April 22, 2006
Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Coming off consecutive low-scoring losses, the Ohio baseball squad's bats rapped 35 hits and scored 28 runs en route to the first doubleheader sweep of the year on Saturday at Buffalo.
Ohio (14-19, 7-8 MAC) had lost two games in a row by final scores of 4-3 in situations where it had given up two-run leads in the eighth inning or later. Saturday's twin bill at Buffalo (10-26, 3-12 MAC) was a whole different story, however. Ohio took the first game 11-6 and recorded its largest margin of victory this season in the second contest with a 17-4 runaway win. The wins earned Ohio its second Mid-American Conference series victory of the season
In the first game, the Bobcats fell behind 1-0 after the first, and 4-3 after the third, but scored the game's next seven runs to build an 11-4 advantage. From there Ohio cruised to an 11-6 victory that ended a season-high-tying five-game losing streak.
Hayden Johnston, Willie Walker and Bryant Witt each finished 3-for-4 at the plate in the game while Walker and Brandon Besl drove in two runs apiece.
Anthony Gressick (3-0) kept his record unblemished after he allowed six runs - for earned - on eight hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in seven complete innings.
Yale Silverman tossed two scoreless innings in relief for the Bobcats and allowed just two Buffalo batters to reach base.
Walker's streak of 44-straight games without an error in center field ended with a miscue in the seventh inning.
In the second game of the day, the Bobcats scored in all but the first and last innings as they set team season highs for runs scored (17), hits (20), RBIs (15) and stolen bases (5) in the 17-4 rout.
Tied 3-3 heading into the fourth, Ohio methodically scored 14-straight runs over the course of its next five at-bats to seal the Bulls' fate. No one inning proved to be the difference-maker, however, as the Bobcats got three in the fourth, one in the fifth, three in the sixth, five in the seventh and a pair in the eight.
Gressick, Johnston and Witt each recorded three hits in the game for the Bobcats while Besl, Witt and Kirk Payne all finished with three RBIs.
Jared Willis recorded his second homer of the season to lead off the second inning, and inside-the-park round-tripper. Payne added a homer over the right-center field wall in the sixth inning, his second of the year as well.
John Angelicchi was Ohio's starter in the game, but took a line drive off his leg in the second inning and was unable to continue. Chris Rigo (2-0) came on in relief and allowed two earned runs on two hits in two innings of work to get the victory.
Silverman made his second appearance of the day in relief of Rigo and tossed the last six innings of the game. The righty allowed one run on eight hits with five strikeouts to get credit for an extended save, his second of the year.
In what was originally scheduled to be single games today and tomorrow, Saturday's action turned into a doubleheader due to concerns about Sunday's weather forecast. With both victories on the day, it marked the first time in four tries this year that Ohio was able to take both games.
In the two games combined Johnston and Witt both finished 6-for-9 at the dish and Besl drove home five runs. Silverman also combined his two appearances to record just one run allowed with seven strikeouts in eight innings of relief.
Ohio will host its last home non-conference game of the year this Tuesday, April 25, against Duquesne before entertaining Kent State next weekend in league action. First pitch in Bob Wren Stadium on Tuesday is set for 6 p.m.
