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ATHENS, Ohio — The Ohio baseball team (5-8, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) fell short in its series finale against Northern Illinois (5-11, 2-1 MAC). It dropped the final game 6-1. 

Starter junior Blake Gaskey (Davenport, Iowa) worked his way out of a jam in the top of the first inning after Northern Illinois hit a lead-off single. He worked his way through Northern Illinois' lineup with ease through the next three innings and kept the game scoreless. 

Ohio's bats came out in the bottom of the fourth. After senior Cole Williams (Charlotte, N.C.) was hit by pitch, freshman JR Nelson (Vernon Hills, Ill.) advanced him on a sacrifice bunt to put a runner in scoring position. With one out on the board, senior Gideon Antle (Licking, Mo.) knocked a single through the right side to score Williams. So far this season, Antle has collected a hit in every game he has played in. 

The Huskies doubled the score in the top of the fifth on a double by Eric Erato and a sacrifice fly by Andre Demetral, however the Bobcats still had a chance to come back.

"We were in the ball game in the middle part of it. We had an opportunity to cash in, bases loaded with one with the top of the order coming up, a couple of guys that were swinging well throughout the last couple of weeks and we just didn't come up with a hit. Sometimes that's baseball," head coach Craig Moore said. 

Junior Zach Weber (Lebanon, Ohio) came in to relieve Gaskey in the top of the sixth. Gaskey exited the mound having allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks. He also struck out two batters. 

"Blake gave us an opportunity. That's what we want out of a starting pitcher, especially on a Sunday game going first series win," Moore said. "Blake did what he had to do. He gave us two earned runs in five innings. That was that's I'll take that every time out of a starter."

Weber's appearance ended after one and two-thirds innings in which he allowed two runs on one hit and struck out two batters. Junior Tyler Peck (Oak Creek, Wis.) closed out the seventh inning for the Bobcats.

Northern Illinois added to its lead in the top of the eighth inning on a two-run home run to left field by CJ Cepicky. Peck faced his final batter after the home run and he ended the day having recorded one out. 

The Bobcats turned to Junior Hudson Boncal (Corona, Calif.) to keep the Huskies at bay over the final two innings. Boncal kept the Huskies scoreless despite walking three batters. 

Ohio tried to spark something in between Boncal's clean innings, but Northern Illinois denied its attempts. 

Despite a relatively quiet day at the plate, five different Bobcats, including Antle, had hits. Williams collected one along with freshman Pauly Mancino (Westlake, Ohio), graduate student Bryce Smith and redshirt junior Nick Dolan (Pittsburgh, Pa.).

Ohio will be back in action on March 12 against Morehead State. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Allen Field in Morehead, Kentucky. 

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