March 24, 2010
Final Stats
HUNTINGTON, W, Va.-Host Marshall got four runs in the eighth inning and two hits and three RBIs from first baseman Victor Gomez to defeat visiting Ohio 10-4 Wednesday afternoon at Kennedy Center in Huntington, W.Va.
Marshall improved to 9-10 overall, while the Bobcats dropped to 2-15.
Gomez was one of 11 players to record a hit for the Thundering Herd, while nine different players scored a run. Designated hitter Kurt Lipton came across the plate twice and Alfredo Brito drove in a pair of runs as well.
Ohio was led at the plate by preseason All-American center fielder Gauntlett Eldemire, who went 2-4 with an RBI.
Marshall reliever Ben Frith (1-0) got the win by not allowing an earned run over four innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Ohio reliever Nick Egan (0-1) suffered the loss, after giving up five earned runs on five hits, while recording just one out.
After Marshall scored first with an unearned tally in the second inning, Ohio matched it with an unearned run in the third. First baseman Jerod Yakubik reached on a Gomez error and came around to score when designated hitter Sam Mahoney grounded out to Marshall second baseman Kirby Pellant.
Marshall struck the death blow in the next frame when it sent across eight runs on seven hits and were aided by two Bobcat errors.
After another Marshall score in the sixth, Ohio mounted one last surge when it pushed across three runs in the ninth. Yakubik got the first RBI when he was plunked with the bases loaded by Marshall's Austin Coan, scoring Adam Gecewich, who walked to lead off the inning. Eldemire then coaxed another walk, which scored pinch hitter Kory Burkhart, who was also hit by a Coan offering. After two popouts to Pellant, Barnes trotted home after a balk by Coan for Ohio's third run. Barnes, the third hitter in the inning, reached on a bunt single.
The Bobcats were dogged all day with missed scoring opportunities, leaving 12 men on base, compared to Marshall's five.
Gomez had two doubles, while Eldemire's double in the fifth inning was his team-leading eighth of the season.
Ohio will be back in action Friday at 6 p.m. ET as it kicks off Mid-American Conference play with the first of a three-game series with Ball State at Bob Wren Stadium. Friday's game will also be Bobcat Books Day where fans can bring a new or gently used book to the game for a FREE ticket. All books will be donated to the Athens Community Library.
