Box Score (NASHVILLE) – Everything went right for Walsh as it defeated Wayne State 10-0 in a non-conference game in the Music City at Jackson Field Friday evening. The Cavaliers (3-2) received a masterful performance on the mound with a three-hit shutout to defeat the Warriors in their season opener.
The Cavs' offense was also on display as it pounded out 13 hits with a pair of triples and doubles. Luke Caple (Jr., Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast) was responsible for one of each and finished the day 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored.
Austin Szink (R-Jr., Canton, Ohio/Jackson), Andrew Stalnaker (Jr., Canton, Ohio/Jackson), and Johnny Knight IV (Jr., Jefferson, Ohio/Jefferson) also had multiple hit days to pace the Walsh offense.
Caple provided the first two runs as his triple in the bottom of the first went to left center to score Stalnaker and Szink.
Walsh had another big inning in the bottom of the fifth with a three-spot to make the score 7-0. Tyson Lautanen (Jr., Painesville, Ohio/Fairport Harbor/Eastern Kentucky) brought in the first run of the frame with a bases-loaded single to left that brought in Szink. The next two batters Jerad Kitzler (Jr., Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) and Joey Beals (R-So., Canton, Ohio/Perry) were both hit by pitches to score the other pair of runs.
Insurance runs were added in the sixth and seventh innings. Caple doubled to left center to score Stalnaker in the sixth before Kitzler tripled in Lautanen in the seventh. Kitzler later scored on a sacrifice fly by James Thomas (Jr., Columbus, Ohio/Newark).
The Cavaliers' battery had its finest game of the season as starting pitcher Seth Robinson (Sr., Akron, Ohio/Springfield) evened his record at 1-1 and Brandon Whitslar (Sr., Seville, Ohio/Cloverleaf) earned the save. Robinson struck out 10 and allowed just two hits with three walks in five innings of work. Whitslar came on in relief in the sixth and allowed just one hit the rest of the way while he added three more punch-outs.
These two teams will meet again in another non-conference game over spring break on Sunday, March 13, in Winter Haven, Florida.
The Cavaliers will return to action tomorrow as they battle host and future conference rival Trevecca Nazarene. First pitch Is set for 6 p.m.
