ATHENS, Ohio - Bobcat right-hander Derek Witt (Powell, Ohio) held Eastern Michigan scoreless for 6 1/3 innings and fanned a career-high 10 hitters, while Phil Sabatini's (Oakmont, Pa.) game-winning RBI single on an infield grounder in the bottom of the seventh propelled Ohio to a 4-1 victory over the Eagles Friday night at Bob Wren Stadium.

Witt (3-2) earned his second-straight winning decision with a 7 2/3 inning, six-hit performance. The junior hurler struck out the side in the top of the second and only three batters reached base over the first six innings.

?I thought Derek Witt had a great performance,? said Ohio head coach Joe Carbone. ?He gave us a lot of solid innings out there.?

The Bobcats (10-12, 3-2 Mid-American Conference) have now won seven straight, including three in-a-row in MAC play.

?We feel fortunate to get a win here today,? Carbone said. ?Eastern Michigan is a good team and they played hard.?

Eastern Michigan (9-19, 1-3 MAC) starter Matt Dimich held the Bobcats in check for two-thirds of the game, as well. The southpaw allowed just eight Ohio batters to reach base over the first six innings before getting in trouble in the seventh.

The first legitimate scoring chance of the game for either side came in the home half of the fourth. A line shot off the bat of Sabatini was too hot for the EMU third baseman to handle to lead off the inning. Anthony Gressick (Lancaster, Ohio) then singled up the middle and Ben Crabtree advanced both runners into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Dimich escaped without any damage, however, as Sabatini was thrown out at home on a Jared Willis (Logan W.Va. fielder?s choice and Brian White (Frankfort, Ohio struck out.

The Eagles finally broke through on Witt in the top of the seventh as a leadoff double down the left field line by Derek Lehrman got things going. Isiah Gainforth then singled, and pinch runner Steve Bradshaw scored from second on a fielding error by left fielder White for the first run of the game. Witt forced a fielder?s choice and struck out Eagle catcher Brad Hrovat to end the threat.

The Bobcats answered right back with their first tally of the night on Dimich. Willis led off with a single to right center. Pinch hitter Jon Vondrell (Centerville, Ohio) then drew a walk and Bryant Witt (Powell, Ohio) singled through the right side and advanced to second on the throw as Ryan Planck (Canton, Ohio)?pinch running for Willis?crossed the plate to tie the game at 1-1. An intentional walk of Bryan Buck (Hudson, Ohio) to load the bases set the stage for Sabatini, whose two-out slow roller couldn?t be handled in time by the Eagles? shortstop and a close play at first base scored pinch runner Mark Olexa (Milford, Ohio) for a 2-1 lead.

Now with the lead, Witt retired the first EMU batter on a groundout. Jeff Davis singled to right field but was caught stealing by Crabtree for the second out. Another single by Ben Jones prompted Carbone to call on reliever Dan O?Rourke (Monongahela, Pa.) out of the bullpen. The right-hander promptly struck out third-hitter Jeff Hehr to close out the top half of the eighth.

Crabtree added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff home run over the wall in left center to get things going. White and Olexa then recorded back-to-back singles and a failed pickoff attempt by EMU reliever Will Stewardson scored White from second base to give Ohio a 4-1 advantage. One batter later Olexa was thrown out at home to end the scoring.

Despite giving up a walk and single in the top of the ninth, O?Rourke struck out the side ? all looking ? to earn his first save of the season. All four outs that he recorded came on strikeouts.

Sabatini was 2-for-4 at the plate?the only Bobcat to record multiple hits?and drove in a run. Bryant Witt?s seventh inning, RBI single extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

?We did some things well at the plate,? Carbone said. ?We got some guys over by bunting, using the hit-and-run and stealing bases.?

Dimich (2-3) took the loss for the Eagles, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out five and walking five.

?I thought Dimich, their left-hander, threw a great game,? Carbone said. ?He really controlled us.?

Davis led the Eagle offense with three hits. Like Sabatini, Davis was the only member of his club to record multiple hits on the evening.

The Bobcats and Eastern Michigan will tangle in the second of a three-game set with another 7 p.m., start tomorrow evening at Bob Wren Stadium. George Biddle (3-3) will get the start for the Eagles while Ohio?s starter has yet to be determined. Rob Harmon (Villa Hills, Ky.), the Bobcats? scheduled starter, was injured in pre-game warm-ups prior to tonight?s contest.