March 31, 2012
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio University baseball team (11-14; 1-3 MAC) posted a furious rally, but it was not enough as it dropped a 9-7 decision to Eastern Michigan (10-15; 1-3 MAC) in game one of its three-game series with the Eagles Friday evening at Bob Wren Stadium.
Freshman Tyler Wells (Lexington, Ky.) led the Bobcats offense going 3-for-4 with a team-high three RBIs, a double and a home-run.
Freshman Jake Madsen (Cincinnati,Ohio) extended his hitting streak to 18 games in the first inning as he collected an RBI single in the first. Senior Jensen Painter (Willshire,Ohio) also extended his streak as he got on base for the 25th-consecutive game. Painter got on base in every game this season.
Senior Pitcher Brent Choban (Rittman,Ohio) suffered the loss and fell to 3-2 on the year. Choban worked 6.2 innings, allowing seven runs and 14 hits. Eastern Michigan's Steve Weber picked up the win to move his record to 2-3.
Eastern Michigan scored opened up a 7-1 lead through five innings, but Ohio fought back as it would six runs over the next three innings to cut the Eagles lead to two at 9-7 heading into the top of the ninth.
Wells got the rally started in the sixth as he homered over the left field wall. Eastern Michigan would then add two more runs in the top of the seventh which made the count 9-2, heading into the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the seventh, Ohio scored three runs on five hits. Wells highlighted the inning as he singled up the middle with two outs, which plated senior Ethan Newton (Norfolk, Va.) and freshman Ian Mezlak (Lorain, Ohio).
In the eighth, Ohio added two more runs thanks to an RBI by sophomore Kyle Dean (Athens, Ohio), who collected a pinch hit double to right center field, allowing junior Dan Schmidt (Kamiak, Wash.) to score from second. Mezlak also came into score following a wild pitch.
Following a scoreless ninth inning by the Eagles, Ohio's 2-3-4 hitters came up, but were unable to send the game into extra innings as EMU secured the win.
Ohio and Eastern Michigan return to the diamond tomorrow at 3 p.m. inside Bob Wren Stadium. Senior Jason Moulton (Toledo, Ohio) will take on EMU's Neil Butara.
