April 18, 2008
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio - Behind the pitching of junior Chris Rigo (Westlake, Ohio), and the bat of freshman Robert Maddox III (Euclid, Ohio), the Ohio baseball team had a four-run lead entering the bottom of the eighth inning against Akron Friday afternoon and was in position to win its fourth-straight game. Akron (16-14, 2-5 MAC) rallied in the final two innings, however, scoring six runs to escape with a 7-6 walk-off victory Friday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field.
"I thought we played pretty good baseball today," said Ohio Head Coach Joe Carbone. "We just couldn't get any of our relief pitchers to close the game out for us. Rigo pitched well and we were in position to win the game, our three relief pitchers just didn't perform."
After rocky starts in his last two outings, Rigo returned to form, allowing just two hits through the first six innings, including retiring 13-straight and not allowing a base runner from the third through the sixth inning. The right-hander worked 7.0 innings, giving up just five hits and three earned runs while striking out four.
Maddox III went 2-for-4 at the plate and blasted his seventh home run of the season in the top of the eighth inning, a two-run shot that gave Ohio (18-17, 8-5 MAC) a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead.
Akron finally got to Rigo in the bottom of the eighth, as the first two runners reached, leading Carbone to go to the bullpen. Junior Kevin Mementowski (Parma, Ohio) came out of the pen, but was quickly chased after the two runners he inherited from Rigo scored and then one of his own crossed the plate. The Bobcats then went to senior right-hander John Angelicchi (Woodmere, Ohio), who retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Ohio freshman Zach Keen (Beavercreek, Ohio) drew a walk to lead off the top of the ninth and was then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jeremie Rehak (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Keen then advanced to third base on a passed ball, before crossing the plate on a wild pitch, giving Ohio a 6-4 advantage.
In the bottom of the ninth Akron quickly tied the game, as the second batter of the inning, Drew Turocy, hit a two-run home run to knot the game, 6-6. Angelicchi then walked Phil Bednar, before junior right-hander Matt Schlarb (Lexington, Ohio) entered the game to take over on the hill for the Bobcats. Akron moved Bednar to second base on a sacrifice bunt, then Schlarb intentionally walked John Turk and then walked Kurt Davidson to load the bases. Facing a full count, Akron's Doug McNulty then belted the walk-off single, scoring Bednar, giving Akron the comeback victory.
Angelicchi takes the loss for Ohio and is now 0-1 on the season. Tom Farmer (1-2) gets credit for the victory for Akron, after pitching one inning, allowing one run and striking out one.
McNulty finished 4-for-5 with three RBI on the day.
Keen went 2-for-4 on the day for the Bobcats, extending his hitting streak to 12 games.
Ohio posted eight hits on the day, its fewest in 12 games, compared to Akron's nine hits.
The Bobcats and Zips continue their series on Saturday, with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
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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.
