MARIETTA, Ga. â€" A three-run homer by Mitch Longo (Mayfield, Ohio) propelled the Ohio baseball team (5-0) to a 13-2 victory against the Longwood Lancers (1-4) on Saturday morning at the Lake Pointe Sports Complex in Marietta, Ga. 
 
The Bobcats claimed an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, with an RBI single by Cody Gaertner (Pittsburgh, Pa.) sending Garrett Black (Lima, Ohio) across the plate. A 2 RBI-single by Kyle Dean (Athens, Ohio) scored Gaertner and Jake Madsen (Cincinnati, Ohio), who initially reached base on a walk.
 
Following a lone Longwood run in the fourth, Ohio extended their lead with a nine-run inning in the fifth. RBI-singles by Gaertner and John Adryan (Delran, N.J.) began Ohio’s hot streak, followed by a pair of 2 RBI-single by Connor Callery and Manny De Jesus (Caguas, Puerto Rico) to continue the momentum. A three-run homer by Longo capped off the inning, sending De Jesus and Garrett Black home.
 
The Lancers tacked on a single run in the sixth, which Ohio matched in the seventh.
 
Ohio pitchers Jeremy Cronk (North Plans, Ore.) and Logan Jacik (Omaha, NE) pitched the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, allowing just one hit apiece to solidify the Bobcat victory, 13-2.
 
MAC Pitcher of the Week Connor Sitz earned the win, marking his second of the season. The starter threw six innings in which he struck out three, allowed nine hits and two earned runs.
 
Longwood’s Travis Burnette was charged with his first loss of the season, allowing five hits, five earned runs, walking three and striking out for during his four innings on the mound.
 
Ohio and Longwood will face off for the final game of the series Sunday at 9 a.m.
 
By the Numbers
• Ohio recorded 16 hits in the 13 run win.
• The last time the Bobcats began a season with a 5-0 record was 1996.
• Longwood recorded 12 hits over their two-run game.
• The Bobcats did not record an error in the outing.
• De Jesus, Longo and Madsen all posted three hits for Ohio. Gaertner trailed, with two.
• This marks De Jesus’ and Gaertner’s third-consecutive multi-hit games. Both have recorded at least one hit in every game thus far on the season.
• Four Bobcats have reached base in every game of the season; Garrett Black, De Jesus, Adryan and Gaertner.
 
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