April 1, 2006
Box Score
TOLEDO, Ohio - A day after banging out a season-high 17 hits, the Ohio baseball squad was limited to just five on Saturday as Toledo took the second game of Mid-American Conference weekend series by a final of 9-2.
Toledo (11-9, 3-2 MAC) southpaw Kyle Rawlings threw seven strong innings and limited the Bobcats (8-10, 2-3 MAC) two just two runs after Ohio tagged the Rockets staff for seven early runs and season-highs for hits and home runs in the series-opener on Friday.
For the second day in a row, the Bobcats were the first team to break through on the scoreboard as they registered a run in the top of the second. A two-out single by Hayden Johnston through the left side got things started and Dusty Hammond followed with a hit up the middle to move Johnston to third. The inning then continued when Chris Klimko singled to left to plate Johnston for a 1-0 lead.
A Joel Visser lead-off homer to right field in the home half of the third tied the game for the Rockets and they were able to take their first lead of the series on two gifts by the Bobcat defense. An error by Ohio third baseman Hayden Johnston allowed a batter to reach and advance to second, then a John Angelicchi wild pitch moved him to third. Angelicchi was able to get three-straight groundouts, but could not keep the runner at third as the Rockets went ahead 2-1.
The Bobcats were able to draw back even in their very next at-bat as Brandon Besl registered his first career triple on a shot off the center field wall to lead-off the fourth. Willie Walker promptly singled to left to bring home Besl, but was stranded on base from there.
The Rockets extended to a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth as they sent 10 batters to the plate. With one out, Angelicchi gave up a walk and a single, then got a fielder's choice. The Bobcat right-hander couldn't get away from the inning, however, as Toledo got two more walks and a single as they chased Angelicchi with a 5-2 lead. With Dan Weiss now on in relief, the Rockets got a two-run single to push ahead 7-2.
Toledo was able to add two more throw-in runs in the bottom of the eighth to forge a 9-2 lead, which proved to be the final tally.
Angelicchi (0-4) dropped his fourth-straight decision after going 3-0 as a freshman in 2005. The sophomore allowed seven runs - six earned - on five hits in 3 2-3 innings with one strikeout against four walks.
"He (Angelicchi) got a little wild, and we didn't make a couple of plays behind him, he missed a few pitches," Ohio Head Coach Joe Carbone said. "But he competes, gets ahead of hitters and gives you a chance to win."
Weiss handled the last 4 1-3 innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and four walks.
Rawlings (4-1) earned the victory for Toledo a week after he allowed Miami just one run and two hits in a win.
"He (Rawlings) had a good two-seam fastball that was moving away from the right-handed hitters and he had us off-stride with a good change-up going," Carbone said. "We've got to give him credit, I thought he was a big part of Toledo's win."
Jason Watson had a team-best three RBIs for Toledo and was one of three Rockets to register two hits on the day.
The Bobcats and Rockets will get together for the rubber game of the weekend set tomorrow in Toledo. Ohio will send Kurt Smith (0-0) to mound for his first collegiate start against Toledo's third lefty of the weekend in Levi Curry (1-2). First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
