AKRON, Ohio ? Playing his last game in a Bobcat uniform, senior catcher Ben Crabtree (Roxbury, Conn.) became the most-prolific hitter in the 113-year history of baseball at Ohio with a single to center field in his first at-bat of the day, passing Ryan Kyes to take sole possession of the program?s all-time hits record at 269. The highlight hit was not enough, however, as the Bobcats fell in the series and season finale to Akron by a final of 3-2.

The Bobcats (25-25-1, 9-10-1 MAC) registered 10 hits on the day, but left 10 runners on base thanks to effective work from a trio of Akron pitchers as the Zips (24-27, 11-8) took the rubber game of the Mid-American Conference series Sunday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field.

It was Crabtree?s record hit in the first inning that put the first run of the day on the board. Bryan Buck (Hudson, Ohio) tapped a leadoff single and advanced to third on consecutive groundouts. Then Crabtree drove Akron starter Tony Samad?s 0-1 delivery up the middle to plate Buck for an early 1-0 lead.

After the Zips bounced right back for a run off of Ohio right-hander Luke Howard (Lebanon, Ohio) in their first at-bat, Phil Sabatini (Oakmont, Pa.) homered to left field on the first pitch he saw to regain the lead for the Bobcats at 2-1. Playing in his final game as well, Sabatini?s round-tripper was his sixth of the year and 20th of his career.

Howard settled in after surrendering a run in the first, setting the Zips down without a score over the next three frames. Akron was able to draw even though, as they pushed home the tying run in the fifth on a Brian Kimotus single. The Zips then plated the go-ahead run off of Howard in the sixth as Marcus Geiselman came home from third on a fielders choice take a 3-2 lead.

The Bobcats stranded eight runners through the first eight innings, but they mounted one final comeback bid in their final at-bat. Jared Willis (Logan W.Va.) recorded a one-out pinch hit single and Buck walked to get things going. Both runners moved up on a groundout by Dusty Hammond (Bellefontaine, Ohio), but Akron center fielder Andy Capraruolo made a diving catch on a liner by Brian Colopy (Columbus, Ohio) to close out the game for the Zips and the season for Ohio.

Howard (3-2) allowed three runs ? two earned ? on six hits over six innings. The only two losses he suffered as a senior came on the first and last days of the season. Dan O?Rourke (Monongahela, Pa.), also making his final appearance as a Bobcat, threw two scoreless innings of relief and gave up just one hit.

Buck?s 3-for-5 day was the only multiple-hit performance for the Bobcats.

After Samad was replaced following five innings of work, Pat Gliha (3-1) earned the victory in relief after tossing two innings of one-hit ball. Darek Stanfield earned his 13th save of the season in closing the game out.

Entering the weekend, Crabtree needed six hits to become Ohio?s hit king. After a 1-for-4 outing on Friday, he recorded hits in each of his first four at-bats in Saturday?s 5-0 victory to tie Kyes mark, set in 2001. He averaged just over 67 hits a season over his career. Starting 40 games and earning Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American status in his rookie season, he recorded 55 hits. He set Ohio?s single season hit record with 91 in a stellar sophomore campaign that earned him First Team All-MAC honors and he followed that with a 51-hit and Second Team All-MAC performance as season ago. Crabtree finished with 72 hits as a senior to give him the final total of 269, which now ranks fourth on the MAC?s all-time list.

With the record-breaking hit bringing home a run, Crabtree also finished his accomplished career with 176 RBIs, ranking him second on Ohio?s all-time list just behind Jeff Rooks? record total of 179. He finished second on the team?s career list in doubles and total bases while ranking in the top 10 in home runs and games played.

The loss brought an end to Ohio?s season which saw a number of peaks and valleys. The Bobcats started 3-12, but won 14 of their next 16 contests before settling for a tie in what would be the only game played in a weather-shortened series at Buffalo. From that point, the squad went 6-13 down the stretch, including a 3-6 mark in league play that ultimately kept them out of the MAC Tournament for the second season in a row and the third time in the last four years.