Scots Surge: Wooster Baseball Flips the Script with Hot Start

Photo: Matt Dilyard, The College of Wooster

Wooster Fighting Scots Baseball: Hot Start to the 2026 Season

The Wooster Fighting Scots baseball team has flipped the script from last year’s slow start. Seven games into the season, they’re 5-2—already four wins ahead of where they stood at this point in 2025. For a group that opened last spring 1-7, it’s hard not to notice the difference.

Junior infielder and leadoff hitter Zack Barienbrock has played a key role in the Scots’ surge. “I just love everything about this team. We’re hitting the ball really hard, playing good defense,” Barienbrock said after the Scots’ latest win. “It’s going to be a really good year as we’ve already seen.” Barienbrock, who can play multiple positions, is batting .385 and leads the team in hits.

The offense, top to bottom, has been the biggest bright spot so far. Wooster has piled up 75 hits in seven games and is averaging just over 9 runs per contest. First-year two-way player Owen Sherrill leads qualified hitters with a .438 average. Senior Ryan Kramer—the Scots’ top hitter last season—has 3 home runs and 11 RBI in just 11 at-bats before a lower-body contusion sidelined him in the home opener. Even with Kramer out, the Scots keep scoring, which is a testament to their depth.

Head coach Aaron Swick credits both preparation and talent. “Coach Perez does an awesome job of getting those guys prepared,” Swick said. “We’ve been working really hard on having good plans and making good decisions in the strike zone and then getting our best swing off.” He continued, “It’s not surprising that we’re doing a good job because I think we have good hitters.” 

Offensive Firepower: Barienbrock, Sherrill, and Lindberg Lead the Way

One new face making an immediate impact is first-year infielder Noah Lindberg. In their latest win over La Roche University, Lindberg erupted for 3 hits, including 2 home runs and 4 RBI. “I mean, he’s just a special player,” Swick said. “He sees pitches really well and he can hit the ball to all fields.” Add Lindberg to an order that already includes Barienbrock, Sherill, and another newcomer Koa Siu, it’s clear the Scots can match up with anyone offensively. And with Kramer set to return soon, this lineup could get even scarier for opponents.

 

 

Lindberg with two home runs. Rizzo and Siu with home runs too. Tahj Orona earns first career win. Scots defeat La Roche 14-4. pic.twitter.com/rxSILKRbZA

— Wooster Baseball (@WoosterBaseball) March 5, 2026

Defensively, Wooster has mostly avoided major lapses. Their two defeats came down to a couple of bad innings. In the opener against Oglethorpe in Atlanta, the Scots built a 6-1 lead before surrendering seven runs in the fifth. At home against SUNY Oneonta, they were up 1-0 through five before a four-run sixth proved too much to overcome. Take away those two innings, and Wooster’s record could be even better.

Pitching Standouts: Dame Frayne and the Scots’ Rotation

On the pitching side, Senior right-hander Jack Spring, who led the team with a 2.40 ERA last year, has struggled out of the gate. Through two starts, Spring has given up 9 earned runs over 4.2 innings. “We’ve had some conversations about his stuff,” Swick said. “He’s just got to minimize extra pitches. I think the first weekend down in Atlanta, he had good stuff and just got hit a little bit…but he’s a seasoned guy and expected to bounce back. I still think he has great potential for us.”

The biggest breakout on the mound so far has been 6’6” sophomore Dame Frayne. Frayne’s delivered 2 wins in 2 starts and boasts a microscopic 0.69 ERA over 13 innings. In his latest outing—a seven-inning shutout against Oneonta—he allowed just 4 hits and struck out 4. “He’s ultra-competitive,” Swick said. “He throws four pitches for strikes; pitches well with people on base. He’s just able to…execute pitches when he needs to. And so, he’s very good and he’s still getting better. He has more room to grow, so that’s exciting for us.”

Sophomore Alex Eusebio has also stepped up, posting a 4.32 ERA over 8.1 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .167 average. “Man, he’s really grown,” Swick said. “His stuff’s improved. His velocity’s better. Just his awareness about pitching is better. So, he has a chance to be a good long guy or the fourth or fifth starter. I’m happy for his development, for sure.”

Upcoming Games and How to Watch Wooster Baseball

There’s a sense of momentum building. This weekend (March 7-8), the Scots head to Indiana for four games against two quality teams. They’re back home on March 11 to host Allegheny College, then welcome Penn State Harrisburg for a three-game series next weekend (March 14-15).

 

Baseball | 15 Red Dragons were stranded on the bases during @WoosterBaseball‘s 9-7 Sunday win! #GoScots #D3baseball #NCACBB #NCACPride https://t.co/rckVkyvHDL

— Wooster Fighting Scots (@WoosterSports) March 1, 2026

If you’re in Northeast Ohio, this is a great time to catch the Scots in action. Admission is free at home games, and most games are streamed online—just click the TV monitor icon on the schedule page.

When asked about the upcoming road trip, Swick emphasized growth over results. “I think the important part is just growing. Obviously, we want to keep building up in terms of getting ready for the conference, but every day is an opportunity to learn and grow and get better.”

That growth mindset is starting to show on the field. Denison remains the team to beat in the North Coast Athletic Conference, but with this mix of returning talent and new firepower, Wooster looks ready to make things interesting.

Hope to see you at the ballpark. Go Scots!