Feb. 26, 2006
Box Score
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Fueled by a five-run seventh inning that erased an 8-7 deficit, and two more insurance runs in the eighth, the Ohio baseball squad earned its first victory of the season Sunday afternoon at Western Kentucky, 14-10.
Leading 7-4 in the sixth, the Bobcat bullpen surrendered four runs in the home half and Ohio (1-2) trailed for the first time in the game 8-7 with three at-bats left. The Bobcat offense made the most of those remaining nine outs, however, and scored seven more runs to take the series finale from WKU (2-4).
"We swung the bats a lot better and (Anthony) Gressick gave us four good innings of pitching," said Ohio Head Coach Joe Carbone. "We played a lot better today."
For the second day in a row the Bobcats got on the board in their first at-bat. Jared Willis singled with one out and advanced to second on a Gressick groundout. Jon Vondrell promptly singled home Willis for the game's first run. The Bobcats then got some help from the WKU defense for their second run. Jason Selhorst singled to right and the Hilltopper outfielder booted the ball, allowing Vondrell to come all the way around from first for a 2-0 lead.
The Hilltoppers threatened it their first at-bat, but with runners on second and third with two outs, Bobcat starter Gressick was able to register his first strikeout of the day to get out of the jam.
Both Gressick and WKU starting pitcher J.C. Faircloth kept the bats at bay over the course of the next two innings before the Hilltoppers broke through in the bottom of the fourth.
After limiting WKU to just three hits through the first three innings, Gressick gave up as many in the fourth frame alone to the Hilltoppers as RBI singles by Eric Scriven and Corteze Armstrong tied the game at 2-2.
The Bobcats were able to regain the lead in the next half inning, however. Matt Stiffler and Gressick reached on walks and Vondrell registered his third and fourth RBIs of the young season on a one-out double that plated both for a 4-2 Bobcat lead.
Bobcat freshman Zach Elmer made his collegiate debut to start the fifth in relief of Gressick and surrendered WKU's third run of the day. After consecutive singles by the Hilltoppers, Elmer threw one in the dirt that got past Ohio catcher Jason Selhort and allowed WKU's Casey Hamilton to score from third to cut the Bobcat lead to 4-3.
The Bobcats pounced on WKU reliever Adam Balcom in their very next at-bat, however. Pinch-hitter Willie Walker led off the frame with a double and was quickly joined on base by Dusty Hammond, who drew a four-pitch walk, and Bryant Witt, who was hit in the back by a pitch. Back-to-back balks by Balcom plated Walker and Hammond for a 6-3 lead. Willis then reached on an error by the Hilltopper third baseman and Witt scored from third for a 7-4 lead.
The Bobcat lead was short-lived though as WKU worked over Ohio relievers Dan Utts and Dan Weiss in the bottom of the sixth for five runs to take its first lead of the game. Steve Hooper's RBI double scored the fifth and final run of the frame for WKU to give the Hilltoppers an 8-7 lead.
Like Ohio's previous lead, the Hilltopper's first advantage of the day was also short-lived. The Bobcats put up a five-spot in the top of the seventh for a 12-8 lead. After Hayden Johnston and Walker reached, Hammond brought home Johnston on an RBI groundout. Walker then scored when Witt reached and advanced to second on a WKU throwing error. Stiffler followed with a single to plate Witt and Gressick drove one off the outfield wall to score Hammond and Stiffler for a 12-8 lead.
The `Cats added two more scores in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Witt that scored Johnston and Witt came home on a double by Stiffler for a 14-8 cushion, their largest of the day.
The Hilltoppers added single tallies in the eight and ninth innings for the final scores of the game in the 14-10 final.
Gressick earned a no-decision after throwing four innings in his first start of the season. The right-hander finished with five strikeouts and three walks and allowed two runs on six hits
Weiss (1-0) earned the victory in relief after he allowed two runs on four hits in one inning of work. Freshman Chris Rigo also made his Bobcat debut in relief and allowed two runs - one earned - on two hits in 2 2-3 innings to close out the game for Ohio.
"Rigo came in and did a good job for a freshman and kind of closed the door," Carbone said. "That helped a great deal. He was a real shot in the arm."
Gressick paced all Bobcat hitters with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with two RBIs. All three of his hits were doubles. Four other Bobcats registered two hits apiece, including Vondrell, who finished with three RBIs.
"Gressick swung it real well today and drove in two big runs when we needed them," Carbone said.
WKU's Bryan Rider (0-1) took the loss in relief. Hilltopper starter Faircloth allowed two runs - one earned - on six hits in 3 2-3 innings.
Armstrong registered a game-high four hits for the Hilltoppers.
Ohio's 14 runs were its highest scoring output since putting up 20 at Duquesne on April 22, 2005.
The Bobcats will be back in action on Thursday, March 2, in their home-opener against NCAA Division II Preseason No. 5 West Virginia State. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
