By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Battle Creek, Mich.---Kyle Bennett (Grove City/Grove City, Ohio) tossed a one hitter, while his offense scored 17 runs in a shutout of Mott Community College in today's Region XII tournament opener.
Owens jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning off Mott starter Cody Zeiler. Casey Gose (Genoa/Genoa, Ohio) opened the scoring by walking to lead off the game, stealing second and scoring on an RBI single by Tyler Byerly (Washington Township/Crown Point, Ind.).
Later in the inning, Jake Weshalek (Shrine Catholic/Royal Oak, Mich.) drew a bases loaded walk, Zach Coffield (Eastwood/Bowling Green, Ohio) had an RBI single, and Jake Norbut (Grove City/Grove City, Ohio) had a bases loaded HBP. Before the final run of the inning came via an error, Jake Wichlacz (Eisenhower/Macomb, Mich.) knocked two in with a single.
In the third, Owens pushed its lead to eight on an RBI triple from Byerly. Wichlacz, who singled with one out in the inning, scored on the play.
After each team went scoreless in the fourth, Bennett tossed his fifth consecutive hitless inning to set up a nine run sixth inning for his offense.
The rally included bases loaded walks by Marcus Rozsa (All Saints Secondary/Whitby, Ontario, Canada), Coffield and Norbut, RBI singles by Wichlacz and Gose, and sacrifice flies from Byerly and Rozsa.
Bennett had his no-hitter broken up wih one out in the sixth on a single to center by Tyler Ramoie.
Byerly finished 2-for-3 with two runs, a walk and three RBI, while Wichlacz went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI to lead the Owens offense. Gose (2-for-4, 2 R, BB, RBI) also contributed to the 17-run, nine hit attack. Eight players drew one walk apiece for Owens, as well.
Bennett's final line included six innings, one hit, two walks and seven strikeouts. It was his third straight win this year and his second of the postseason. He is now 4-6 overall this year.
Zeiler, who took the loss, allowed seven hits, 10 runs (seven earned) and four walks over five innings.
Looking Ahead
With the victory, Owens improves to 21-23 overall. They will get a matchup with No. 6 Sinclair Community College at 12 p.m. tomorrow in the winner's bracket semifinals. The winner of that game would advance to the winner's bracket finals on Friday at 11:30 a.m., while the loser would play at 4 p.m. tomorrow in the loser's bracket.