March 1, 2008
Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Sophomore Marc Krauss (Deshler, Ohio) went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and a double to break out of an early season slump, but Memphis took advantage of five Ohio errors to escape with a 5-4 victory Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three game set at Nat Buring Stadium. Ohio falls to 3-2 with the loss, while Memphis moves to 3-4.
The first two hitters of the game for the Bobcats reached base in the first inning, and then Krauss blasted his first home run of the season over the left field wall to give Ohio a quick 3-0 lead.
"Krauss swung the bat well all game and we are encouraged by the way he got up there and was very aggressive," said Ohio Head Coach Joe Carbone.
Ohio held a 4-1 advantage until a disastrous sixth inning saw the Bobcats' lead unravel. With just one out remaining in the inning Ohio committed three errors, leading to three unearned runs and a 5-4 Memphis lead.
"We basically gave the game away with two outs in the sixth inning," said Carbone. "We just didn't make a couple of routine plays and you can't give a good team like Memphis more than three outs in an inning and expect to win."
Ohio had its chances in the eighth inning, but was unable to bring any runs across the plate. Ohio senior Zach Hartle (Toledo, Ohio) led off the inning with a double, extending his hitting streak to nine games dating back to last season. The next two batters failed to advance Hartle, before freshman Zach Keen (Beavercreek, Ohio) singled, moving Hartle to third and putting runners on the corners for senior Matt Stiffler (Bellbrook, Ohio). Stiffler, who has been hot at the plate as of late, was unable to come up with a hit and Memphis managed to hold on to win the second game of the series.
Ohio junior left-hander Zach Elmer (Delaware, Ohio) worked 5.0 innings in the start, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out one.
"We thought Elmer threw the ball well, he threw with good velocity and had a good breaking ball today," said Carbone.
Right-hander Marc Ashley (1-1) gets credit for the win for Memphis, after going 6.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and striking out three.
Ohio junior transfer RHP Joe Stover (Shorewood, Ill.) takes the loss, working 1.0 innings in relief, allowing one earned run on four hits, while walking two and striking out one. Stover is now 0-1 on the season.
Junior Hayden Johnston (Strattanville, Pa.) had a nice day at the plate for the Bobcats, going 3-for-4 with a double for his second multi-hit game of the season.
Before this afternoon, Ohio as a team had only committed a combined two errors through the first four games.
The Bobcats and Tigers will play the rubber match of the three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET at Nat Buring Stadium. Freshman right-hander Jason Moulton (Toledo, Ohio) will start on the mound for Ohio, while Memphis will go with senior right-hander Philip Utley.
Live stats will be available on www.ohiobobcats.com. A radio broadcast of the game is available on the Memphis web site, where Jeff Brightwell will call the play-by-play for the Tigers' radio. A web cast of Sunday's game can also be purchased at the above link.
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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.
