March 4, 2006
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - Behind 10 strikeouts and seven strong innings of work from starting pitcher Derek Witt, the Ohio baseball team captured a 3-1 decision over Otterbein for its first home victory of the season Saturday afternoon in Bob Wren Stadium.
Trailing 1-0 through five innings, the Bobcats (2-3) earned a run in each of their final three at-bats to distance itself after allowing the Cardinals (0-1) a run first-inning tally.
Witt (1-0) earned his first win of the season. Over the course of his seven frames he gave up only five hits and one run while fanning 10 hitters to tie a career high he set last year against Eastern Michigan. John Angelicchi got his first career save after two scoreless innings of relief in which he struck out three and walked only one.
Bryant Witt helped the Bobcats get two runs, scoring one in the sixth and driving in Jon Vondrell in the seventh. Dusty Hammond led the Bobcats with two hits and one run. Kirk Payne and Jason Selhorst each had one RBI.
Witt's first home start of his senior year got off to a rocky start. On the first pitch, Pat Connor ripped a single through the right side. Witt then got a groundout and a strikeout but would walk Martin to put runners at first and second. Facing two outs, Kyle Dyar singled to left, driving in Connor to give Otteberin a 1-0 lead. Witt got out of any further trouble by inducing Solt to groundout to third.
In the bottom of the first, Stiffler ripped a double down the left field line off Bobby Wright. However, any potential rally was stopped when Hammond lined out to Griffin at second who got the double play as Stiffler left second before the catch was made.
Witt found his groove in the next three innings, giving up zero hits and striking out seven. In the top of the fourth, he struck out the side.
In the bottom of the fourth, Dan Remenowsky (0-1) replaced Wright, who remained in the game as the designated hitter. Wright pitched three innings, giving up only two hits and striking out one. With one out, Gressick singled to left and then stole his third base of the season. Remenowsky prevented him from scoring though by getting the next two outs, which included a strikeout and a groundout.
The Cardinals got their first hit since the top of the first in the fifth as Mauck singled to center with two outs but nothing would come of it.
In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, Johnston almost had his first career homerun, but the ball didn't have enough legs as right-fielder Matt Wilson made the catch at the wall.
Otterbein had another opportunity to score in the sixth. With two outs, an error by Johnston and a bloop single by Dyar to shallow right put runners at first and third. The potential rally ended when Witt struck out Solt for Witt's tenth and final strikeout of the game.
The Bobcats tied it in the sixth showing patience at the plate. Bryant Witt got to first on an error by the shortstop Ben Titus. Dusty Hammond followed with a double to left-center to put runners in scoring position. Gressick walked after four pitches, loading the bases. Facing a 0-2 count, Payne worked his way back and on the full count grounded out to second on a fielder's choice, scoring Witt from third to tie the game 1-1.
In the seventh, Wilson led off with a single for the Cardinals. The pinch-runner Charlie Edwards stole second. After a flyout, he would advance to third on a throwing error by Hayden Johnston to put runners at first and third with two outs. While Brandon Mauck attempted to steal second during a pitch, Jason Selhorst's throw was cut off by Witt, who tossed back to Selhorst to tag Edwards out at home to end the inning.
The Bobcats took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. After being hit by Remenowsky, Vondrell took second on a sacrifice bunt by Willie Walker. Johnston followed with a walk. B. Witt then singled to right field off reliever Doug Stevens, driving in Vondrell to take a 2-1 lead.
The Bobcats will be back in action on Sunday afternoon in Bob Wren Stadium when they take on Rio Grande at 1 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for a pregame ceremony in memory of the late Bill Toadvine, Ohio's longtime associate head coach who died of cancer last November. The presentation is set to begin at 12:45.
