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TOLEDO, Ohio – After trailing the entire game, the Ohio baseball team (12-15, 10-4 MAC) facilitated a ninth-inning comeback to defeat the Toledo Rockets (14-15, 6-8 MAC) at the Scott Park Baseball Complex this afternoon, 8-7.
Individually, senior Alex Finney (Oxford, Mich.) led the way, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one double. Fifth year Colin Kasperbauer (Sioux City, Iowa) went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored while fifth year Mason Minzey (Grand Blanc, Mich.) went 2-for-5 with one run scored.
On the mound, junior Mitchell Hemmen (Teutopolis, Ill. ) got the start, pitching for 3.1 innings. Redshirt junior Jacob Tate (Lousiville, Ky.) threw for the bulk of the game, recording five strike outs in 4.2 innings. Fifth year Braxton Kelly (Ulysses, Ky.) closed the game and was credited with the save.
Toledo took an early 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the second inning, extending their lead the next inning with a sacrifice fly. The Rockets' offense continued to produce runs, taking a 5-0 lead in the fourth with two home runs.
The Bobcats struck in the top of the fifth. After redshirt sophomore AJ Rausch (Powell, Ohio) drew a walk, he scored the next at-bat off a double from junior Alec Patino (Sioux City, Iowa). Patino scored later that inning when Finney hit a sacrifice fly to left field, cutting the deficit to three runs. The Rockets answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring off a fielder's choice followed by a sacrifice fly, putting the score at 7-2.
After three scoreless innings, Ohio rallied in the top of the ninth. Rausch set the tone, leading off with a single. He score three at-bats later when fifth year Will Sturek (Minnetonka, Minn.) hit a double to left-center field. The following four at-bats produced runs with RBI singles from Kasperbauer, Finney and junior Cole Williams (Charlotte, N.C.) and rounded out with a game-tying fielder's choice by sixth year Trevor Lukkes (Tustin, Calif.). Lukkes scored Ohio's go-ahead run off a Toledo throwing error, giving Ohio their first lead of the game.
Fifth year Braxton Kelly (Ulysses, Ky.) entered in the bottom of the ninth to preserve Ohio's one-run lead. He faced four batters, drawing two groundouts and a line out to end the game and solidify Ohio's 8-7 victory.
Up next, the Bobcats wrap up their three-game series against the Rockets on Sunday, April 9. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN+. Fans can tune in to the Varsity Network App to hear the call.
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