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Box Score (PDF)

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Ohio baseball team (28-22, 19-18 MAC) clawed its way to an 8-5 win in 10 innings over host Western Michigan (21-26, 20-17 MAC) on Friday (May 28) in the first contest of a four-game Mid-American Conference weekend series at Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field.

The Bobcats forced extra innings with a run in the top of the ninth, then pushed across three more for the winning margin in the 10th.

Trailing 5-4 going into the ninth, redshirt senior shortstop Joe Weisenseel (Strongsville, Ohio) sparked the Ohio rally by leading the frame off with a base hit to center. After graduate student first baseman Harry Witwer-Dukes (Monmouth, Ore.) and senior center fielder Sebastian Fabik (Lebanon, Ohio) coaxed back-to-back one-out walks to load the bases for the Bobcats, Weisenseel tagged up at third and scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly to center by junior catcher Mason Minzey (Grand Blanc, Mich.).

Senior southpaw reliever Brett Manis (Port Huron, Mich.) entered the game for the Bobcats in the home half of the ninth and retired the side to force extras. Graduate third baseman Trevor Hafner (Perrysburg, Ohio) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in what would be the game-winning run in the 10th. Fabik and Minzey each walked to bring in the next two runs and stretch the Ohio lead to three runs.

Western Michigan put the first two batters on base in the home half of the 10th, but Manis got out of the jam thanks to a 6-4-3 double play and a ground out to second that ended the game.

The Bobcats collected 10 hits in the contest. Redshirt junior right fielder Trevor Lukkes (Tustin, Calif.) collected a triple and a single and scored a run while redshirt junior second baseman Michael Richardson (Cambridge, Md.) finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, a walk and two runs scored. Minzey singled and piled up three RBIs while Weisenseel singled and accounted for three of Ohio's eight runs scored. Redshirt junior designated hitter Spencer Harbert (Middletown, Del.) hit his team-leading 10th home run of the game in the fifth inning to even the score at two-all. In all, the lead changed hands five times in the contest.

Junior left-handed starting pitcher Joe Rock (Aliquippa, Pa.) started the game for Ohio and struck out seven over six frames while giving up two earned runs on six hits. Manis struck out two in two innings of relief and allowed one hit. He was credited with the pitching victory and improved to 4-1 on the season.

Senior pitcher Brett Manis (Port Huron, Mich.) won his fourth game of the season for the Bobcats after pitching two shutout innings, giving up one hit with two strikeouts.

Ohio and Western Michigan are set to play two seven-inning games on Saturday (May 29), with the doubleheader now slated to get underway at 1:05 p.m. ET. 

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