A speed merchant Eric Morse is not. Northwestern baseball coach John Light confessed as much.
Which is why Light’s pulse beat faster late in Monday’s home game against Seneca.
The Wildcats beat the Bobcats 5-4 in a Region 3 game at Albion. They scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Morse, the team’s designated hitter, barely scored from third base after a passed ball.
Morse began the winning rally with a one-out single off Seneca reliever Mike Dunn. Artie McCumber followed with a double to right-center field, but Morse couldn't score on the play.
The Wildcats’ D.J. Haffley struck out as a pinch-hitter and David Bihler walked to load the bases.
That’s when Morse lumbered home when Seneca catcher Sam Hubbard allowed the passed ball.
“The slowest kid on our team made it interesting,” a relieved Light said.
Morse had one of Northwestern's seven hits. Marcus Paradise's RBI double tied the game at 4-all in the bottom of the fifth.
The win left Northwestern 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the region. Seneca dropped to 1-3 and 0-2.

— Mike Copper