May 22, 2008
Box Score
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Ohio baseball team used strong defense and an impressive complete-game performance from starting pitcher Chris Rigo (Westlake, Ohio) to earn at least one more game this season, defeating Western Michigan 5-4 at V.A. Memorial Stadium to advance in the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Rigo (6-3) threw 142 pitches in his fourth complete game of the season, allowing four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and three base on balls. Ohio improved to 28-29 on the season with the victory. Rigo's counterpart on the mound, Billy Morrison (6-2), took the loss for the Broncos giving up five runs on nine hits with one strike out and two base on balls. Western Michigan fell to 29-23-1 for the 2008 season.
Chris Klimko (McKeesport, Pa.) and Matt Stiffler (Bellbrook, Ohio) each blasted solo home runs for the `Cats, with Stiffler's 17th of the season proving to be the game winner in the seventh inning. With the big fly, Stiffler moved into a tie with current Ohio pitching coach Andrew See for second in the Ohio record books in home runs for a season.
Stiffler, Klimko and Marc Krauss (Deshler, Ohio) each had two hits for the Bobcats.
The Broncos hit three solo home runs off Rigo, with Joe Sheets' coming in the top of the ninth inning to cut Ohio's lead to just one run. But head coach Joe Carbone stuck with Rigo, who seemed to get stronger as the inning continued, striking out two batters for the first two outs and getting a ground out to third base to end the game.
The Broncos started the scoring in the game, striking first in the top half of the first inning.
Western Michigan's Zach Gentile led off the game with a solo home run on just the third pitch of the inning, sending the baseball over the right field fence. But Rigo settled down and recorded three straight pop-flys to retire the Broncos in the top of the first inning.
The Bobcats didn't wait long to tie the game, with Krauss hitting a double to left-centerfield in the bottom of the first that drove in leadoff man Stiffler, who hit his 14th double of the season to begin the game.
Ohio took the lead, 2-1, on a double-play ground ball from Zach Hartle (Toledo, Ohio) which plated Klimko from third base. Klimko reached base on a single to start the inning.
The Broncos tied the game in the top of the third inning on another solo home run, this time from centerfielder Kyle Galbraith, who drove a fastball over the leftfield fence. The two home runs were the only two hits Rigo surrendered through the first three innings.
In the bottom of the third inning, Brandon Besl (Cincinnati, Ohio) was hit by WMU starter Billy Morrison - the ninth time Besl has been plunked this season - which loaded the bases for Robert Maddox III (Euclid, Ohio). Maddox hit a sacrifice fly to plate Jeremie Rehak (Pittsburgh, Pa.) for the Bobcats' third run of the game, making the score 3-2. Klimko was issued a five-pitch walk to load the bases once again and Gauntlett Eldemire (Shaker Heights, Ohio) drove a pitch deep to right-centerfield but Galbraith made a leaping catch at the wall to limit the `Cats to just one run in the inning.
Western Michigan tied the game, 3-3, in the top of the fifth inning with one out when Bronco shortstop Grant Simotes scored from second on an RBI single from Chris Lewis. Simotes reached base on a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Rigo struck out first baseman Matthew Abro to end the inning.
The Bobcats retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning on Klimko's third homerun of the season, a long blast that sailed over the left field fence. Klimko started the game with two hits and walk in his first three at-bats against Morrison. The junior went 5-for-11 with six RBI against the Broncos in Ohio's three-game MAC series at Bob Wren from May 20-22.
Stiffler added to the Ohio lead in the bottom of the seventh with his long ball, hit deep over the left centerfield wall. Stiffler connected on the home run on just the second pitch of the inning.
In the top of the ninth inning, Western Michigan added its third solo home run of the game on Sheets' deep drive over the right field wall, cutting Ohio's lead to just one run at 5-4.
Ohio will play the loser of the Eastern Michigan/Bowling Green contest at 9 a.m. on Friday at V.A. Memorial Stadium. The Falcons and Eagles play at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
