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Box Score Game 1 (PDF) | Box Score Game 2 (PDF)

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio baseball team (14-11, 8-7 MAC) earned its first Mid-American Conference series win of the 2021 season courtesy of a pair of walk-off wins in extra innings over Eastern Michigan (8-16, 4-11 MAC) on Saturday (April 10) at Bob Wren Stadium.

Senior left fielder Sebastian Fabik (Lebanon, Ohio) scored from third base on an Eastern Michigan throwing error with two out outs in the bottom of the ninth inning of game one to push the Bobcats to a 4-3 win, then senior first baseman Aaron Levy (Cincinnati, Ohio) clinched the series for Ohio courtesy of a leadoff home run to left in the bottom of the 10th to lift Ohio to a 2-1 triumph over the Eagles in game two of the twin bill.

Game One: Ohio 4, Eastern Michigan 3 (nine innings)

The Bobcats weathered a rocky start to game one of the doubleheader as Eastern Michigan pushed across two runs on one hit and two Ohio errors in the first. Junior right-handed starting pitcher Braxton Kelly (Ulysses, Ky.) registered his second strikeout to end the frame, however, to end the top half of the inning and force the Eagles to strand a pair of runners.

Ohio wasted little time getting back into the game, knotting contest at two-all in the home half of the first. Senior center fielder Isaiah Peterson (Lincoln, Neb.) led off with a single to right, and one out later graduate student third baseman Harry Witwer-Dukes (Monmouth, Ore.) evened the score with a two-run home run to left.

Peterson gave Ohio a 3-2 lead in the third thanks to a one-out solo home run to center, but the Eagles tied the game up in the sixth on an RBI ground out.

Both teams stranded a runner in the seventh, moving the game to extra innings. The Bobcats left a pair of runners on in the eighth but pulled off the victory in the ninth as Fabik delivered a leadoff double down the right field line and later scored on the two-out throwing error that occurred when Eastern Michigan junior right-handed reliever Zach Fruit misfired on the throw over to first after fielding a chopper back to the mound by senior catcher Tanner Piechnick (Canonsburg, Pa.).

Kelly gave the Bobcats five strong innings, striking out seven while two unearned runs on four hits and three walks. He was relieved by senior right-hander Edward Kutt IV (Westlake, Calif.), who worked four innings and fanned four while giving up one earned run on four hits and a walk.

Game Two: Ohio 2, Eastern Michigan 1 (ten innings)

Levy delivered the knockout punch in the 10th to put an end to a pitcher's duel in game two.

Eastern Michigan once again struck first thanks to a home run to lead off the second, but the Bobcats once again answered quickly as senior shortstop Treyben Funderburg (Beavercreek, Ohio) belted a two-out solo shot over the left field wall to tie it up.

What followed the round trippers for each team was six-and-a-half scoreless innings of baseball in which Ohio and Eastern Michigan combined for six hits. Freshman right-handed starting pitcher Logan Jones was masterful for the Bobcats, striking out four while allowing only one earned run on two hits over 7.2 frames. After a pair of Eagles reached base in the top of the eighth, he was lifted for senior left-handed reliever Brett Manis (Port Huron, Mich.), who secured the final out of the inning by inducing a force out at second.

Ohio had a pair of runners in scoring position with just one out in the ninth but could not push across the winning run. Fortunately for the Bobcats, Manis retired Eastern Michigan in order in the 10th, setting the stage for Levy's heroics in the home half.

Ohio will go for a four-game series sweep of Eastern Michigan when the two squads square off in the Sunday (April 10) series finale at The Wren. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

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The Rockets plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth and held on for the win.

With the contest even at four-all in the top of the sixth, redshirt senior shortstop Joe Weisenseel (Strongsville, Ohio) scored on a wild pitch with two outs to give Ohio a 5-4 lead. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Toledo countered with a pair of runs in the home half to earn the win.

Hafner and redshirt junior right fielder Spencer Harbert (Middletown, Del.) each homered for Ohio while Weisenseel recorded a pair of singles to lead Ohio at the plate.

Ohio will look to clinch the series win when it squares off against Toledo in the series finale on Sunday (April 4) at 1 p.m. ET.

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