Box Score RICHMOND, Ind. — One swing was the difference on Tuesday night as the Earlham College baseball team survived a high-scoring battle with Wilmington College.

A ninth-inning walk-off single by Sam Ward (Bay Village, OH, Bay) gave Earlham a 10-9 non-conference victory on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium.

With one out in the Earlham ninth, Taylor Gibson (Cumberland, IN, Mt. Vernon) reached on an infield single deep in the hole at short. During Ward's at bat, Gibson took off for second base and ended up at third base on a wild pitch.

Ward followed with a solid single to center to set off Earlham's victory celebration.

"It was good to get the win and get back on track heading into this weekend against Anderson University," said Tyler Schroeder (Richmond, IN, Richmond).

"Offensively, it was good to compete and answer back when they scored through out the whole game," added Schroeder, who had three hits and knocked in four runs. "We still have a lot to work on defensively to help our pitching staff. However, a win is a win and it is good to get some momentum for this weekend."

Earlham is 10-7 overall as the Quakers visit Anderson for a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference series on Friday and Saturday. The Friday nine-inning affair begins at 4 p.m.

Rough start

Wilmington (3-9) got on the scoreboard in the first inning with an unearned run on a two-out error. Although Wilmington was able to comeback and tie the contest on three difference occasions, it was the only time Earlham was behind.

A three-run bottom of the first put Earlham on top. Ryan Hayes (New Lebanon, OH, Dixie) knocked in the first tally with a double and the next run came on a error. Ryan McCray (Lexington, KY, Henry Clay) finished the rally with a RBI groundout.

Schroeder had his first big hit of the night with a run-scoring triple in the second to give Earlham a 4-1 advantage.

With a pair of runs in the third and another in the fourth, Wilmington able to tie the game at 4-4.

Schroeder's three-run homer to left field made it 7-4 as he blasted the first long ball of his college career.

Wilmington was able to answer again with two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth as it was tied again at 7-7.

In the bottom of the sixth, Earlham picked up an unearned run and Hayes made it 9-7 when he walked with the bases loaded.

Two innings later, Wilmington made it 9-9 with a couple of runs in the eighth.

Earlham left the bases full in the eighth, but the Quakers were able to bounce back in the next inning and set the stage for Ward's game-winner.

Schroeder led the Quakers with three hits, while adding a pair of walks to his night.

Nate Hube (Lebanon, OH, Lebanon) started on the mound for Earlham and left with nobody out in the fifth. He gave up six runs (four earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts.

Zach Lee (Lynn, IN, Randolph Southern) finished the fifth and got one out in the sixth as he surrendered a run on three hits.

Justin Broach (Centerville, OH, Centerville) worked the remainder of the sixth and then left the contest after facing one hitter in the eighth. He gave up a run without allowing a hit with a walk and three strikeouts.
  
Colton Miller (Auburn, IN, Dekalb) got one out in the eighth as he allowed a run on two hits.

T. J. Plummer (Aurora, IN, South Dearborn) finished the game with a hitless effort as he fanned one batter to pick up the win and got to 1-1 on the season.

Box Score