Cedarville University Baseball

21-28 (.429) Overall
8-18 (.308) American Mideast Conference

Upcoming:
  May 13, at Cincinnati-Clermont (1), 4 p.m.
  May 15-17, NCCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL

Matt Houchin tied the school record for hits in a season as he bats vs. UC-Clermont.

CU tames Cougars, 10-3

CEDARVILLE, Ohio (5-6-2008) - Matt Houchin tied the school record for the most hits in a season as the Yellow Jackets defeated Cincinnati-Clermont, 10-3, in a non-conference game. Cedarville, 21-28 overall, has won four of five and 11 of their last 15 games.

Houchin was 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and four runs batted in to up his season RBI total to 46 which is just one shy of the school mark. His 55 hits matches the CU record set in 2004 by Jeff Lowe.

Winning pitcher Clint Price pitched five innings and improved his record to 8-3. Andrew Lockridge worked the final four innings and was credited with a save.

Tyler Rost was 3-for-4 with two RBI's. Brady Workman had a 3-for-5 effort with two runs scored and two RBI's while Matt Totten added two hits and two runs. [BOXSCORE]

Senior Day
Seven Yellow Jacket seniors were honored before their scheduled game versus Wilmington on May 2 which was later rained out. (from left-to-right) Jared Griest, Matt Houchin, Derek Woloshyn, Pete Kraus, Matt Owens, Paul Wilson, Matt Totten, and head coach Mike Manes. (Dan Price pic)

Jordan Siefkes delivered a key three-run double at Urbana.

Cedarville comeback shocks Urbana

URBANA, Ohio (4-28-2008) - Cedarville scored five runs after two were out in its final at bat to stun host Urbana, 6-5, to gain a split of their American Mideast Conference doubleheader. The Blue Knights won the first game, 3-1.

The Yellow Jackets, 20-28 overall and 8-18 AMC, were in dire straits trailing 5-1 entering the 7th inning. However, CU sent 10 batters to the plate, took advantage of five walks, and made the most of two hits to rally. Pete Kraus walked with the bases loaded, but it was Jordan Siefkes who delivered the big blow with a three-run double to the gap in right center to tie the score. Phil Cruz later beat out an infield single for an RBI to complete the scoring.

Winning pitcher Andrew Lockridge worked the final three innings in relief and upped his record to 4-3. Kraus was 2-for-2 at the plate with a double and an RBI. Paul Wilson slugged his fifth home run of the season and scored twice to break the school record (39) for the most runs scored in a season. [GAME 2 BOXSCORE]

The Blue Knights came away with a 3-1 win in the opener. Matt Houchin drove in his team-high 42nd run of the season for Cedarville's only tally. Brady Workman and Tyler Rost recorded two hits apiece. [GAME 1 BOXSCORE]

Paul Wilson

Jackets take two from Redmen to set record

CEDARVILLE, Ohio (4-26-2008) - The Yellow Jackets established a new school record for the most victories in a season after claiming both games of an American Mideast Conference twinbill from Rio Grande. Cedarville won by scores of 12-11 and 10-8 to push its victory total to 19. It surpasses the previous mark of 18 which had been equaled four times the last of which was 1990.

The high-scoring opener featured a 6th inning that lasted nearly an hour long and a combined 14 runs scored by both teams. The Redmen scored seven times to take a 10-5 lead before CU responded with seven runs after two were out to regain the advantage.

Paul Wilson went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI's, and two runs scored. Tyler Rost added three hits, Matt Houchin drove in four runs, and Matt Totten scored three times. Six Yellow Jackets had at least two hits each as part of the team's 16-hit attack. Relief pitcher Rob Wasem was credited with the win and Houchin notched his fourth save of the year. [GAME 1 BOXSCORE]

Cedarville, 19-27 overall and 7-17 AMC, got off to a strong start in the second game with seven runs in their first at bat. Rio did bounce back to knot the count at 7-7 before the Jackets recovered for the victory. Wasem was came on in relief for his second win of the day and T.J. Taylor locked down the save. Six different players came up with two hits each. Rost tripled in three runs, Wilson hammered a two-run homer, and Houchin doubled twice. [GAME 2 BOXSCORE]

Third Annual Cedarville Classic
Third Annual Cedarville University Baseball Classic
The Yellow Jackets hosted Earlham at Dayton's Fifth Third Field on April 17. (Scott Huck pic)

Manes signs eight for '09

CEDARVILLE, Ohio (4-10-2008) - Cedarville University baseball coach Mike Manes announces the signing of eight players for the 2009 season. The list includes three pitchers, four infielders, and a catcher.

The pitching signees are Brian Brown, a 6-foot-5 lefthander from Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln East H.S.); Phil Hotchkiss, a 6-1 righthander from Des Moines, Iowa (Grandview Park Baptist); and David Valle, a 6-1 lefthander from Rochester, N.Y. (Northstar Christian Academy).

Also signed are Dan Petke, a 6-1 catcher from Columbus, Ohio (Worthington Kilbourne H.S.); Alex Beelen, a 6-1 shortstop from Holland, Mich. (Holland Christian); Paul Hembekides, a six-foot infielder from West Chester, Pa. (The School at Church Farm); Tyler Kramer, a six-foot infielder from Bellefontaine, Ohio (Bellefontaine H.S.); and Eric Hacker, a second baseman from Mount Holly, N.J. (Rancocas Valley Regional H.S.).

Alex Beelen (second from left), a shortstop from Holland (Mich.) Christian High School, will be joining the Yellow Jacket baseball program after signing a letter of intent to attend Cedarville University. He is accompanied by (from left-to-right) his father, Ken Beelen; Holland Christian head coach, Mike Ott; and CU head baseball coach Mike Manes.

Lincoln (Neb.) East High School pitcher Brian Brown (seated center) signed a letter of intent to attend Cedarville University and play baseball for the Yellow Jackets beginning in 2008-09. He is joined by his parents, Janice and Mark Brown, as well as CU head coach Mike Manes.

Eric Hacker (second from left), a second baseman from Mount Holly, N.J., has signed with the Yellow Jackets. He was prepped at Rancocas Valley Regional High School. Eric is joined (from left-to-right) by his mother, Toni Hacker; high school varsity baseball coach Bryan Bozarth; and his father, Rob Hacker.

West Chester, Pa. native Paul Hembekides is seated between his mother, Susan Hembekides (right), and The School at Church Farm head baseball coach Greg Thompson after signing a letter of intent to attend Cedarville University in 2008-09.

Bellefontaine (Ohio) High School infielder Tyler Kramer (seated center) is accompanied by his parents, Dana and Robbin Kramer, and Yellow Jacket head baseball coach Mike Manes upon signing a letter of intent to attend Cedarville University.

Worthington (Ohio) Kilbourne High School product Dan Petke sits between his parents, David and Mary Susan Petke, after signing to join the Yellow Jacket baseball program. Standing are CU head baseball coach Mike Manes (left) and Petke's youth pastor Steve Smith.

Rochester, New York native David Valle (seated left) is joined by his parents, Debbie and John Valle (standing), and Northstar Christian Academy athletic director Rob Johnson as he signed a letter of intent to attend Cedarville University and play baseball for the Yellow Jackets.