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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio baseball team (14-16, 12-4 MAC) split the doubleheader against the Miami RedHawks (10-26, 6-10 MAC) today at Bob Wren Stadium (April 15). The Bobcats bounced back after dropping the first game, 12-10, winning game two in 10 innings, 8-7.
Individually, junior Alec Patino (Sioux City, Iowa) led the team, going 5-for-10 with three RBIs, two runs scored and the walk-off single to win game two of the doubleheader. Redshirt sophomore AJ Rausch (Powell, Ohio) was strong offensively as well, finishing the day 4-for-9 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Fifth years Mason Minzey (Grand Blanc, Mich.) and Will Sturek (Minnetonka, Minn.) and sixth year Trevor Lukkes (Tustin, Calif.) each recorded one home run.
On the mound, sophomore Dillon Masters (New Albany, Ohio) was awarded the win in game two. He entered the game when it was tied, 7-7, and proceeded to pitch 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
GAME ONE
The RedHawks took advantage of a series of wild pitches, taking a 1-0 lead in the first, but Rausch tied the game with leadoff home run. The Bobcats took the lead when fifth year Colin Kasperbauer (Sioux City, Iowa) singled to field, allowing Patino to score from second. The next at bat, senior Alex Finney (Oxford, Mich.) hit a sacrifice fly to give Ohio a 3-1 lead.
A two-run home run for Miami evened the score in the top of the second. After a scoreless third, more RedHawks home runs in the fourth and fifth innings left the Bobcats trailing, 7-3. Another Miami home run in the seventh extended Ohio's deficit to five runs.
But the Bobcats weren't done—yet another eighth inning rally was in the works. Redshirt sophomore Nick Dolan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Rausch loaded the bases with a walk, followed by a two-RBI single from Patino cut the deficit to two runs. The next at-bat, Minzey launched a three-run home run to left field, giving Ohio their first lead of the game. Sturek capped off the impressive offensive performance with an in-the-park solo home run, giving the Bobcats a 10-8 lead.
The RedHawks bounced back, reclaiming the lead in the top of the ninth with an RBI double, a bases-loaded walk and a two-RBI single. Unable to score again, Ohio fell 12-10.
GAME TWO
A two-run home run to left center field gave Miami an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Back-to-back doubles in the second inning extended the RedHawks' lead to four runs. Rausch put the Bobcats on the board on the bottom of the inning, driving in Finney when he singled to right field.
The Bobcats took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Dolan cut the deficit to one run with a two-RBI double, tying the game when he scored off a Rausch single. After advancing to third when Patino singled up the middle, Rausch scored off a Miney sacrifice fly, giving the Bobcats their first lead of the game. The next inning, Lukkes hit his first home run of the season, driving in Finney as well to put the score at 7-4.
After a scoreless sixth inning, a three-RBI double for Miami tied the game, 7-7. After senior Trenton Neuer (Nicholasville, Ky.) was thrown out at home for the third out in the bottom of the ninth, the game went into extra innings. Masters faced four batters in the top of the tenth, drawing two swinging strikeouts and a fly out.
Lukkes led off the bottom of the frame with a single, advancing to second when Dolan bunted and to third on a fielder's choice. Patino punched in the winning run with a walk-off single to left field, scoring Lukkes for an 8-7 victory.
Up next, the Bobcats travel to Bloomington, Ind. from April 21-23 for a three-game series against Indiana. Friday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m. and can be seen on B1G+.
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