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ATHENS, Ohio -- Graduate student first baseman Harry Witwer-Dukes (Monmouth, Ore.) collected a pair of run-scoring doubles and drove in a total of four runs to help lead the Ohio baseball team (20-13) to a three-game weekend sweep of Purdue Fort Wayne (9-21) courtesy of a 9-1 victory in the Saturday (April 24) series finale at Bob Wren Stadium.

The Bobcats recorded their third weekend series sweep of the 2021 season.

"Today we wanted them to come out with consistency, and they did that," said interim head coach Craig Moore of his team's effort. "We had outstanding pitching the whole weekend. Defense played great - we made every play that I thought that we should have made. Offensively, we swung the bats really, really well and had good at-bats all weekend long."

Ohio's bats produced double-digit hits for the fifth time in the last seven games, collecting 12 en route to sealing the sweep. Witwer-Dukes moved himself into a tie for the team lead in multi-hit games (10) and multi-RBI games (6) after going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a walk, four RBIs and two runs scored. He has now hit safely in nine-straight games, which is a season best for the Bobcats.

"Just get on the fastball early," said Witwer-Dukes of the key to his big day. "Try to hit the ball up the middle. That's usually my approach, and then just adjust from there wherever the pitch is thrown."

Redshirt senior shortstop Joe Weisenseel added three singles to Ohio's total. He drove in a run and scored two more. Senior designated hitter Treyben Funderburg (Beavercreek, Ohio) also notched a multi-hit outing, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

The Mastodons took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when senior shortstop Jack Lang led off the game with a double and then scored on a single by senior first baseman Trenton Stoner. Purdue Fort Wayne's lead did hold for long, though, as Ohio took command in the home half of the frame. Redshirt junior second baseman Michael Richardson (Cambridge, Md.) got the bats going for the Bobcats with a one-out double down the right field line and then scored on a double to left center by Witwer-Dukes. Witwer-Dukes then scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to right by senior left fielder Sebastian Fabik (Lebanon, Ohio).

The fifth inning saw Ohio break the contest open by plating three more runs. Funderburg led off the home half with a single up the middle, and Weisenseel followed by beating out a bunt single. Senior center fielder Isaiah Peterson (Lincoln, Neb.) delivered an RBI single to left to bring home Funderburg to make it 3-1. One out later, Witwer-Dukes smacked a two-RBI double to left to make it a four-run lead for Ohio.

Ohio got some two-out lightning in the sixth as Funderburg hit a two-out single up the middle and then scored by way of a single to left by Weisenseel. The seventh inning saw the Bobcats plate their seventh run. Witwer-Dukes was hit by a pitch with one out and later scored on a single through the left side by junior catcher Mason Minzey (Grand Blanc, Mich.).

The Bobcats tacked on their final two runs in the eighth, with Funderburg drawing a leadoff walk and later scoring when Witwer-Dukes coaxed a bases-loaded walk and Weisenseel tagging up and scoring from third on a sacrifice fly to center by Fabik after reaching on a single to right.

Freshman right-handed starting pitcher Logan Jones (Canton, Ohio) settled in after allowing back-to-back hits that led to a run to open the contest. He struck out six over five innings and gave up three hits and three walks.

"Logan's done a good job for us, for being a freshman and kind of thrown into the fire out there," said Moore. "He's getting better week-by-week and is a guy that's still maturing and is going to continue to get better as we go through his career."

A trio of relievers combined to allow only two hits and a walk over the remaining four innings. Senior right-hander Chace Harris (New Marshfield, Ohio) struck out two in two frames. Junior righty Colin Sells (Lancaster, Ohio) worked around a hit and a walk to put up a scoreless eighth, and senior southpaw Brett Manis (Port Huron, Mich.) retired the side in the ninth to seal the deal.

Ohio will look to continue its winning ways when it returns to Mid-American Conference play next weekend for a four-game weekend series at Kent State. Game one is scheduled for Friday (April 30) at 5 p.m. ET.

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