May 14, 2011
Photo Gallery
ATHENS, Ohio-The Ohio-Akron baseball game on Saturday was halted in the top of the seventh due to inclement weather with the Bobcats holding a 6-3 lead at Bob Wren Stadium.
Akron second baseman Sam Watkins will be at the plate with a 1-0 count and no outs when the game is resumed at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. The third game of the series will follow approximately 30 minutes after the completion of Saturday's suspended affair.
The Ohio outfield came through during the game's first six innings as center fielder Ethan Newton and left fielder Kory Burkhart combined to go 5-for-6 with two runs apiece, while right fielder Adam Gecewich torched a three-run homer to left in the third. Akron's Watkins, left fielder Brandon White and catcher Dan Burant all registered two hits each for the visitors.
The Bobcats came out strong in the first when Newton and Burkhart ripped back-to-back doubles into the left field corner. Burkhart scored the second run when designated hitter Seth Streich laced a single through the right side.
Akron would come back, however, as Burant had an RBI single to left center in the second. Watkins followed in the third with a solo homer to left and shortstop James Sheltrown added a sacrifice fly to left to give the Zips a 3-2 lead.
That advantage would be short-lived, though, as Ohio got four tallies in the bottom of the third to snatch a 6-3 lead. Third baseman Bryan Barnes plated Newton with a single to left before Gecewich's big blast three batters later gave the `Cats the advantage it enjoys presently.
Neither team scored in the middle innings.
Ohio starting pitcher Brent Choban lasted six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and three walks before giving way to reliever Tyler Stage in the top of the seventh just before the rains came. Akron starter Alex Loftin has thrown all six innings for the Zips, yielding six runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
Akron has left seven men on base so far, while Ohio has stranded three. There have also been six doubles to this point in the contest.
