April 21, 2006
Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. - For the second-straight outing the Ohio baseball squad held a two-run lead as late as the eighth inning and came up short as it fell in the Mid-American Conference series-opener Friday afternoon at Buffalo by a final of 4-3.
In a situation eerily similar to the Bobcats loss to Xavier at home on Wednesday, Ohio led 3-1 with its opponent on the ropes only to give up three-straight runs and end up with a loss.
Ohio (12-19, 5-8 MAC) starter Derek Witt was in control through the first seven innings of the game, allowing just three hits with five strikeouts, but the eighth inning was a different story. With two outs, the Bulls (10-24, 3-10 MAC) got an RBI double to close the gap to 3-2 and Dan Quinn followed with a two-run shot into a stiff wind over the left field wall as the Bulls captured their first lead of the day. The 4-3 score proved to be enough as Ohio failed to score after getting two singles in the top of the ninth.
The Bobcats were able to push a run across in their very first at-bat of the game. With two outs, Anthony Gressick ripped a double and came home when Willie Walker followed with a single. An outfield error on Walker's hit allowed him to easily advance all the way to third, but he tried to stretch it to home plate and was gunned down to end the inning.
After Witt retired the side in order in the bottom of the first, Buffalo was able to answer the Bobcat tally in its second opportunity. Witt walked the first two batters of the inning and the Bulls tied the game after a groundout moved the runners moved up and a fielder's choice scored the lead run from third.
Following three uneventful half innings, the Bulls threatened to take the lead in the fourth. Buffalo got a two-out single and tried to score a run one batter later from second base on a single to left field, but Bobcat outfielder Kirk Payne threw the runner out at the plate to keep the score even at 1-1.
The Bobcat offense got back to work in the top of the fifth, again with two outs. With Hayden Johnston and Dusty Hammond on, Gressick singled to plate Johnston and move Hammond to second. Walker then singled up the middle and Hammond came around for a 3-1 Ohio advantage.
The two-run lead seemed to be enough for the Bobcats with Witt rolling through the Buffalo lineup in the fifth-through-seventh innings, allowing just one batter to reach base. That all ended in the eighth, however, when the Bulls mounted their comeback.
Ohio managed to put up a fight in their last at-bat, but came up empty. After Matt Stiffler went down swinging to lead off, Hammond and Gressick registered back-to-back singles, but Walker struck out looking and Payne grounded out to end the game.
Witt (4-3) lost his first decision since March 10. He finished with six strikeouts and a season-high four walks.
Gressick, Walker and Bryant Witt each finished 3-for-4 at the plate for the Bobcats.
Zack Anderson (1-0) got the win in relief for Buffalo while Steve Geltz earned his fourth save of the year.
The Bobcats and Bulls are schedule to get the second game of the series underway tomorrow at 1 p.m., in Amherst Audubon Field.
