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Box Score (PDF)

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio baseball team (12-11, 6-7 MAC) erased a two-run deficit by plating three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead and then tacking on two more insurance runs in the seventh to rally for a 6-3 win over Eastern Michigan (8-14, 4-9 MAC) on Friday (April 9 in the opening game of a four-game Mid-American Conference series at Bob Wren Stadium.

Trailing 3-1 in the home half of the sixth, redshirt junior second baseman Michael Richardson (Cambridge, Md.) got Ohio's rally started by sending a leadoff single down the right field line. He reached second safely when the Eagles committed an error on a failed force, which allowed graduate student third baseman Harry Witwer-Dukes (Monmouth, Ore.) to reach first safely by way of a fielder's choice. One out later, the Bobcats loaded the bases when senior left fielder Sebastian Fabik (Lebanon, Ohio) drew a walk. That set the stage for junior catcher Mason Minzey (Grand Blanc, Mich.) to send a two-run double to center to drive home Richardson and Witwer-Dukes and knot the score at three-all. Fabik then scored what proved to be the winning run on an RBI ground out to second by junior first baseman Colin Kasperbauer (Sioux City, Iowa).

After senior right-hander Edward Kutt IV (Westlake, Calif.) retired the side in the top of the seventh in his first inning of relief, Ohio took advantage of two more miscues by Eastern Michigan in the bottom half to increase its lead to three runs. Senior center fielder Isaiah Peterson (Lincoln, Neb.) beat out an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error on the play to lead things off for Ohio. He then scored on another throwing error by the Eagles that came on a failed force at third, which allowed Richardson to reach safely on a fielder's choice. Richardson scored the game's final run on a wild pitch.

After the leadoff hitter reached for Eastern Michigan on an Ohio throwing error in the eighth, Kutt IV struck out the next three Eagles he faced to preserve the lead for the Bobcats. The ninth inning saw senior southpaw Brett Manis (Port Huron, Mich.) close out the victory with a scoreless frame of work, giving him his third save of the season.

Junior left-handed starting pitcher Joe Rock (Aliquippa, Pa.) picked up the win for Ohio to improve to 5-1 on the year. He struck out four while permitting three earned runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings.

Ohio and Eastern Michigan are scheduled to play a doubleheader at The Wren on Saturday (April 10). First pitch of the first of two seven-inning contests is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.

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