May 14, 2010

Final Stats

AKRON, Ohio-Reigning MAC East Pitcher of the Week Jason Moulton tossed a complete game on the mound and right fielder Jerod Yakubik added a three-run homer to right as visiting Ohio defeated Akron 6-1 Friday at Lee Jackson Field.

Ohio improved to 18-30 overall and 11-11 in the Mid-American Conference, while Akron dropped to 20-29 and 3-19 in the league.

Moulton’s (3-3) complete game effort was Ohio’s first since Chris Rigo’s 5-4 win over Western Michigan in the 2008 MAC Tournament (5/22/08). Moulton allowed no earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Akron starter Andrew Brown (4-5) took the loss, but nearly went the distance himself. He allowed six runs on 10 hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. Zach Yike came on in relief and got the squad’s last two outs, allowing one hit.

While Yakubik had the big hit of the afternoon, several other Bobcats also contributed offensively. The middle infield tandem of second baseman Zach Keen and shortstop Wesley O’Neill combined to go 6-for-8 with three runs scored and an RBI. Center fielder Gauntlett Eldemire and designated hitter Matt Keller also chipped in two hits.

The Zips got their run when left fielder Brandon White posted an RBI infield single in the seventh inning.

The game was scoreless until the seventh inning, when Ohio erupted for four runs. Keen and O’Neill got on base via the single ahead of Yakubik, whose bomb to right was his third of the season. Keen’s hit scored Keller, who doubled to right earlier in the frame.

Eldemire plated Keen in the ninth inning with a single to center and played a big role in Ohio’s last run as well. On that play, he successfully stole second base, allowing Yakubik, who was on third, to score as the throw attempting to nail Eldemire went through. The swipe was Eldemire’s team-high 14th of the season. Yakubik also nabbed a base in the first, while Keen had one in the fifth.

The two teams are scheduled to play the second game of the series Saturday at 1 p.m.