GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Ohio baseball team suffered a 12-2 defeat in its season-opening game at UNC-Greensboro Friday afternoon. Sophomore Phil Sabatini (Oakmont, Pa.) and junior Adam Fox (St. Mary's, Pa.) each drove in runs for the Bobcats.

Ohio junior Marc Cornell (Columbus) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs in 3.2 innings of work. UNC-Greensboro's Ryan Gordon, who allowed two runs in four innings, was credited with his second win of the year.

It was the sixth straight win for the Spartans (6-0), who are off the to best start in their program's history.

Ohio jumped on the board early with three consecutive singles by Sabatini, Dan Lunsford (Mansfield) and Fox. But Gordon induced a double-play ball and a ground-out to escape without further damage. UNC-Greensboro used that momentum to take the lead with a pair of runs in the home-half of the inning on an RBI-single and a fielder's choice.

But the Bobcats answered with a run in the second inning to tie the game at 2-all. Ben Crabtree (Roxbury, Conn.) got things going with a one-out double into left-center field. Tony Gandee (Akron) advanced him to third with an infield single and Sabatini drove in the run with a single to left field.

The Spartans jumped back on top in the the third with a single tally, then scored nine more runs over the next five innings - highlighted by a six-spot in the fourth - en route to the victory.

In all, Ohio collected eight hits and left nine men on base. Sophomore Adam Russell (North Olmstead) and senior Shaun Peet (Goderich, Ontario) also pitched for the Bobcats.

Bobcat senior Walt Novosel (West Middlesex, Pa.) will throw against Scooter Michael (1-0, 0.00 ERA) Saturday in the second game of the three-game series beginning at 5 p.m.