March 17, 2012

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - Freshman Cody Gaertner drove in a game-high three RBI, but it was not enough as the Ohio University baseball team (6-9) dropped a 6-4 decision to IPFW in the series opener Friday afternoon at Bob Wren Stadium.

Tyler Backstrom (Columbus, Ohio) took the loss as he gave up two earned runs in the ninth as IPFW rallied back from two runs down in the ninth to claim the victory. Ohio senior starter Brent Choban (Rittman, Ohio) worked 6.2 innings, did not allow an earned run and did not figure into the decision.

IPFW's Steve Danielak picked up the win as he came on in relief of starter Charles Weaver to work 3.0 innings and did not allow a run.

Ohio opened up the scoring as it plated one run in the top of the first thanks to an RBI double by senior Jensen Painter (Willshire, Ohio) down the left field line, which drove in senior Ethan Newton (Norfolk, Va.) from third.

The Bobcats added two more runs in the fourth thanks to an RBI double to right field by Gaertner, which drove in freshman Logan Cozart (New Philadelphia, Ohio) and freshman Jake Madsen (Willshire, Ohio). IPFW cut Ohio's lead to one in the fifth as it plated two runs on three hits, capitalizing on one Ohio error.

Ohio went on to add another run thanks to an RBI single by Gaertner, which scored sophomore Kyle Dean (Athens, Ohio) from third to make the count 4-2.

Following a pair of scoreless innings, the Bobcats entered the ninth in the with a two-run lead, but the Mastodons scored four runs on three hits to take a 6-4 lead. In the bottom half of the ninth, Ohio brought the tying run to the plate, but that was as close as they would get to sending the game into extra innings.

Ohio returns to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. where it will play a doubleheader at Bob Wren Stadium.