March 5, 2006

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - While Ohio's pitching had its second consecutive dominating performance, the offense this time chipped in as the Bobcats went on to defeat Rio Grande 13-2 Sunday afternoon in non-conference action at Bob Wren Stadium.

After surrendering the two runs in the first three innings, Anthony Gressick (Lancaster, Ohio) shut the Redmen's (10-5) offense down, allowing a total of two hits while striking out six in six innings of work. For the Bobcats (3-3) offensively, he scored three times and drove in two runners. Daniel Weiss (Cincinnati, Ohio) earned his first save of the season, giving up two hits and striking out five in the last three innings of the game.

Besides Gressick, three other Bobcats had two or more RBI. Willie Walker (Marysville, Ohio) contributed three, while Dusty Hammond (Bellefontaine, Ohio) and Kirk Payne (Hilliard, Ohio) each contributed two. Jon Vondrell (Centerville, Ohio) hit 4-for-5, scoring twice and adding one RBI. Bryant Witt (Powell, Ohio) and Hayden Johnston (Strattanville, Pa.) each scored twice.

Prior to the game, fans stood as Ohio Athletics Director Kirby Hocutt and Ohio Baseball Head Coach Joe Carbone presented framed jerseys to the late Bill Toadvine's family as part of a pre-game ceremony.

"We wanted to come out and perform well after we dedicated the bullpen to Bill," Carbone said. "Our two pitchers went out and pitched very well, so hopefully he was pleased with that."

After scoring three runs on Saturday, the offense began to gel more on Sunday.

"We are doing better offensively, but we are still not at the point where we need to be," Carbone said. "We still took some fastballs for strikes with base runners in scoring position."

The Bobcat offense, led by Walker's bases clearing triple, exploded with six runs in the fourth inning, using small ball and clutch hitting. Witt started with a bunt single, and Matt Stiffler (Bellbrook, Ohio) followed with a walk. Hammond laid a sacrifice bunt, but Justin Gregory (1-3) hesitated towards third and then made a poor throw to first, allowing Witt to score and Stiffler to reach third and give the Bobcats the lead for good at 3-2.

After Hammond's first stolen base of the season, reliever Cory McKnight threw a wild pitch, allowing Stiffler to score and Hammond to reach third. Gressick singled to left, scoring Hammond. With two outs, Vondrell singled and Johnston walked to load the bases. Walker hit a line drive shot to left-center for his first triple of the season and third career total, giving the Bobcats a 8-2 lead.

"Willie (Walker) had been struggling a little bit, so he was due to have a good hit, which it was," Carbone said.

Like Derek Witt (Powell, Ohio) on Saturday, Gressick (1-0) got into trouble early in the game before finding his groove. After getting a strikeout and groundout, he walked Mike Branon, who would steal second and then advance to third on a passed ball. Michael Warren singled to right, giving Rio Grande an early 1-0 lead.

Rio Grande added another run in the third when Mike Golom hit a fastball down the left field line to take the 2-0 lead with zero outs. However, since that hit, Gressick sat down 12 straight batters, striking out five in the process through the sixth inning.

An error in the bottom of the third by first baseman Mike Branon erased the early deficit for the Bobcats. With two outs, Gressick hit a grounder to third. The throw to first was dropped by Brannon. Payne crushed the following pitch to the center field wall, driving in Gressick on the double. Rattled, Gregory next hit Jason Selhorst (Ottawa, Ohio) and gave up a RBI-single to Vondrell to tie the game 2-2. Gregory next hit Johnston to load the bases but avoided anymore runs when Walker flied out to center.

The Bobcat attack though never let up, scoring six runs in the fourth, four in the seventh and adding another one in the eighth for a total of 13.

The Bobcats return to Bob Wren Stadium Tuesday afternoon when they take on Cleveland State at 4 p.m.