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Box Score Game One (PDF) | Box Score Game Two (PDF)

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio baseball team (26-22, 17-18 MAC) split a doubleheader on Saturday (May 22) against Ball State (34-17, 25-10 MAC) at Bob Wren Stadium. The Bobcats dropped the first game in a 9-2 loss before rebounding behind strong pitching to earn a 5-1 win in game two.

Game One: Ball State 9, Ohio 2 (seven innings)

Ohio fell behind early in the first game of the day when Ball State took a two-run lead in the second inning. Redshirt junior Spencer Harbert (Middletown, Del.) hit his second home run in as many days to tie the game up.

The Bobcats trailed for the rest of the game once the Cardinals took back the lead in the fifth inning.

Junior pitcher Braxton Kelly (Ulysses, Ky.) (1-4) took the mound for Ohio and gave up six runs on nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Chayce McDermott started for the Cardinals and finished with a complete seven innings. He gave up to runs and struck out 13 batters.

Game Two: Ohio 5, Ball State 1 (seven innings)

Senior pitcher Edward Kutt IV (Westlake, Calif.) started for the Bobcats and held the Cardinaals scoreless until the seventh inning in game two. Kutt IV, who went to 8-4 on the season with the win, pitched all seven innings with no earned runs and six strikeouts.

Kutt IV was helped with early run support from his offense. Graduate student first baseman Harry Witwer-Dukes put Ohio on the board in the third inning with a solo home run to right field.

The Bobcats took advantage of two errors by Ball State to add three more runs to the lead before redshirt junior Michael Richardson (Caimbridge, Md.) brought in the final run with a single in the sixth inning.

"Everyone likes winning so once you're ahead in the game, everyone has a more positive mindset," Kutt IV said. "It makes being out there more enjoyable."

Ohio and Ball State will play again on Sunday (May 23) for the Bobcats' final home game of the season. First pitch is at 1 p.m. ET.

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