Records Fall as UNOH Makes History with Third Straight Conference Title

LIMA, OH - Needing just one win to clinch another title, UNOH finished off a four-game sweep of UM-Dearborn on Friday becoming the first team to claim three consecutive WHAC Championships in fifteen years (Madonna 2008-11) and the first ever in program history. Their fourth championship in five years was officially claimed after a 4-1 win over the Wolverines in the opening game of the second doubleheader. With the title in hand, the Racers finished off the regular season in style closing out the series with a 21-5 victory that improved their conference record to 92-11 over their three-year run on top.

UM-Dearborn was able to turn one hit into the first run of the day thanks to a walk, a stolen base and a wild pitch. The home half of the third opened with the Racers' first hit of the game with Dylan Mroz doubling to the deepest part of the field. He was put out on the next batter but was replaced on second by Casey Barnes with two outs. Fabian Romero gapped a shot to the fence in right center field that resulted in his fourth triple of the season and tied the game 1-1. 

Zach Cabell (6-3) took command of the game from the mound and kept the Wolverines to just one hit over the final four innings giving his offense a chance to close out the championship. Back-to-back doubles in the home fifth by Brennan Green and Fabian Romero scored what would become the clinching run, but it was just the first. Two more singles coming from Eliomar Otero and Cesar Grau brought in two more insurance runs to finish off the game one scoring.

Cabell went the distance for his fifth complete game of the season striking out seven, walking four and scattering five hits over seven innings.

The final game of the regular season was drastically different than the previous three that saw a total of just six runs separate the two teams. The Racers came out swinging and finally found some gaps in the defense lacing consecutive doubles in what would become a three-run frame in the first. Two singles and a walk loaded the bags to begin their next trip that followed with back-to-back sacrifice flies. The second came off the bat of Eliomar Otero and set two all-time records for the senior shortstop. It was Otero's 20th career sac fly that brought home his record setting 187th career RBI (Both previously held by Kyle Fisher - 2015-18). Cesar Grau added one more in the frame with his second RBI double in two at bats setting the program's single season record with 21 (Josue Ortiz - 2022). 

The offense kept building into the third using two singles and a walk to make it an eight-run ball game. On the very next pitch, Casey Barnes smashed his sixth home run of the season that marked the first of two for UNOH. Otero capped the inning with his sixth homer of the year that also tied the program's all-time record with 27 in his career. The bottom fell out for the Wolverines in the home sixth walking three batters and hitting another two as UNOH hung their second seven-spot of the game. The scoring was finished off by the team's fourth and fifth doubles that added four more to the board with three of those going to Kole Huffman on his third hit of the game.

Cesar Grau ended the day with three RBI over the two games pulling him within two of the program's single season record (70). Eliomar Otero will also be chasing more history of his own as the team enters post season play needing just seven more hits to tie the program's all-time record (253).

Noah Curi tossed the first two and a third innings logging five strikeouts and two walks while seeing one unearned run cross the plate. Carter Hicks entered runners on second and third in the third inning but worked out of the jam retiring both batters the batters he faced. Parker Kerr (2-1) took over in the fourth and proceeded to work the longest appearance of his career to earn the win in relief. Kerr mowed through six straight batters over two innings forcing two gound outs, two pop ups and two strikeouts. Peyton Keeler finished the final inning and a third in his first collegiate appearance allowing two hits and striking out one.

UNOH now knows they will be the top seed in the tournament but will have to sit back and wait to find out their first opponent. Three teams will still be fighting for the final two post season spots with two of those three (Siena Heights & Lourdes) facing each other on the final day of the regular season tomorrow. The 2026 WHAC Tournament gets underway April 29 and will be played at Meijer Sports Complex and Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan in a double-elimination format.