GREENVILLE, S.C. ? The Ohio baseball team captured its first victory of the season with a 9-6 decision over Furman Friday afternoon in the first of a three-game weekend set.

Ohio?s Anthony Gressick (Lancaster, Ohio) and Derek Witt (Powell, Ohio) provided a solid one-two punch to hold Furman at bay in the series opener. Gressick powered the offensive attack, going 3-5 at the plate with three RBIs. The junior first baseman, who will get the start on the mound for the Bobcats on Sunday, drove home a run with a single in the third inning for Ohio?s third tally of the game and later plated two runs on a double to provide the Bobcats with enough cushion to earn the first victory of 2005.

Witt (1-0) came on in relief of Bobcat starter Dan O?Rourke (Monongahela, Pa.) and threw five innings, allowing only one run on three hits, to make Ohio?s fourth-inning outburst stand.

Phil Sabatini (Oakmont, Pa.)came across with the first run of the game for Ohio (1-3), scoring from third with the bases loaded on contact by Ben Crabtree (Roxbury, Conn.). The Paladins (2-3) would match Ohio?s output through the first three innings, starting with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. The Bobcats were on the board again in the third as a double by Brian Colopy (Columbus, Ohio) down the line scored Bryant Witt (Powell, Ohio). Gressick then drove home Sabatini and Crabtree closed out the scoring with an RBI to push home Colopy from third.

Furman again answered in the home half of the third with three runs to knot the score at 4-4. The even tally didn?t last long, however, as Ohio exploded for five runs in the fourth to take a 9-4 advantage. Willie Walker (Marysville, Ohio) led off the frame with a single and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Planck (Canton, Ohio). After Furman starter Sam Perry was taken out, a passed ball allowed Walker to cross to start the scoring. Planck and Dusty Hammond (Bellefontaine, Ohio) then followed Walker home as Witt reached on a Furman error. Gressick?s two-run double to centerfield provided the final two runs of the day for the Bobcats, scoring Sabatini and Witt.

Colopy and Sabatini each added multiple-hit games for Ohio, going 2-4 at the plate. Crabtree?s 13-game hitting streak came to an end with an 0-5 performance. Furman standout A.J. Davidiuk went 3-5 at the plate while Joe Daysh drove home three runs.

O?Rourke has now received a no-decision in each of his first two starts this season. The Bobcat right-hander logged four innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits. Perry (2-1) took the loss for Furman after allowing six runs in three innings.

The two teams will be back in action tomorrow with the second of a three-game set. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m., with Ohio?s Rob Harmon (Villa Hills, Ky.) making his first start of the season against Paladin southpaw Ryan Hudson.