May 20, 2011
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Photo Gallery
ATHENS, Ohio-The Ohio baseball squad earned a split of a doubleheader with arch-rival Miami by taking a 3-2 decision after dropping an 8-7 game Friday at Bob Wren Stadium.
The Bobcats are now 26-27 overall and 10-16 in the Mid-American Conference, while the RedHawks are 32-23 and 18-8 in the league.
Ohio can clinch the eighth and final seed in next week's Mid-American Conference Tournament with a win over Miami in tomorrow's series finale (3 p.m.) AND two Bowling Green losses at Buffalo, also on Saturday. That scenario would give the Bobcats a .407 winning percentage to .400 for the Falcons, who are currently holding down the #8 spot.
Bobcat center fielder Ethan Newton had a big day at the dish, going 6-for-10 with three doubles and three RBIs. Third baseman/second baseman Bryan Barnes went 5-for-9, while designated hitter Jensen Painter drove in four runs. For Miami, first baseman Kyle Weldon went 4-for-8 with four RBIs.
The RedHawks got up early in game one, scoring one in the second and three in the third. The Bobcats cut that margin in half when Painter launched a pinch-hit, two-run blast over the wall in left for his fifth round-tripper of the season.
Miami appeared to put the game away with four more runs in the seventh to take an 8-2 lead, but the home team responded with a furious comeback in the bottom of the ninth.
Newton knocked in the first one with a fielder's choice before left fielder Kory Burkhart scored another with a single up the middle. Painter then tacked on a two-run double to left center and right fielder Adam Gecewich added a run-scoring groundout to third to bring the Bobcats within one. RedHawk closer Sam Dawes, however, ended proceedings with a strikeout to kill the Bobcat rally just shy of its goal.
Ohio first baseman Taylor Emody went 2-for-2 during the contest, while Miami catcher Adam Weisenburger added a 3-for-5 effort with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Miami starting pitcher Mac Thoreson (5-3) allowed just four hits with three strikeouts and one walk in five innings. Matt Rosinski also pitched well, tossing one and one-third scoreless innings with one hit and one strikeout. Ohio starter Brent Choban (4-6) took the loss, giving up nine hits with five earned runs, one strikeout and three walks in six and one-third innings. Ben Trimbur pitched well at the end, holding the RedHawks scoreless over the final two and one-third innings with one hit and two strikeouts.
The second game started in a much different fashion as both teams failed to score in the contest's first four innings. The RedHawks broke through first with a sac fly to right in the fifth, but Ohio went on top with two unearned tallies in the bottom of the seventh on a run-scoring double to left center by Newton and catcher J.R. Reynolds scoring on a double play ball.
Miami tied it at 2-all in the top of the eighth, but Ohio came back in the bottom half and wrenched the lead back on another Newton double, this time to right field, scoring Ward.
The RedHawks were not able to muster a comeback in the ninth inning against Ohio starting pitcher Seth Streich, who went the distance for the second-straight outing, as the tall righthander got two strikeouts and a groundout to second to close the deal.
Streich (3-6) got the victory, giving up one earned run on seven hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. Rosinski was the hard-luck loser (2-3) as all three of the runs that were charged to him were of the unearned variety. He allowed three hits and one walk in one and one-third innings. RedHawk starter Tyler Melling pitched five and two-thirds scoreless innings, giving up six hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Dawes kept the `Cats off the board in the eighth, surrendering just a hit.
The program will honor its six seniors at a pregame ceremony prior to Saturday's 3 p.m. start.
