April 16, 2006
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - After trailing by six runs in the fifth inning, the Ohio baseball team rallied to tie the game in the eighth, but visiting Eastern Michigan plated two tallies in the top of the ninth to earn a 9-7 victory on Sunday and a Mid-American Conference series win.
On a day in which Bobcat senior Anthony Gressick returned to the mound after a month without pitching because of a shoulder injury, Ohio (12-16, 5-7 MAC) surrendered two runs to the Eagles in the first, fourth and fifth innings as EMU (16-16, 7-5 MAC) built a 6-0 lead. The Bobcats scored seven of the game's next eight runs to tie the game, however, but they couldn't keep the visitors off the board in the ninth as they dropped their fourth MAC series this year.
Gressick, who last pitched on March 19 against Michigan State, missed his last three turns in the weekend rotation because of an injury to his throwing shoulder that happened while sliding into second against the Spartans. In his return to the mound, the first four outs the Ohio co-captain recorded were all strikeouts.
"It was very encouraging (Gressick's return), unfortunately we made him throw extra pitches early so we couldn't have him out there as long and we would have liked," Ohio Head Coach Joe Carbone said. "He's a great kid and a great athlete and he wants to pitch. In the long run, getting him out there today will help us down the road."
Despite Gressick striking out the side in the first frame, EMU was able to get two runs home for an early advantage as the Bobcat hurler walked and hit a batter, gave up a single, and dealt with an error in the field behind him.
Gressick was able to register a strikeout and induce two groundouts in both the second and third innings before the Eagles got two runs on him again in the fourth. This time Gressick allowed just one hit, but the Bobcat defense committed two errors in the frame as EMU went ahead 4-0.
Reliever Dan Weiss took over for Gressick on the mound to start the fifth, but things went downhill quickly for the southpaw who retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced in his last appearance. All four of the Eagles' batters that Weiss faced reached base and he was pulled without recording an out and allowing two runs to make it 6-0 in EMU's favor. Freshman Kurt Smith came on for the Bobcats and registered three-straight outs to prevent any further damage.
Meanwhile, EMU starter Will Stewardson was holding the Bobcat bats at bay. Ohio managed just three base runners in the first four innings and hit into two double plays before it was able to get on the board in the fifth.
After Willie Walker singled to lead-off the fifth, he was out at second as Kirk Payne followed him with a fielder's choice and moved to second on an errant EMU throw to first. Dusty Hammond picked up Payne as he singled to right to get Ohio on the board and then Chris Klimko followed with a single. Both Hammond and Klimko then moved up on a wild pitch and Brandon Besl recorded an RBI groundout to make it 6-2.
The Eagles managed to get their first run of the day on Smith in the sixth thanks to two hits and a hit-by-pitch to make it 7-2, but Ohio mounted a furious late comeback
With two outs in the sixth, Gressick smacked a double to left-center - the first extra-base hit of the game for either side - and Walker joined him on the sacks with a base on balls. Payne then drove a double over the head of the Eagle left fielder to push home both Gressick and Walker to make it 7-4.
With Smith throwing scoreless seventh and eighth innings to keep the Bobcats in the game, the offense rallied once again in their next-to-last at-bat to tie the game at 7-7.
Gressick led off with a single and moved to second on a Walker groundout. Payne then recorded his third RBI of the day on a single up the middle to plate Gressick and Hammond followed with a single. Both runners then moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and Besl brought them both home on a two-out single to left to tie the game.
The Eagles robbed Ohio's momentum with two tallies in the top of the ninth, however. EMU got a one-out single and the batter advanced to second on Ohio's fourth error of the day. After an intentional walk and a groundout that moved the runners to second and third, Michael Boyd singled up the middle off Smith to bring both runs home for the eventual game-winning scores.
Smith (0-3) took the loss in relief for Ohio after allowing three earned runs on seven hits in a career-high five innings of work.
Gressick allowed four runs - two earned - on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks in four innings in his return to the rotation.
Besl and Payne each finished with two hits and three RBIs for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats committed four errors in the game for the seventh time this year.
"When you don't play good defense you're just giving away runs," Carbone said. "We had been playing pretty good defense up until today, but we didn't do a good job today."
Sean Hoffman (1-0) earned the victory in relief for the Eagles. He allowed three earned runs on five hits in 2 2-3 innings of work.
Stewardson turned in 5 2-3 innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
Jeff Hehr finished 3-for-5 at the plate for the Eagles while Josh Ivan drove in three runs.
"We always play hard, we're just not playing as smart, or with enough poise as we need to, to consistently win games," Carbone said.
The Bobcats will be back in action in Bob Wren Stadium for two non-conference games this week when they host Pittsburgh and Xavier Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games are scheduled to commence at 6 p.m.
