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Box Score (PDF) 

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio baseball team (3-12) fought back from a 2-0 deficit but ultimately suffered a 3-2 setback to Marshall (5-10-1) this afternoon at Bob Wren Stadium.

Redshirt junior designated hitter Devonte Washington (Twinsburg, Ohio) collected a pair of singles to account for Ohio's lone multi-hit effort of the day while redshirt junior catcher Dan McCauley (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and junior infielder Treyben Funderburg (Beavercreek, Ohio) each doubled and scored a run.

In his home debut on the mound, graduate right-handed starting pitcher Danny Brackman (Tampa, Fla.) struck out two while allowing two earned runs on five hits. Junior southpaw Alex Kuster (Lake Orion, Mich.) tossed two scoreless frames of relief with one strikeout while junior righty Chace Harris (New Marshfield, Ohio), senior lefty Nick Byrnes (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore right-hander Colin Sells (Lancaster, Ohio) all threw a scoreless inning. Byrnes struck out two while Harris fanned one.

The Bobcats found themselves in an early hole as the Thundering Herd quickly grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior infielder Geordon Blanton led the contest off with a single through the left side, stole second and third and then scored on an RBI base hit to left by sophomore infielder/outfielder Luke Edwards.

The Thundering Herd tacked on another run in the third when Blanton smacked a one-out double to left and then scored on a single to left-center by redshirt junior infielder Peter Hutzal.

Marshall sophomore starting pitcher Ryan Capuano retired the first 10 batters he faced before permitting a one-out double down the left-field line by Funderburg in the bottom of the fourth that provided the Bobcats' bats with a spark. Funderburg made it a one-run game when scored Ohio's first of the contest on a single to left-center by junior outfielder Isaiah Peterson (Lincoln, Neb.).

The Bobcats evened the score at two-all in the home half of the fifth as McCauley led off with a double to left-center and later scored on a squeeze bunt by senior infielder Trevor Hafner (Perrysburg, Ohio).

The Thundering Herd retook the lead in the eighth when Blanton reached on a fielder's choice and later scored what proved to be the winning run on a single to right by Hutzal.

After stranding runners on second in both the seventh and eighth innings, the Bobcats left the tying run on base in the bottom of the ninth. Washington beat out a one-out infield single, but Ohio was unable to capitalize.

Blanton, Hutzal, Edwards and senior Zach Inskeep each tallied multi-hit efforts for the Thundering Herd, with Blanton accounting for Marshall's lone extra-base hit of the afternoon and scoring all three runs. 

Redshirt junior relief pitcher Trey Alderman was credited with the victory. One of six pitchers utilized by Marshall, he struck out two in a scoreless seventh inning of work to pick up his first win on the mound of the year. Senior Michael Guerrero closed out the victory for the Herd, striking out two in a scoreless ninth to earn his third save of the season.

Junior right-handed reliever Edward Kutt IV (Westlake, Calf.) took the loss on the mound for the Bobcats, allowing one earned run on three hits in one inning of work.

Ohio will be back in action this weekend, hosting a four-game series against Siena that is set to begin Friday (March 13) with a 4 p.m. ET matchup.

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