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By Mike Ashcraft
OhioBobcats.com

Box Score (PDF)

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- The Ohio baseball team (2-3) could not overcome a four-run top of the first inning by Maine (1-4), falling by a score of 5-1 in the opener of the four-game weekend set on Friday (Feb. 23) at Perfect Game's LakePoint facility.

Junior shortstop Jeremy Pena led the contest off with a home run for the Black Bears. Sophomore first baseman Cody Pasic was then hit by a pitch, and senior catcher Christopher Bec followed with a single. One out later, junior third baseman Danny Casals delivered a three-run homer to give Maine a 4-0 lead.

The Black Bears tacked a fifth run in the top of the third when sophomore right fielder Hernen Sardinas led off with a home run.

Ohio plated its lone run in the home half of the third when sophomore left fielder Tanner Piechnick (Canonsburg, Pa.) sent a leadoff double to left and scored two outs later on a base hit to center by redshirt senior catcher Nick Bredeson (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), but that's as close as the Bobcats got.

Junior center fielder Devon Garcia (Bowling Green, Ohio) led the Bobcats with a pair of singles.

Redshirt senior southpaw starting pitcher Gerry Salisbury (Brunswick, Ohio) suffered the loss on the mound. He struck out five but gave up five earned runs on five hits and four walks.

Senior right-handed starting pitcher Justin Courtney earned the victory for Maine, improving to 1-1 on the season. He tallied nine strikeouts while allowing just one earned runs on four hits and a walk.

Ohio will look to bounce back on Saturday (Feb. 24) when it takes on Maine in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

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