BOX SCORE
GREENCASTLE, IND. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology battled in an 11-inning baseball contest for the second
consecutive day, but this time DePauw University came out on top
with a 7-6 victory on Wednesday.
The Fightin' Engineers played an 11-inning game for the second time in 24 hours, after capturing first place for now in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings with a 6-5 win over Anderson on Tuesday.
Rose-Hulman jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one-half inning on Wednesday, but DePauw rallied with three runs in the second and two in the fourth to move within 6-5.
After DePauw tied the score with one run in the sixth inning, the pitching staff for both teams took over. Four scoreless innings later, DePauw scored once in the 11th to earn the victory.
Sophomore Andrew Benitez (Mililani, Hawaii), senior Will Burchett (Mokena, Ill./Providence Catholic), sophomore Parker Fulkerson (Terre Haute/North) and junior Donald Stopka (Grayslake, Ill./Carmel Catholic) led the Rose-Hulman offense with two singles each.
Benitez scored two runs, Stopka added one run and one RBI, while Burchett and Fulkerson scored once each. Sophomore Hank Akard (Indianapolis/Ben Davis) added a single and two RBIs.
The Fightin' Engineers used a pitching staff by committee in the midweek non-conference game. Five pitchers tossed two innings each prior to the 11th inning. Senior Jim Bob Schuler (Salem/North Harrison) and sophomore Michael Bush (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Christian) recorded two shutout innings to lead the hurlers.
The DePauw offense featured three hits and three runs scored for Robbie Stein. Zach Starr and Sam Swafford had two hits for the Tigers. Elliott Ross started and pitched seven innings for DePauw, before Alex Sroka added three scoreless innings and Joe Wojda earned the win.
Rose-Hulman relied on its defense to stay within striking distance. The Fightin' Engineers turned four double plays in the contest, increasing their NCAA Division III leading and school record total to 59.
The No. 15 ranked DePauw squad improved to 30-7 on the season, while Rose-Hulman dropped to 23-10. The Fightin' Engineers resume their Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference schedule with a three-game series at Manchester on Saturday and Sunday.