Feb. 25, 2006
Box Score
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Ohio baseball team fell behind early, and despite a ninth-inning rally, dropped an 11-7 decision Saturday to Western Kentucky in non-conference play at Nick Denes Field.
The Bobcats (0-2) put a run on the board in the first to take an early lead, but surrendered six runs in the bottom half of the inning to fall into a deficit they'd never recover from. Ohio scored in each of the game's first three innings, but a six-run first and a four-run third were enough for Western Kentucky (2-3) to build a comfortable lead.
Down six in the top of the ninth, Ohio rallied to score two more and pull to within four, but the Cats would get no closer.
Lead-off hitter Matt Stiffler (Bellbrook, Ohio) collected two hits and a pair of RBIs for the Cats on the afternoon. Jon Vondrell (Centerville, Ohio) picked up a couple hits as well and drove in a ninth-inning run with a sacrifice fly to center.
Starter John Angelicchi (Woodmere, Ohio) took the loss for Ohio, allowing 10 runs--nine earned--on 11 hits in three innings of work. Angelicchi (0-1) walked one and struck out one. Yale Silverman (Baton Rouge, La.) tossed four scoreless innings out of the bullpen, scattering a couple hits with two strikeouts.
Five Hilltoppers had at least two hits on the day, led by three hits and two RBIs for Eric Scriven. Right-hander Kenny Griffin earned the victory in relief. Griffin allowed a run on three hits in 2 2-3 innings of work. Hilltopper starter Zack Duncan surrendered four runs in 1 1-3 innings.
The Bobcats got on the board early in untraditional fashion. Jared Willis (Logan, W.Va.) reached on a catcher's interference call, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on another wild pitch. Willis came around to score on a J.T. Osburn (Warrenton, Va.) groundout, putting Ohio up 1-0.
Western Kentucky had an answer, though. The first nine Hilltopper batters reached base on the way to a six-run first. Ohio recorded its three outs via a fielder's choice and two pick-offs.
Ohio continued to battle, but they'd never regain the lead. Ohio plated three runs in the top of the second, two of which came after Stiffler doubled to left center.
Western Kentucky went quiet in the second, and to open up the third, Ohio trimmed the deficit again. The Cats scored on a two-out base hit for Dusty Hammond (Bellefontaine, Ohio), pushing the score to 6-5.
In the bottom half of the inning, though, the Hilltoppers lit up the scoreboard again. This time it was a four-run inning, with all four runs coming with two outs. Angelicchi retired back-to-back hitters on groundouts, then surrendered four-straight hits--the last of which was a two-run homer by Matt Ransdell.
Both teams were silent over the next four innings, until Western Kentucky picked up an insurance run on a sacrifice fly to give the Hilltoppers an 11-5 edge.
Ohio rallied in the ninth, but it was too little, too late. Willie Walker (Marysville, Ohio) pinch-hit and led off the inning with a walk. He'd advance to third on an Anthony Gressick (Lancaster, Ohio) and score on a passed ball. Gressick scored on a Vondrell sacrifice fly, but that was all Ohio could put on the board.
Freshman Adam Goodpasture (Columbus, Ohio) made his first-career appearance, striking out the only batter he faced in the eighth.
The series finale is set for 2 p.m. Sunday. Gressick is slated to get the ball for Ohio, while Western Kentucky will counter with J.C. Faircloth.
