Shaffer earns first wins as Saints sweep home opener

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (FLORENCE, Ky.) – The Thomas More University baseball team swept West Virginia Wesleyan College in their home opener doubleheader on Friday afternoon (Feb. 20), winning the first game by a score of 5-3 before taking game two by a score of 17-6. Cole Shaffer earns his first wins at the helm of the Saints program.
 

Game 1: Thomas More 5 – West Virginia Wesleyan 3 (7 innings)

• Thomas More scored four runs in the first inning. It started as junior Nolan Krekeler (Loveland, OH / Moeller), freshman Jack Geers (Harrison, OH / Harrison), and junior Ty Cunningham (Fairfield, OH / Fairfield) all scored as Nolan Krekeler hit a single to right field but kept being able to run on an Bobcats error.
• Senior Riley Poston (Lancaster, OH / Lancaster) then singled up the middle to drive in Gunner Kalkhoff.
• The Bobcats scored once in the third inning on four straight walks.
• Freshman Sean O'Donnell (Pittsburgh, PA / North Allegheny / USC Lancaster) singled up the middle and advanced to second on an error before Ty Cunningham singled to right field. Jack Geers sacrifice bunt allowed Sean O'Donnell to score in the bottom of the fourth inning.
• West Virginia Wesleyan score a run in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Game 2: Thomas More 17 – West Virginia Wesleyan 6

• The Saints started scoring early with Nolan Krekeler and Jack Geers scoring on a junior Matt Resing (Independence, Ky. / St. Henry) single through the left side of the field in the bottom of the first.
• Nolan Krekeler then earned three RBIs in the bottom of the second inning hitting a double to left center field with bases loaded, allowing Jack Geers, Ty Cunningham, and Sean O'Donnell to score. The Saints had a 5-0 lead after two innings.
• The Bobcats got on the board in the fourth inning with two runs.
• The Thomas More offense exploded during the fourth inning, scoring seven runs on seven hits. Within the inning, the team hit for the cycle with Sean O'Donnell leading off with a double to center field, before Jack Geers homered to left field. Nolan Krekeler hit a triple before scoring on a senior Gunner Kalkhoff (Cincinnati, OH / LaSalle) single to left center. Gunner Kalkhoff stole home to put the score at 9-2.
• Matt Resing scored on a sophomore Chad Atchley (Peach Grove, KY / Simon Kenton) single to fight field. Sean O'Donnell then tripled to right field to drive in Chad Atchley and Riley Poston to give the Saints a 10-run lead.
• West Virginia Wesleyan had a solo home run on their second batter but left two stranded in the top of the fifth.
• Gunner Kalkhoff and sophomore Drew Barth (Fort Thomas, KY / Highlands) scored on a Matt Resing double in the bottom of the fifth. Matt Resing later scored on a triple from freshman Theodore Bosio (Grand Rapids, MI / Forest Hills Northern), who scored himself during the next at-bat as Chad Atchley hit a sacrifice fly to left field. Thomas More scored a total of 4 runs on 4 hits, taking a 16-3 lead.
• Freshman Ayden Holden (Williamsburg, OH / Williamsburg) hit a lead-off solo home run to left center in the bottom of the sixth inning for the final run for the Saints.
• The visitors scored three runs in the top of the 8th inning before the teams finished the game just under three hours.

 

Game 1:

• Gunner Kalkhoff went 1-3 from the plate with a double and scored a run.
• Ty Cunningham had two walks, a hit, a stolen base, and scored a run.
• Nolan Krekeler, Riley Poston, Theodore Bosio, and Sean O'Donnell each had singles. Nolan Krekeler scored a run and had an RBI. Sean O'Donnell and Jack Geers each scored while Riley Poston earned an RBI.

Game 2:

• Jack Geers went 2-5 at the plate with a home run, three runs scored, and two RBIs.
• Nolan Krekeler went 3-5 with a double and a triple. He scored twice and batted in three.
• Matt Resing went 4-6 with a double, 4 RBIs, and two runs scored.
• Gunner Kalkhoff went 2-4 with 2 runs, 2 walks, and an RBI.
• Sean O'Donnell went 4-5 with a double and a triple, scoring twice and with 2 RBIs.
• Holden hit a home run for his only hit of the game, He also drew a walk and scored twice.
• Theodore Bosio and Riley Poston each had a triple for both of their only hits of the game.
• Nolan Krekeler and Gunner Kalkhoff each had two stolen bases, Jack Geers and Matt Resing each added their own.

 

Game 1:

• Redshirt-sophomore Joe Stone (Waynesville, OH / Waynesville) got the win after going 5.0 innings allowing just 1 run and striking out seven of the 21 batters he faced. He allowed just three hits and walked four.
• Senior Ian Bierbaum (Cincinnati, OH / LaSalle) had .2 innings on the bump facing six batters, striking out one and allowing two hits.
• Sophomore Cameron Snider (Amelia, OH / Bethel-Tate) earned the save with 1.1 innings of work allowing 1 hit, 1 run, 1 walk and striking out 1.

Game 2:

• Sophomore Logan Cones (Independence, KY / Simon Kenton) started the game and went 4.1 innings.
• Sophomore Aaron Wichmann (Burlington, KY / Conner) was awarded the win coming in for 1.2 innings of work, not allowing a run.
• Freshman Keeton Bach (Augusta, KY / Augusta) had an inning of work and allowed just 1 hit while striking out two.
• Freshman Chase Maggard (Hamilton, OH / Badin) had an inning of work before Harrison closed the game striking out two and allowing one hit.

 

The Saints will finish the series with West Virginia Wesleyan College tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 21) with one final game. First pitch is scheduled for 12pm.