April 9, 2008
Box Score
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. - The Ohio baseball team dropped a slugfest to West Virginia Wednesday evening, falling 13-12 in 10 innings at Hawley Field. Ohio (15-14) connected on 17 hits, while West Virginia (25-7) belted 20 hits, with the final few lifting the Mountaineers to the comeback victory.
Ohio led 10-1 after the top of the fourth inning, but West Virginia worked its way back into the game, eventually tying the score, 12-12, in the bottom of the ninth inning on an RBI-single by Tyler Kuhn with two outs.
Ohio went down in order in the top of the 10th inning, setting the stage for West Virginia in the bottom half of the inning. With one out and two runners on base, Austin Markel hit a walk-off double to left field, bringing the winning run across the plate for the Mountaineers.
All nine Ohio starters recorded a hit, paced by Matt Stiffler's (Bellbrook, Ohio) 3-for-6 five-RBI and two doubles, extending his school-record hitting streak to 24 games. Sophomore Jeremie Rehak (Pittsburgh, Pa.), sophomore Marc Krauss (Deshler, Ohio), junior Brandon Besl (Cincinnati, Ohio), junior Chris Klimko (McKeesport, Pa.), senior Hayden Johnston (Strattanville, Pa.), and freshman Gauntlett Eldemire (Shaker Heights, Ohio) all collected two hits apiece for the Bobcats.
Ohio brought six runs across the plate in the top of the third inning and then scored three more in the fourth inning to take a 10-1 advantage.
Maddox III got the six-run third inning started for the Bobcats with a sacrifice fly scoring Krauss. Klimko then reached on a walk, followed by Johnston getting hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Freshman Zach Keen (Beavercreek, Ohio) and Eldemire then each drew back-to-back bases loaded walks to bring two more runs across the plate. Stiffler capped the explosive inning with his second double of the game, clearing the bases and putting Ohio in front 7-0.
In the fourth inning, Maddox III, Johnston, and Eldemire each hit RBI-singles to give the Bobcats a 10-1 lead and seemingly control of the game.
West Virginia's bats finally came to life in the fourth inning, however, scoring two runs, before bringing four more runs across the plate in the fifth inning to trim the margin to 10-7.
Krauss and Stiffler each belted RBI-singles in the top of the seventh and eighth innings to extend the lead to 12-7, but the Mountaineers responded right back with a four-run eighth inning to get within one run heading into the ninth.
Ohio junior left hander Mike Babin (Medina, Ohio) takes the loss after coming on in relief in the bottom of the 10th inning. Babin is now 0-1 on the season.
West Virginia's Chris Enourato (4-0) worked the final two innings, allowing no hits and no runs and striking out two to earn the victory.
The Bobcats return to Bob Wren Stadium this weekend for a three-game series against Eastern Michigan. First pitch of that series is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday.
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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.
