ATHENS, Ohio ? An early four-run lead and three RBIs from Ben Crabtree (Roxbury, Conn.) helped the Ohio baseball squad earn a 6-4 victory in the opener of a Mid-American Conference series with Ball State Friday evening at Bob Wren Stadium.

The Bobcats (21-17-1, 8-6-1 MAC) led 4-0 after six innings and used two insurance runs in their final two at-bats, one on a homer by Crabtree, to stave off a late rally by Ball State (28-13, 13-4 MAC) for the victory.

Crabtree and Dusty Hammond (Bellefontaine, Ohio) combined for six hits and five RBIs while Derek Witt (Powell, Ohio) struck out six over seven innings of work to pace the Ohio effort.

?We feel fortunate to have beaten Ball State tonight. We had some kids come up big for us,? said Ohio Head Coach Joe Carbone. ?Ben Crabtree had a great game for us offensively and we hung in there and played great defense, so fortunately we came out with a win tonight.?

After Witt allowed just one BSU batter to reach over the first two innings, Ohio was the first to threaten in its second at-bat. Crabtree and Hammond tapped consecutive singles and Jon Vondrell (Centerville, Ohio) drew a one out walk to load the bases. The Bobcats were unable to push a run across, however, as Ness struck out Willie Walker (Marysville, Ohio) and got Bryant Witt (Powell, Ohio) to ground out to get out of the inning.

Nearly the exact same situation presented itself in the Cardinals? next at-bat. Consecutive singles got things started and a one-out walk loaded the bases. This time, however, Derek Witt induced a line drive right to his brother Bryant, who tossed to Hammond at second to double off the BSU runner and end the inning.

Ness was able to get out of another bases loaded jam in the third and elevated the Bobcats? runners left on base total to six. Bryan Buck (Hudson, Ohio) led off the inning with a single up the middle, but was caught stealing second. Ness then walked the bases loaded by giving passes to Brian Colopy (Columbus, Ohio), Anthony Gressick (Lancaster, Ohio) and Hammond, but with two outs, Phil Sabatini (Oakmont, Pa.) grounded out to second base.

The Bobcats were finally able break through in the fifth on Ness. Crabtree drew a two-out walk and promptly stole second. Hammond then drove a line drive just out of the reach of the BSU right fielder for a double to plate Crabtree for Ohio?s first run of the night.

Ohio added three runs in its next at-bat to extend to a 4-0 lead. Walker led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bryant Witt. The Bobcats then loaded the bases for the third time in the game on an infield single off the glove of Ness by Colopy and a Gressick hit-by-pitch. Crabtree drove a double down the right field line to bring home Walker and Colopy to spell the end of Ness. With Richie Fralick on in relief, Hammond greeted him with a sharp single through the left side to score Gressick from third for a four-run lead.

The Cardinals were able to regain one of those runs in the top of the seventh. With runners at the corners and one out, BSU?s Brian Meyer grounded to short to set up a double play, but Meyer beat out the throw to first and Kyle Dygert scored from third to cut the Ohio edge to 4-1.

Ohio wasted no time taking back that run as they scored for the third-straight inning. Walker reached on an error, took second on a balk and moved to third on a single to left center by Bryant Witt. Buck then brought home Witt with a single to left for a 5-1 advantage.

BSU made it interesting in the eighth as they loaded the bases on Derek Witt with no outs. Dan O?Rourke (Monongahela, Pa.) came on in relief, but was unable to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard. A wild pitch allowed the second runner of the night to cross. A sacrifice fly then cut the Ohio lead to 5-3 and a double to left brought BSU to within one.

The Bobcats were able to tack on an insurance run in the home half of the eighth on Crabtree?s team-leading ninth home run of the season down the right field line, his third hit of the night, to extend the lead to 6-4.

BSU was able to muster a single in the ninth, but O?Rourke took care of the rest to preserve the win.

Witt (5-3) earned the victory, allowing three earned runs on seven hits while striking out six in seven innings of work. The right-hander has pitched at least seven complete innings in each of his last seven starts, including two complete games.

?Derek always gives you a chance to win,? Carbone said. ?He goes out there and throws a lot of innings, keeps you close in the ballgame. Derek?s been big for us all year and in a big game when we really needed a good, strong outing from our starting pitcher, he went out once again and gave it to us.?

O?Rourke earned his third save of the season with two innings of work.

Ness (4-4), who entered the game ranked third in the MAC in strikeouts, surrendered four runs on eight Ohio hits over 5 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and six walks.

?This win is big for our kids, good for our confidence going into these next two games,? Carbone said. ?I think talent-wise, Ball State is the premier team in the league.?

The Bobcats and Ball State will get right back at it Saturday night with a 7 p.m., start at Bob Wren Stadium. Ohio will send Gressick (2-1) to the hill against the Cardinals? Ben Snyder (6-3).