a 7-run fourth inning scoring outburst in the second game of a double header with Muskingum as Northern fell 5-2 in game one before defeating the Muskies 12-1 in the nightcap of a double header at Wander Field.

The Polar Bears move to 13-14 overall and 4-6 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Muskies move to 12-14, 5-5.

Sophomore Luke Klinehoffer (Zanesville/John Glenn) led Northern at the plate as he went a combined 5-for-9 with two RBI and four runs scored. 

Senior Kyle Schlade (Hamilton/Talawanda) was a combined 4-for-7 with four RBI and two runs scored.

After Muskingum got on the board first, Schlade hit an RBI single to center field to score Klinehoffer and tie the score at 1-1.

The Muskies were able to regain the lead in the top of the fifth as tacked on another run to take a 2-1 lead.

Northern would answer in the bottom of the seventh inning as Klinehoffer reached home after a single from junior Hayden Shenefield (Powell/Worthington Kilbourne) and an error from the left fielder to even the game at 2-2.

MU would take control of the lead once again in the top of the eighth inning to push the lead to 4-2.

The Muskies tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth to seal the 5-2 game one victory.

In the second contest, freshman Phil Buckingham (Wayne/Elmwood) would reach first base on a 4-pitch walk, before junior Brandon Kasberg (Mentor) drove him home with an RBI double to left center and give ONU a 1-0 lead early on in the contest.

After a groundout from junior Jordan Bostater (Bryan) advanced Kasberg to third base, senior Jacob Lochard (Sidney) would hit a single to the left center gap to plate Kasberg and push the lead to 2-0.

Muskingum would close the gap to 2-1 in the top of the sixth inning, before Buckingham hit a sac fly to center field to plate Schlade and give Northern a 3-1 lead.

Junior Jason Burkett (Maumee) was able to add one more run in the bottom of the second inning on an error from the MU shortstop to open a 4-1 lead after two innings.

In the bottom of the third inning, Klinehoffer was able to get to second with a double before Schlade hit an RBI single to right center to push the lead to 5-1.

After Lochard laid down a bunt to load the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning, Klinehoffer would drill a double down the left field line and plate two runs to make the lead 7-1.

On the ensuing at bat, Schlade hit a single down the right field line to clear the bases and push the lead to 9-1.

A single from Buckingham, double from Kasberg and sac fly to center field from Bostater would help Northern grow the lead to 12-1 after four innings and seal the victory.

Northern will return to action Monday as they host area-rival Bluffton in a double header at Wander Field at 2 pm.