Baseball: Purple Raiders Keep Rolling, Nationally Ranked Mount Union Sweeps Wilmington in Offensive Showcase

4/18/2025 | Baseball | Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The #30 nationally ranked Mount Union baseball team (22-7, 13-1 OAC) completed a doubleheader sweep against Wilmington University (9-20, 2-12 OAC) at Rafeld-Rogers Field on Friday. The Purple Raiders have won 18 out of their last 19 games.

In game one, left-handed starting pitcher Zachary Breeden (Cincinnati, Ohio / Oak Hills) pitched a quality 5.2 innings of work with three strikeouts, allowing four runs, with three being earned.

The scoring started for the Purple Raiders in the first inning, as junior outfielder Chris Tsouras (Las Vegas, Nev. / Arbor) hit a sacrifice fly to right field. In the second, they kept it pouring with a four-run second inning. Sophomore outfielder Luke Ickes (Green, Ohio / Green) hit an RBI single to center field. Senior third baseman Chris Viamonte (Naples, FL. / Coral Gables) hit a massive double to left center, while graduate second baseman Andrew Witte (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) hit an RBI single to right field, as he had an outstanding day, batting 4-for-5 with four RBIs.

Wilmington added two runs in the fourth, but Mount Union responded quickly, scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning. The scoring was highlighted by RBI singles. Another one for Witte and one for graduate designated hitter Jaired Lehman (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway), who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

The offense continued to thrive as the Purple Raiders scored five runs between the sixth and seventh innings. Tsouras contributed with an RBI triple to center field, while Witte and Lehman both added RBI singles. Additionally, standout freshman Daniel Thome III (Lakewood, Ohio / St. Edwards) got in on the action with an RBI single, marking his 17th RBI of the season.

Witte hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning, recording his fourth RBI of the game and raising his season total to 25. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Chase Mayer (Amherst, Ohio / Amherst Steele) impressed out of the bullpen, pitching 3.1 innings, striking out five batters, and allowing only one hit. He earned his second save of the season, helping secure a 14-4 victory.

In game two, senior right-handed pitcher Brady Hansen (Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area) dominated, pitching 7.0 innings with ten strikeouts, allowing only four hits and one earned run. The offense for Mount Union exploded once again, scoring 15 runs.

In the bottom of the third inning, the offense scored seven runs. Senior shortstop Alex Stegman (Berea, Ohio / Berea-Midpark) hit a booming two-RBI double to right center field. In game two, Stegman hit 2-for-4 with an extra-base hit and an RBI, along with a walk. Tsouras hit an RBI single, and in game two, he batted 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a hit-by-pitch. Lehman added an RBI sacrifice fly, while Ickes roped an RBI double down the left field line. First baseman Johnny Costella (Cleveland, Ohio / Trinity) hit a no-doubt-about-it two-run home run to deep left field to cap off the scoring for the inning.

The Purple Raiders added eight more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. To highlight the scoring, Tsouras started with an RBI single. Then Thome doubled down the right field line, and the scoring in the inning finished with Tsouras getting on base for a second time and scoring on a passed ball, finishing off the 15-4 victory.

Mount Union's next game will be on the road Wednesday against La Roche University.