Racers Sneak Past UMD Twice -- Magic Number Down to One

LIMA, OH - UNOH baseball closed to within one game of the program's first ever three-peat on Thursday sneaking past UM-Dearborn twice, 5-3 in game one and 13-12 in game two.

The day wasn't as straight forward as the top-versus-bottom matchup might have looked on paper as the Wolverines took their best shot at the two-time defending WHAC Champions. A quick three-run first inning helped the Racers' cause in the opening game. They turned a single and a double into the game's first run with a fielder's choice and another single finishing off the frame. After the hot start, the UNOH offense completely dried up as the next nine batters were retired in order. UM-Dearborn took advantage of the opportunity in the fourth stringing together four singles that shaved two runs off the deficit and made it a 3-2 ball game.

The Racer fifth began the same as the previous three with the first two batters getting put down quickly. A two-out walk kept the inning alive and Cesar Grau seized the moment. Grau laced a shot through the right side of the defense that did enough to bring Eliomar Otero all the way around to score from first base. Zach Grigalis followed with a drive through the opposite side of the infield that added a second run and gave the Racers a three run cushion. The Wolverines worked one run back in the final frame and sat with runners on first and second with one out, but a 6-3 double play shut down the chance and ended the game.

Daniel Healy (9-1) battled through an up-and-down outing to earn his fifth complete game win of the season, one away from the program record (6 - Pichi Torres/Damon Proctor). Healy ended his day with three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

After UM-Dearborn left the bases loaded in the top of first in game two, UNOH went to work in what would be their biggest inning of the day. A single and a couple walks set up a two-run double for Zach Grigalis before Nolan Hull got into the action this his third triple of the year, scoring two more. Kole Huffman capped a five-run frame for the Racers with a RBI ground out giving his team a big advantage early. They added single runs in the second and fifth, both coming off solo shots by the team's two leading long-ballers. Cesar Grau roped his team leading eighth of the season to left field and Zach Grigalis smashed his seventh to right putting the Racers up 7-1 after five.

The game began to shift as three hits and three walks, two with bases loaded, helped the Wolverines hang a four-spot in the sixth making it a two-run contest. Two doubles, a single and a pair of walks for UNOH in the home half of the inning put them back up five, 10-5, but UM-Dearborn refused to roll over against the reigning champs. They added four more in the seventh and another three in the eighth giving them their first lead of the day, 12-10, with just nine outs left in the game. For the second time, the Racers did their damage with two outs turning back-to-back singles into one run but still needing a big bat to get back in front. It was delivered on time in the form of a Casey Barnes double to the left center gap that scored Tyler Huff from second and Brennan Green as the game winning run all the way from first.

Despite an unintentional and an intentional walk in the final frame, the three remaining outs came from three impressive strikeouts for junior hurler Blake O'Bryan (1-1) who closed out the day with his first career win. Brayden Lybarger did the yeoman's work in game two carrying his start through five innings with five runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking five.

Cesar Grau had himself a day going 4-6, including a 3-4 performance in game two, recording two doubles and a home run over the two games and driving in three RBI. Zach Grigalis, Tyler Huff and Fabian Romero all went 3-7 at the dish and combined for seven RBI between them led by four for Grigalis.

With two wins in hand, UNOH now sits just one game away from their third consecutive regular season title needing either one win over UM-Dearborn on Friday, April 24, or any loss by Indiana Tech this weekend. With weather expected in the area tomorrow afternoon, the second half of the four-game series has been bumped up two hours and will now begin with game one first pitch at 10:00 AM.