April 1, 2011

Final Stats

ATHENS, Ohio-The Central Michigan baseball team broke open a tie game with seven runs in the eighth and ninth innings to pull away from host Ohio for a 9-2 victory Friday at Bob Wren Stadium.

CMU improved to 11-16 and 1-3 in the Mid-American Conference, while Ohio dropped to 13-12 and 1-3 in the league.

Chippewa right fielder Matt Faiman had two hits and two RBIs and pinch hitter Tom Howard had a three-run homer in the eighth inning to lead the visitors' hitting attack.

First baseman Taylor Emody, catcher Trace Voshell and right fielder Adam Gecewich all had two hits for Ohio.

CMU starter Trent Howard (2-3) allowed just one earned run on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk in seven innings.

Ohio starter Seth Streich (0-3) took the loss after giving up three earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks in seven and one-third innings.

The Bobcats went ahead first when center fielder Ethan Newton scored on a CMU fielding error and the Chippewas answered when their fourth-inning run came by virtue of an Ohio passed ball.

CMU went up 2-1 in the sixth, but Ohio knotted the game again with Gecewich's solo homer to center in the seventh frame.

CMU loaded the bases in the eighth and went up 3-2 on a wild pitch before Howard's bomb to center put the visitors up 6-2.

They chipped on three more in the ninth, two of which came home on an Ohio throwing error, while the other was knocked in by Faiman on a groundout to second.

Voshell homered to left center in the ninth for the game's final margin.

The Bobcats hit into three inning-ending double plays during the contest.

Newton stole his team-high 12th base of the season in the third inning.

The second game between the two teams is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.