FORT MYERS/PORT CHARLOTTE, FLA. – A pair of wins against regional competition highlighted a strong run by Manchester University on its 2015 Florida spring break trip Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17.

The Black and Gold, taking a 6-3 record into their Sunshine State finale against Farmingdale State March 18, rallied from a back-and-forth 17-15 loss to the Rams Monday with 6-3 and 9-6 victories over Denison University and Wooster College from the North Coast Athletic Conference. They followed that with a 4-2 win over Dubuque University Tuesday.

Senior shortstop Trevor Kimm (Anderson, Ind.) broke up a 3-3 tie against Denison with a three-run double in the home half of the fifth, making a winner out of sophomore starting pitcher Cory Ferguson (Fort Wayne, Ind.). Ferguson struck out four and surrendered just three runs on seven hits over seven innings to move to 2-0 on the season, while freshman relief pitcher Taylor Kopplin (Westport, Ind.) earned his first save with two perfect innings that included three strikeouts. The Spartans wrapped up their busy three-game day rallying past perennial NCAC power and regional qualifier Wooster with four runs over the fifth and sixth innings. Freshman Eric Knepper (Bremen, Ind.) laced an RBI double to go along with two runs crossing on a passed ball and wild pitch in the fifth and Kimm driving in a tally in the sixth on a ground out. Kopplin, closing a solid day, earned the win with four and two-thirds innings of work where he didn't surrender a run, allowed only two hits and struck out four. Senior Jordan Nieman (Michigan City, Ind.) gained the save, striking out both batters he faced.

Tuesday's victory over UD was led by senior Justin Miller's pitching victory. The Yorktown, Ind., native went six innings, striking out two and issuing only one base on balls before freshman Ryan Kerschner (Columbia City, Ind.) picked up the save with three innings of scoreless, two-hit ball. He was aided by a pair of hits each from Nieman and sophomore outfielder Chad Schultz (Fair Oaks, Ind.) with both of Nieman's safeties going for doubles.

Following Wednesday's game with Farmingdale State, the Spartans open 2015 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action with a series at Transylvania University Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21. Game times are 4:15 p.m. Friday and 12 p.m. Saturday at Marquard Field on TU's campus.