March 15, 2008
Box Score
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Ohio baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader with Purdue Saturday, losing 8-4 in game one, and falling 9-4 in the nightcap at V.A. Memorial Stadium.
Ohio (4-8) led 3-2 through six innings in game one, before a four-run seventh inning gave Purdue (2-9) back the lead and control of the game.
Junior right-hander Chris Rigo (Westlake, Ohio) worked 6.1 innings on the mound for the Bobcats, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and striking out five in the loss. Rigo's record falls to 1-1 on the season.
Senior Matt Stiffler (Bellbrook, Ohio) went 1-for-4 with his second triple of the season and two runs scored in the game. Senior Zach Hartle (Toledo, Ohio) was the only Bobcat to post a multi-hit game on the day, going 2-for-4 with one RBI in game one. Ohio junior Brandon Besl (Cincinnati, Ohio) went 1-for-3 with a double in his first game back since suffering an injury on Feb. 29.
Purdue out-hit Ohio 11-6 and drew nine walks to Ohio's four, to make up for the two errors the Boilermakers committed.
Ohio trailed 8-3 heading into the last half inning, but the Bobcats loaded the bases with no outs to threaten a late rally. Hartle then lined a single through the left side, scoring junior Chris Klimko (McKeesport, Pa.) from third and again loading the bases. Purdue quickly ended the rally attempt, calling in Josh Lindblom to close out the game. Lindblom forced Stiffler to ground into a double play and then got freshman Adam Gecewich (Strongsville, Ohio) to pop out, to end the game.
Purdue's Andy Loomis improves to 1-0 on the season, after throwing 2.2 innings, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out two.
Game Two: Purdue 9, Ohio 4
In the second game, Ohio committed three errors in the first two innings to give Purdue four unearned runs and a 5-0 lead. The Bobcats responded by bringing three runs across the plate in the bottom of the second inning to get back in the game, and then scoring another run in the fifth inning to get within a run at 5-4.
Ohio was never able to get over the hump, however, as Purdue scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning for the final score of 9-4.
The Bobcats finished the game with four errors, leading to five unearned runs for the Boilermakers.
Freshman Guantlett Eldemire (Shaker Heights, Ohio) went 1-for-4, with his third double of the season, one run scored and an RBI. Stiffler upped his hitting streak to seven games, going 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Ohio's other extra-base hit in game two came off the bat of senior Jason Selhorst (Ottawa, Ohio), who lined his second double of the season as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Junior left-hander Zach Elmer (Delaware, Ohio) takes the loss for Ohio to fall to 1-1 on the season. Elmer went 2.0 innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run, while striking out one. Ohio's three infield errors during Elmer's two innings led to five total runs while he was on the mound, giving him his first loss of the season.
Junior right-hander Kurt Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio) was solid in relief of Elmer, throwing 5.1 innings, giving up three earned runs and nine hits while striking out four.
Purdue's Kyle Cook (1-0) got his first victory of the season, after going 4.2 innings, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out two.
The series will conclude Sunday afternoon with another doubleheader beginning at noon at V.A. Memorial Stadium.
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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.
