Wednesday, March 20, 2013
by Dane Neumeister

Taylor Simpson (Monroe, OH/Monroe) hit a two-run, two-out double in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday night, helping the Mount to a 9-8 home win over Wilmington College. The Lions, 4-8 overall, this weekend, March 23-24, when they play a doubleheader on the first day and and a single game on the second day against HCAC-foe Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The one-run game was the sixth such the team has played this season, with the Lions holding a 2-4 in those games.

The Lions scored the game's first run in the first inning, and led by a 6-1 score after four innings, thanks to two RBI from first baseman Derek Allen (New Alsace, IN/East Central). Wilmington cut the deficit to 6-4 in the fifth inning, and took an 8-6 lead in the top of the sixth inning. The Mount's Rob Shaw (West Chester, OH/Lakota West) doubled in temmate Jonathan Roberts (Hebron, KY/Conner) in the bottom of the sixht inning to bring the Lions to within one run, 8-7, of the lead. Neither team scored in the seventh and eighth innings, and Mount reliever Chris Bruckman (Huber Heights, OH/Chaminade-Julienne) held the Quakers scoreless in the top of the ninth setting the state for Simpson's game-winning hit in the bottom of the inning.

After two strikeouts, Drew Werner (Sunman, IN/East Central) singled to center field and Cole Wendeln (Florence, KY/Boone County) singled up the middle, moving pinch runner Michael Gill (Burlington, KY/Conner) to second base. Kyle Vennemeier (Harrison, OH/Harrison) pinch hit and drew a walk, loading the bases. Simpson then ripped a long fly ball down the right field line away from the Wilmington right fielder, who dove for the ball and appeared to have made the catch until contacting the ground.

Bruckman evened his 2013 record at 1-1 with the win, while Simpson and Wendeln each collected three hits for the Mount's 12-hit attack. Shaw and Allen chipped in two RBI each.