CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Owls closed out a perfect weekend in dominant fashion Sunday afternoon, erupting for 22 runs in a 22-3 victory over Johnson & Wales University Charlotte at CaroMont Health Park.
With the win, Kenyon completed the three-game sweep and improved to 3-0 to start the 2026 campaign, while the Wildcats slipped to 0-6.
Kenyon wasted little time seizing control. In the top of the first, first-year Aaron Moss ignited the offense with a single to right and a stolen base before junior Tyler Nee worked a walk. Gio Giuliani reached on a fielder's choice that erased Moss at third, then sparked more aggressive baserunning by swiping second. With the defense occupied, Nee also took third to put two runners in scoring position. After aggressive baserunning moved both runners into scoring position, Ben Resnick reached on an error that allowed two unearned runs to cross. First-year Bryce McNair followed with an RBI double to right, and fellow classmate Matt Ardell laced an RBI single to center, staking the Owls to a 4-0 lead before Johnson & Wales came to bat.
The Owls kept their foot on the gas in the second. Moss again reached base and eventually scored on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. McNair delivered the big swing of the frame with a two-RBI single to center, and Ben Zimmerman added a two-run single to right. By the end of the inning, Kenyon had pushed its advantage to 10-0.
Johnson & Wales answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second after a triple to right center set the table, but Kenyon quickly responded. In the third, Moss crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from Nico Price to make it 11-2.
The fourth inning featured more hitting and aggressive baserunning. Ardell tripled to right center to score McNair, and a balk later allowed Ardell to come home. Giuliani capped the frame with an RBI fielder's choice, extending the cushion to 14-2.
After the Wildcats secured a run in the bottom of the fourth, Kenyon's bullpen settled in. The Owls turned a key double play in the fifth and Griffin Jackson recorded three strikeouts in the sixth to halt any momentum. Meanwhile, the offense continued to pile on.
In the sixth, Kenyon capitalized on defensive miscues, plating three runs to stretch the lead to 17-3. The seventh inning was ultimately the exclamation point. Senior Robbie Coates singled and later scored on a wild pitch, while first-year Otto McDill doubled and came around to score. Pinch hitters made an immediate impact, as Trey Kent-Land roped a two-RBI single to left field and Colbie Corpuz added an RBI single of his own. The five-run inning pushed the tally to 22-3. From there, Kenyon's pitching staff closed the door. The Owls allowed just one baserunner over the final two innings, sealing the 19-run victory and completing a statement weekend in North Carolina.
Kenyon's offense was relentless from top to bottom. The Owls totaled 22 runs on 14 hits and took advantage of six Johnson & Wales errors. McNair powered the lineup with four RBI's, while Ardell delivered a triple and drove in key runs during the middle innings. Zimmerman added multiple RBIs of his own, and the Owls showcased their depth as pinch hitters combined for three RBIs in the seventh inning.
On the mound, sophomore starter Chris Cannuscio earned the win after giving the Owls four solid innings of work, allowing just two runs while scattering three hits and keeping the Wildcats off balance early. Jackson Niedel followed in relief and helped stabilize the middle innings, while Jackson and Andrew Catron combined to shut the door late.
With the sweep secured, the Owls turn their attention to a demanding spring break slate. Kenyon will head south for a 12-day stretch featuring 13 games against eight opponents, opening with a doubleheader against Wilkes University on Sunday, March 1, at 10 a.m. in Fort Pierce, Florida.
