March 27, 2010
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio-Ohio got a two-run homer off the bat of preseason All-American Gauntlett Eldemire to win the first game of a Saturday double-dip with Ball State, but the Cardinals fought back in the second contest to earn the split at Bob Wren Stadium.
Ohio won the first game 4-2, while BSU registered a two-hit, 4-0 blanking of the Bobcats in the second game. The shutout is the first for an Ohio opponent at Bob Wren Stadium since May 18, 2005, when Vanderbilt scored a 3-0 victory.
The Cardinals finished the day at 8-15 overall and 2-1 in the Mid-American Conference, while Ohio is now 3-17 and 1-2 in the league.
Eldemire also scored twice in the first game, while left fielder Robert Maddox III had three hits. Shortstop Wesley O'Neill added two base knocks.
BSU designated hitter Zach Dygert and third baseman Stephen Claypool had two hits apiece for the Cardinal offense.
Ohio's Bryce Butt (1-4) got the win in relief, hurling five innings and allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Bobcat starter Brock Trimbur also pitched well, boasting the exact same line in four innings of work.
Ball State reliever Scott Brothers, Jr. (1-1) gave up the seventh-inning blast to Eldemire, his fourth round-tripper of the season, to suffer the loss. He recorded just one out. Ball State starter Cal Bowling was effective, lasting four and two-thirds innings, surrendering two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Relievers Derek Grabner, Jon Cisna and Heath Riley combined to limit to Ohio to just two hits in three frames of work.
Ohio got on the board early in the game, as third baseman Bryan Barnes and Robert Maddox III both registered run-scoring singles.
Ball State tied the game with one in the third and again in the sixth, prior to Eldemire's blast over the left field fence in the bottom of the seventh.
Yakubik had his third double of the season, while Maddox and second baseman Zach Keen had their third and first stolen bases of the campaign, respectively.
The Bobcats had no answer for Ball State's pitching in the second game. Cardinal starter Kolbrin Vitek (1-2) kept the `Cats off balance for seven innings, as he allowed just two hits, while striking out five. Relievers Seth Hobbs and Aaron Hammons pitched perfect eighth and ninth innings to finish off the shutout.
Ohio got a stellar pitching effort of its own, as reliever Rex Ingham allowed just one run on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks in the game's final six and two-thirds innings. Bobcat starter Michael Dillon (0-3) took the loss, giving up three runs on four hits with one strikeout in the first two and one-third innings.
Vitek did it offensively too, as he had two hits and swiped his seventh base in the first inning.
The Bobcats will host Cleveland State Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Bob Wren Stadium. Tuesday will also be "Trivia Night" as Bobcat fans are welcome to test their baseball trivia knowledge in several fun trivia games.
