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ATHENS, Ohio – With sophomore Wes Lug's grand slam capping off a 10-run bottom of the eighth, the Ohio baseball team (14-16, 12-4 MAC) surged past the Miami RedHawks (10-26, 6-10 MAC) to win game one of the Battle of the Bricks, 13-10.
Individually, Lug (Huntersville, N.C) went 2-for-4 with a grand slam. Fifth year Colin Kasperbauer (Sioux City, Iowa) finished the game 3-for-5 with two RBIs and one run scored while junior Alec Patino (Sioux City, Iowa) went 3-for-6 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored.
On the mound, redshirt freshman Patrick DeMarco (Encino, Calif.) recorded his first collegiate win while fifth year Braxton Kelly (Ulysses, Ky.) retired all three batters he faced in the top of the ninth for his sixth save of the season.
"That was amazing—what a team win that was right there. Our offense is really resilient and we showed it tonight," said Kasperbauer. "We never quit. I think that's a testament to our team. The pitchers putting up zeros gave us a chance to get back in the game."
Miami struck first, scoring four runs off two home runs and a single in the top of the third. They tacked on two more the next inning with an RBI double, leaving the Bobcats trailing 6-0. After a ground rule double drove in the RedHawks' seventh run in the top of the sixth; senior Alex Finney (Oxford, Mich.) answered with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning, allowing fifth year Mason Minzey (Grand Blanc, Mich.) to score Ohio's first run of the game.
In the seventh, two Miami RBI singles extended their lead to eight runs. In the bottom of the inning, fifth Kasperbauer drove in Ohio's second run with a fielder's choice. Back-to-back hit batters put the score at 9-3.
The RedHawks took advantage of a wild pitch in the eighth to score their 10th run, but the Bobcats bats came alive in the bottom of the inning, overcoming their seven-run deficit. Redshirt sophomores Nick Dolan (Pittsbirgh, Pa.) and AJ Rausch (Powell, Ohio) kicked things off with a leadoff double for Dolan that was immediately followed by an RBI triple from Rausch. Patino followed with an RBI double, scoring when Minzey singled to right field to cut Miami's lead to four runs.
Two wild pitches allowed Minzey to advance to third, easily crossing the plate when Kasperbauer singled to left field. After Finney walked and junior Cole Williams (Charlotte, N.C.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Lug's game-winning grand slam gave Ohio their first lead of the game and marked his first collegiate home run.
"That was a surreal experience. That's definitely one of my top baseball experiences. I still can't believe that happened," said Lug. "My number got called today and I just wanted to contribute to the team. I didn't know it was going to be this big, but it's a great feeling."
Patino's second RBI double of the inning extended Ohio's lead by one run; Patino scored the Bobcats' thirteenth and final run of the game off a wild pitch, putting Ohio ahead 13-10 heading into the top of the ninth. Fifth year Braxton Kelly (Ulysses, Ky.) closed for Ohio, recording three consecutive strikeouts to preserve their comeback victory.
"I've had just about every role you can have on a pitching staff since I've been here. But to be honest with you, this is my favorite," said Kelly. "With my teammates' support, it's unreal, that feeling going out there and being that guy for your teammates."
Up next, the Bobcats return to action tomorrow (April 15) for a doubleheader against the RedHawks. First pitch for the first game is set for 1 p.m.; game two will start approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
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