Feb. 21, 2010

Final Stats

ELON, N.C.-Ohio right fielder Robert Maddox III had three hits and knocked in four runs, while first baseman Jerod Yakubik and catcher Kris McDonough also posted three hits to lead the Bobcats to their first win of the season, a 13-6 defeat of Towson Sunday at the Elon Classic.

Ohio improved to 1-2 overall, while Towson dropped to 1-2.

Yakubik scored three runs and knocked in three runs to go along with two additional RBIs from designated hitter Tyler Backstrom. Center fielder Gauntlett Eldemire led the way with four runs scored.

Towson was led by first baseman Steve Yarsinky’s two RBIs. He had a pair of hits, as did shortstop Nick Natoli, left fielder Steve Rice and designated hitter Cody Reeves.

Ohio starting pitcher Brent Choban (1-0) was credited with the win, allowing five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and three walks in three and two-thirds innings. The Bobcats’ relievers (Brett Barber, Marck Paliotto and Seth Streich) then yielded just one run on four hits with six strikeouts and eight walks the rest of the way.

Towson starter Spencer Patton suffered the loss (0-1), allowing nearly the same line as Choban. He gave up give runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks in four innings.

“We did a really good job of jumping on the fastball today,” said Ohio head coach Joe Carbone. “It’s important to remember that these guys still haven’t been able to see much live pitching and there is going to be an adjustment time. I also thought Barber gave us a shot in the arm today in relief as we were able to get innings for some of the younger guys.”

Ohio got on the board right away with three runs in the first, courtesy of run-scoring singles by left fielder Matt Keller, Eldemire, Yakubik, Backstrom and Streich.

The Bobcats made it 4-0 in the top of the second when Maddox’s single to right scored Eldemire. Towson responded in the bottom half with a run of its own to make it 4-1.

Catcher Sam Mahoney scored Streich on an RBI groundout in the top of the third, but Towson responded with three in the bottom half to cut the lead to 5-4.

After the Tigers evened the affair with a run in the bottom of the fourth, the Bobcats put the game away with three in the sixth and five in the eighth. Yakubik posted an RBI single to left, while Maddox added a two-run single to right to account for the sixth-inning runs.

Yakubik got things going again in the eighth with an RBI-double to center and came around to score on a Towson error. Backstrom then followed with a run-scoring double to left center before second baseman C.J. Maszal knocked him in with an RBI-single to right center. Shortstop Zach Keen added Ohio’s final run on a sacrifice fly to left.

Towson added the game’s final run in the bottom of the ninth.

Both teams left their fair share of runners on base as Towson was charged with 17, while Ohio had 11.

Eldemire, Yakubik and McDonough all had stolen bases for Ohio and had five double compared to just one for Towson.

Ohio will be back in action Friday for the first of a three-game series at Middle Tennessee.