April 9, 2006
Box Score
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ohio baseball club clinched its first Mid-American Conference series victory of the season as it dropped Ball State in Sunday's rubber game by a final of 9-6 thanks to a five-run fifth inning and solid relief pitching.
In his third start of the year, Bobcat freshman hurler Kurt Smith carried a two-run lead into the third inning, but surrendered four runs in the frame as Ohio (10-14, 4-5 MAC) fell behind. The Bobcats would score the next seven runs of the game, however, and reliever Dan Weiss pitched five hitless innings in relief of Smith as Ohio took the game and the series from Ball State (16-14, 6-3 MAC), who came into the weekend atop the MAC West Division.
"We got a great relief performance by Dan Weiss," Ohio Head Coach Joe Carbone said. "We went in there when the game was close and he pitched five innings, walked one, and didn't give up a hit. That's almost as good as it gets."
With both teams going scoreless in the first two frames, Ohio was the first to break through on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Chris Klimko was hit by a pitch with one out and Matt Stiffler followed with his first career triple to bring home Klimko. Dusty Hammond then singled up the middle to bring home Hammond for a 2-0 Bobcat lead.
Smith retired six of the first eight batters he faced, but Ball State sent 11 hitters to the plate in the home half of the third and registered four runs on Smith. The right-hander surrendered five singles, two walks and two wild pitches as the Cardinals stormed ahead 4-2.
The Bobcat bats were able to pick Smith back up, however. In its very next at-bat, Ohio brought the game back even with two tallies. Willie Walker dropped a one-out double down the left field line and moved to third on a fly-out by Hayden Johnston. Bryant Witt then dropped down a squeeze bunt and reached first safely as Walker crossed home plate. After Jared Willis registered an infield single and Witt later moved to third on a passed ball, Klimko then drew a walk to load the bases and Stiffler followed with his second RBI hit of the day to score Witt and draw the Bobcats even, 4-4.
With essentially a clean slate, Smith went back to work for Ohio and retired the first two hitters he faced in the Ball State fourth, but walked consecutive batters to give the Cardinals life. This time the Bobcat defense let Smith down, however, as Klimko threw past the bag as the Cardinal lead runner tried to steal third and moved on home on the errant throw for the go-ahead run, 5-4.
Ohio's very next at-bat would prove to be the difference in the game, however. With reliever Ryan Schmidt starting the inning in place of Cardinal starter Ryan DeGeeter, the Bobcats went on the offensive. Hammond led off with a single and Anthony Gressick drew a walk. Jon Vondrell then followed with a single up the middle to plate Hammond and the rally was on. Walker then reached on a fielder's choice to score Gressick and Johnston was hit by a pitch, which spelled the end of Schmidt's day. Richie Fralic came on in relief for Ball State but was immediately greeted by a Witt infield single to load the bases. Willis the drove a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Walker and Klimko smacked a double to left that scored both Johnston and Witt for a 9-5 Ohio lead.
Smith went back out to the mound for Ohio to pitch the bottom of the fifth, but gave up a single and a double in his first two batters faced and Carbone called on the southpaw Weiss, who got three-straight outs and allowed just one runner crossed home on a ground-out.
Weiss (2-0) went on to retire the side in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings and allowed just one Ball State batter to reach base on a walk in his five total innings of work. He finished with four strikeouts and didn't surrender a hit as he earned his second victory of the season for Ohio.
"I thought we played hard, play good defense, and got some timely hits when we needed them," Carbone said. "We're still disappointed we didn't win three, but after losing that suspended game on Saturday, we came back and won the next two. I thought that the guys had a lot of character."
In the longest outing of his rookie season, Smith allowed six runs - five earned - on nine hits in four innings with four strikeouts and four walks.
Stiffler finished 3-for-5 at the plate for Ohio while Hammond, Walker and Witt each recorded two hits.
"He (Stiffler) has been taking some good swings at the ball all year," Carbone said. "He got some big hits for us today. He drove the balls to the gap that were big."
Schmidt (0-1) took the loss for Ball State after he allowed four runs on two hits and recorded just one out.
Justin Rodgers was the only Cardinal to register a multiple-hit day with two base-knocks.
The Bobcats will now come back home for a six-game homestand starting next Tuesday, April 11, with a non-conference tilt against West Virginia. First pitch at Bob Wren Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
