March 6, 2009
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - In the schools' first meeting since 1997, the Ohio University baseball team lost to the University of Tennessee, 12-2, Friday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Bobcats (2-4) were outhit 16-6, allowing five home runs by just two Volunteers, in the loss.
Senior right-hander Chris Rigo (Westlake, Ohio) suffered the loss and dropped to 0-1, tossing a season-long 5.2 innings in his second start of the year, allowing seven runs on 10 hits, while striking out a Bobcat season-high eight Volunteers. Junior lefty Nick Hernandez picked up the win for UT (3-5), his first decision of the season, throwing eight innings, while allowing two runs on six hits, and fanning four Bobcats.
The Volunteers got on the board first on an RBI single by freshman Zach Osborne in the second inning that scored sophomore Cody Hawn, but Rigo limited the damage by striking out senior Cody Brown with the bags full to keep it a one-run game.
Ohio evened the score in the next half inning, when sophomore center fielder Gauntlett Eldemire (Shaker Heights, Ohio) drilled a single over the right fielder's head for his fifth RBI of the season, scoring sophomore left fielder Adam Gecewich (Strongsville, Ohio) from second base. Hawn broke the deadlock in the bottom of the third however, with a two-out solo shot over the right field wall to put the Vols on top 2-1.
Hawn belted his second home run in as many at-bats, a three-run round-tripper, in the bottom of the fifth to extend Tennessee's advantage to 5-1. Sophomore catcher Blake Forsythe then added to the UT cushion with a two-run long ball in the sixth.
The 'Cats chipped away at the deficit in the eighth, as junior Marc Krauss (Deshler, Ohio) extended his hitting streak to five games on his team-leading sixth RBI, a single through the right side, scoring junior catcher Kris McDonough (Pittsburgh, Pa.), who reached on his second-career double. Ohio stranded two runners however, leaving the count at 7-2. The Volunteers hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the eighth off freshman reliever Mike Sweigert (Mentor, Ohio), including Hawn's third bomb of the game, to thwart any hopes of a Bobcat rally. Tennessee tacked on three more runs in the inning to take the game, 12-2.
Senior right fielder Hayden Johnston (Strattanville, Pa.) extended his hitting streak to four games with a single in the second inning. Hawn paced the Volunteer charge with a 4-for-4 day, including three homers and five RBIs, while Forsythe went 3-for-4 with two four-baggers and three RBIs. Osborne was also 3-of-4 at the plate for UT.
The Bobcats continue their weekend series with the Volunteers Saturday, March 7. Ohio was originally scheduled to play a single game against Tennessee Saturday, but due to six games being cancelled thus far this season, the two squads will play a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for noon ET with the second game slated to start at 3:30 p.m., or approximately a half hour after the conclusion of game one. Live stats are scheduled to be available for both games on OhioBobcats.com.
