Feb. 27, 2010
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.-The Ohio baseball team attempted to dig itself out of a three-run hole late in its game against Middle Tennessee, but ran out of time as it dropped a 5-4 decision to the Blue Raiders Saturday afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
Middle Tennessee improved to 3-1 overall, while Ohio dropped to 1-4.
MTSU left fielder Justin Jones drove in two runs, while third baseman Tyler Burnett had three hits and two runs scored, something also accomplished by center fielder Bryce Brentz. All three of Burnett’s hits were doubles.
Ohio center fielder Gauntlett Eldemire led the way with two RBIs for the visitors, while he, first baseman Jerod Yakubik and third baseman Seth Streich all posted a pair of hits.
The Blue Raiders’ Justin Guidry (1-0) was credited with the win after tossing three and two-thirds innings in relief, with one earned run, five hits, a strikeout and a walk. Kevin Whittaker earned his second save by allowing a Bobcat walk and two hits in the ninth inning.
Ohio’s Michael Dillon (0-1) suffered the loss after a rough seventh inning. He finished with one inning pitched with two earned runs and four hits. Dillon came on in relief of Ohio starter Jason Moulton, who allowed no earned runs and five hits with six strikeouts and one walk. Bobcat freshman right hander Brock Trimbur finished the game in fine fashion, surrendering just a walk and a hit with a strikeout in two innings pitched.
“We’re still trying to get out of the first inning without giving up runs,†said Ohio head coach Joe Carbone. “If we can find a way to do that, we’ll be ok. I thought Moulton pitched well and, offensively, we hit balls hard but they were right at people. We’re rolling a lot of our young guys out there so it’s good for them to get that experience. The important thing is that we’re still getting better every day.â€
After Middle Tennessee notched two first-inning runs, Ohio fought back to tie the game with a pair of tallies in its half of the fifth off Blue Raider starter Daniel Palo (4.1 IP, three hits, two runs, one strikeout, five walks). Left fielder Matt Keller drew a leadoff walk and came around to score when shortstop Wesley O’Neill reached on a fielder’s choice. Eldemire then knocked in Streich, who doubled down the right field line three batters earlier, with a base knock of his own.
The Blue Raiders responded with three runs in the seventh, but Ohio’s comeback attempt in the ninth frame made things interesting. Eldemire ripped an RBI single up the middle to score O’Neill, who led off the inning with a single through the left side, to make it 5-3. Second baseman Bryan Barnes then came in when right fielder Robert Maddox III grounded into a double play to slice the lead to one. Pinch hitter Sam Mahoney was able to coax a walk out of Whittaker but a fly out to center ended the contest.
Ohio left 11 men on base, while MTSU stranded 10.
The final game of the series is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT) where Ohio will send left hander Brent Choban to the mound.
