May 4, 2008
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against Bowling Green Sunday afternoon at Bob Wren Stadium, falling 3-2 in game one and 7-5 in game two, to give Bowling Green the series sweep. Ohio's record drops to 20-27 overall and 9-12 in the Mid-American Conference, while Bowling Green improves to 23-18 and 10-8 in MAC play.
Bowling Green got out to a quick start in the opening game as the third batter of the game, Brian Hangbers, hit a three-run homer in the top of the first inning. Those would be the only three runs of the game for the Falcons, but that lead would prove to be enough.
The Bobcats loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second inning, but managed to bring just one run across the plate. Freshman Robert Maddox III (Euclid, Ohio) drove in junior Brandon Besl (Cincinnati, Ohio) on a fielder's choice, to trim the margin to 3-1, before a double play ended the inning for Ohio.
In the fourth inning the Bobcats threatened again, loading the bases with just one away, but Bowling Green's Kevin Light retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.
With junior Chris Klimko (McKeesport, Pa.) at first base in the bottom of the sixth, Maddox III hit a deep fly ball to that appeared to have a chance to clear the centerfield fence, but the Falcons' Andrew Foster made a catch against the wall to save at least one run.
After four scoreless innings, Ohio senior Matt Stiffler (Bellbrook, Ohio) finally broke through for the Bobcats, blasting his team leading 11th home run of the season. The solo-shot would be the final run for the Bobcats, however, as Bowling Green's Brennan Smith and Brett Browning combined to throw 2.1 innings of no-hit ball to end the game.
Junior left-hander Zach Elmer (Delaware, Ohio) had another solid outing on the hill, recovering from the three-run home run in the top of the first and giving the Bobcats a chance to win the game. Elmer went 6.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on just six hits while striking out three and walking seven. Elmer's record falls to 3-3 on the year.
Light improves to 3-3 with the win after working 6.2 innings and allowing two runs on eight hits.
Klimko went 3-for-4 for his 16th multi-hit game of the season and Besl was 2-for-4 with one run scored in game one.
Ohio junior right-hander Kevin Mementowski (Parma, Ohio) threw 2.2 innings in relief, allowing just one hit and no runs while striking out one.
Ohio out-hit Bowling Green 8-7, but left 10 runners on base for the game.
Game 2: Bowling Green 7, Ohio 5
Ohio led 4-1 through three innings in game two, but Bowling Green took advantage of several Bobcat miscues to work its way back into the lead and earn the 7-5 victory.
With the score tied 1-1, Maddox III smashed a towering shot over the right field wall, to score sophomore Jeremie Rehak (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Besl, giving the Bobcats a 4-1 lead. The homer was Maddox III's eighth of the season.
The Falcons' Travis Owens cut into that lead with a two-RBI double in the fourth inning, bringing the score to 4-3. The Bobcats then responded right back with an RBI from Rehak, scoring freshman Zach Keen (Beavercreek, Ohio), extending the lead back to 5-3.
Bowling Green to its first lead of the game in the top half of the next inning, scoring three runs, including two unearned, for a 6-5 lead. The Falcons went on to add one more run in the top of the sixth and that would be enough, as the Bobcats were held to just one hit in the final four innings.
Besl went 3-for-4 with his team leading 18th double of the season and Stiffler went 2-for-5 with one run scored. Keen was the only other Bobcat with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with his sixth double of the season.
Kevin Leady (3-4) gets credit for the win after working 5.0 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and striking out one. Senior left-hander Matt Smith (Centre Hall, Pa.) takes the loss after going 5.0 innings on the hill, giving up six runs, three of which were earned, on 10 hits and striking out three. Smith is now 4-2 on the season.
Junior righty Matt Schlarb (Lexington, Ohio) was strong out of the bullpen for the Bobcats, working the final 3.1 innings and allowing no runs on just two hits with three punch-outs.
Ohio will look to end its seven-game losing streak Tuesday when it plays host to Otterbein in the final non-conference home game of the season at Bob Wren Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 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.
