Feb. 23, 2008
Box Score
Charleston, S.C. - Once the weather finally subsided, the Ohio baseball team got its 2008 season underway Saturday afternoon at Buccaneer Field, where the Bobcats cruised to a 9-1 victory against host Charleston Southern.
"It was a pretty good game for us today," said Ohio Head Coach Joe Carbone. "We played good defensively, especially with that being our first time out on the field this year."
Ohio junior pitcher Chris Rigo (Westlake, Ohio) got the opening day start for the Bobcats, allowing just one hit and one run and striking out five in seven innings of work on the mound. The right-hander went the first six and two-thirds innings without giving up a hit to win his first outing of the season.
Junior right-hander Matt Schlarb (Lexington, Ohio) closed out the final two innings on the hill for the Bobcats, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out two.
"Rigo and Schlarb both pitched well for us today," said Carbone. "Rigo was able to go out there and throw strikes for us, and that's what we need."
The Bobcat offense provided more than enough run support for Rigo, connecting on 14 hits on the day, including home runs by senior Matt Stiffler (Bellbrook, Ohio) and freshmen Robert Maddox III (Euclid, Ohio) and Gauntlett Eldemire (Shaker Heights, Ohio).
Stiffler finished 3-for-5 at the plate, totaling three RBI and three runs scored. Maddox III went 1-for-5 at the dish, hitting a solo-shot over the right field wall in the third inning, and Eldemire provided instant offense for the Bobcats, coming on as a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth, going 2-for-2 with a three-run home run and a double.
Behind the bat of Stiffler the Bobcats got out to a 4-0 lead after the first two innings. The center fielder led off the game with a single and then junior third baseman Brandon Besl (Cincinnati, Ohio), who finished the game 3-for-5, brought him around for the first run of the game with a double through the left side.
In the top of the second, with senior Zach Hartle (Toledo, Ohio) and junior Hayden Johnston (Strattanville, Pa.) on first and second, Stiffler belted a three-run shot over the right center field wall, giving Rigo a comfortable four-run lead to work with.
Ohio (1-0) led 6-1 heading into the eighth inning, when Eldemire provided the final runs of the game with his three-run blast to straightaway center, giving Ohio the 9-1 victory.
"We had a chance to put them away early and didn't, but then we were able to get some big runs at the end of the game," said Carbone. "It was a pretty good game for us, but we need to make sure to build on it."
Senior Cody Higgins (0-1) took the loss for CSU (0-1), giving up five runs on six hits with three strikeouts in six innings.
Hartle finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Ohio junior catcher Chris Klimko (McKeesport, Pa.) had a solid night at the dish, going 2-for-4 with one RBI.
The final two games of the series are scheduled to be played as a doubleheader Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. at Buccaneer Field.
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Wes Liles is the baseball contact in the Ohio media relations office. He can be reached via email at liles@ohio.edu.
