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

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio baseball team (24-15, 15-11 MAC) opened a four-game Mid-American Conference weekend rivalry series against Miami (19-22, 12-15 MAC) by taking both games of a Friday (May 7) doubleheader at Bob Wren Stadium. The Bobcats got things started with a 3-1 win in seven innings in game one and then blanked the RedHawks, 1-0, in nine innings in game two of the twin bill.

Game One: Ohio 3, Miami 1 (seven innings)

Senior left fielder Sebastian Fabik (Lebanon, Ohio) broke a one-all tie in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run home run that proved to be the winning margin, and junior southpaw starting pitcher Joe Rock (Aliquippa, Pa.) struck out 12 in just six innings.

Rock surrendered a leadoff solo home run to Miami redshirt freshman center fielder Benji Brokemond in the top of the first inning but settled in after that to hold the RedHawks at bay. He gave up just three more hits, none of which went from extra bases, and a walk the rest of the way as he improved to 8-1 on the season.

The Bobcats evened the score in the home half of the second courtesy of a leadoff homer by graduate student third baseman Trevor Hafner (Perrysburg, Ohio). Fabik then put Ohio in front with his two-run blast in the ensuing frame, a lead that Ohio never relinquished.

Senior left-handed pitcher Brett Manis (Port Huron, Mich.) then retired the side in the seventh to lock up the victory for the Bobcats. He struck out one as he earned his sixth save of the year. 

Game Two: Ohio 1, Miami 0 (nine innings)

Senior right-handed starting pitcher Edward Kutt IV (Westlake, Calif.) continued the pitching brilliance for Ohio in game two, tossing eight shutout innings and striking out 10 while giving up just a single and a walk. He earned the win on the mound to improve to 7-3 on the year. Manis then recorded his seventh save, tossing a scoreless ninth inning and striking out one.

The Bobcats were being no-hit through five innings but broke through with a two-out double by senior center fielder Isaiah Peterson (Lincoln, Neb.). Ohio then broke a scoreless tie in the seventh as graduate student first baseman Harry Witwer-Dukes (Monmouth, Ore.) beat out an infield single and scored one out later on a base hit back up the middle by Hafner, which proved to be the winning margin.

Ohio and Miami will play another doubleheader on Saturday (May 8) at The Wren. First pitch of the seven-inning game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, with the nine-inning game two following 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

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