April 25, 2009

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio University and No. 25 Kent State baseball teams combined for 44 runs and 10 home runs Saturday afternoon, but the Bobcats were on the short end of the score, falling 28-16 at Bob Wren Stadium. The 44 combined runs were the most in Ohio head coach Joe Carbone's tenure, as were the 28 runs allowed.

The weekend series is now tied at a game apiece, but the Bobcats (20-15, 13-4 Mid-American Conference) still lead the nationally-ranked Golden Flashes (31-9, 12-4 MAC) by a half game for first place in the MAC standings. Ohio has scored 33 runs in the first two games of the series, after totaling 17 runs in its game-one win Friday. The 16 runs were the most in a Bobcat loss since scoring 17 in a loss at Campbell in the 2005 season opener.

Ohio allowed a season-high 29 hits, but collected 17 of its own, reaching that total for the second-straight day and marking the sixth-straight game the 'Cats have recorded double-digit hits. Ten different Bobcats hit safely, with five recording multiple hits. Senior right fielder Hayden Johnston (Strattanville, Pa.) went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored, including his second home run in as many days, giving him seven on the year. He has now collected multiple hits in seven of his last nine games and multiple runs and RBIs in each of his last three contests.

Junior first baseman Jerod Yakubik (Byesville, Ohio) also had three hits, including his third round-tripper of the year (and of his career), scored twice and batted in a career-high four runs, while senior catcher Chris Klimko (McKeesport, Pa.) went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a run scored. Senior second baseman Brandon Besl (Cincinnati, Ohio) added a pair of hits and a pair of runs for the second-straight day, as well.

KSU scored in all but two innings, while the Bobcats scored in all but three. Sophomore catcher Trace Voshell (Batavia, Ohio) went 2-for-2 after replacing Klimko, including his first-career home run in the ninth inning. Freshman Bobby Martin (Crystal Lake, Ill.) then made it back-to-back home runs for Ohio in the bottom of the ninth as he belted his first home run as a Bobcat right after Voshell.

Kent State was led by senior Jason Patton, who was 5-for-7 at the plate with four RBIs and six runs scored, while redshirt junior Jared Humphreys went 4-for-7 with five RBIs and four runs scored. Senior Greg Rohan added three hits, three runs and four RBIs for the Flashes and freshman Jimmy Rider went 5-for-5 with five runs scored and three runs driven in.

The Golden Flashes struck in the first inning for the second-straight day, as Patton hit a first-inning home run for the second time in as many days, this of the two-run variety, to put Kent State on top 2-0 early. And like Friday's game, sophomore center fielder Gauntlett Eldemire (Shaker Heights, Ohio) led off with a solo home run, his 11th of the year, to cut the lead in half.

KSU tacked on six runs in the second to extend its lead to 8-1, as Humphreys went yard, Rohan had a two-RBI single and senior Brad Winter clubbed a two-RBI double to center to cap the outburst. Ohio cut into the deficit in the bottom of the second as Klimko ripped a two-run home run, his first of the year, down the left field line to close within five.

Ohio made it 8-6 in the third frame, tallying three runs capped by Klimko's two-RBI single through the left side. The Flashes responded with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fourth and put the game out of reach with a nine spot in the fifth, a day after the Bobcats put up nine runs in the fourth inning against KSU, making it a 19-8 Kent State advantage and the 'Cats would get no closer.

Ohio and Kent State will wrap up their series Sunday with first pitch of the rubber match set for 1 p.m. ET. Sunday is Fan Appreciation Day and all tickets are just $1. Live stats will be available for the series finale via Gametracker on OhioBobcats.com and the game will also be broadcast on WATH 970 AM in Athens and streamed live on OhioBobcats.com. The "Voice of the Bobcats" Russ Eisenstein and Brian Boesch will call the action starting at 12:45 p.m. ET with pre-game coverage. Following Sunday's broadcast, "600: A Tribute to Joe Carbone" will be aired to commemorate Carbone's 600th career victory, which he earned April 11 at Eastern Michigan.