ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio baseball team (8-12, 4-4 MAC) returned to action on Saturday afternoon (March 23), taking on Central Michigan (5-18, 2-6 MAC) in a doubleheader. The Bobcats dropped the first game of the day, 6-1, before defeating CMU, 18-3 in the second game.
Due to weather in Mount Pleasant, the three-game series was moved to Athens. Per the conference, since CMU was originally slated to be the home team this weekend, they remained the home team and hit in the bottom of the inning.
GAME ONE: Central Michigan 6, Ohio 1
Overall, Ohio scored one run on three hits and committed one error, while Central Michigan scored six runs on 13 hits and committed one error.
At the plate, fifth year
Alex Finney (Oxford, Mich.) recorded a double and scored a run, while graduate student
Bryce Smith (Virginia Beach, Va.) recorded a hit, and an RBI and freshman
JR Nelson (Vernon Hills, Ill.) added a basehit for the Bobcats.
On the mound, junior
Dillon Masters (New Albany, Ohio) pitched 3.1 innings, allowing six runs, five earned on 10 hits, walked three and struck out four. Senior
Luke Olson (Granville, Ill.) pitched 3.2 innings and did not allow a run on three hits and struck out three, while graduate student
Carson Denham (Cape May Court House, N.J.) pitched one inning and did not allow a hit or a run, while recording one strikeout.
CMU got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning, taking an early 3-0 lead on a three-run home run to right center, sending the game to the top of the second with the Bobcats trailing. CMU added on in the bottom of the second inning and then put another run on the board in the bottom of the third, increasing their lead to 5-0 going into the fourth inning.
The Bobcats looked to get on the board in the top of the fourth when Finney reached on a one-out double to center. However, the Ohio offense was unable to get a run across, sending the game to the bottom of the inning still trailing, 5-0.
Central Michigan added a run in the bottom of the fourth, increasing their lead to six runs after five innings of play.
The Bobcats got on the board in the top of the seventh inning when Smith reached on an RBI single, scoring Rausch from second and cutting the Ohio deficit to 6-1 going into the bottom of the seventh.
Over the remaining three innings, the Bobcats' offense was unable to generate enough momentum to rally, falling 6-1.
GAME TWO: Ohio 18, Central Michigan 3
Overall, Ohio scored 18 runs on 21 hits and did not commit an error, while CMU scored three runs on nine hits and committed one error.
Individually, senior
Gideon Antle (Licking, Mo.) went 5-for-5 with three double, four runs scored and five RBI. Smith added three hits, one homerun, five RBI and one run scored, while freshman
Pauly Mancino (Westlake, Ohio) went 2-for-5 with three runs scored. Redshirt junior
AJ Rausch (Powell, Ohio) added two hits, two doubles, one RBI and one run scored, while junior
Jackson Cauthron (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) went 2-for-4 with a homerun, RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore
Billy Adams (Medina, Ohio) also recorded a two-hit day with a double, two RBI and two runs scored.
On the mound, graduate student
Tim Knapschaefer (Maria Stein, Ohio) got the start, pitching five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out four, while junior
Tyler Peck (Oak Creek, Wis.) earned the save, pitching four innings, allowing no runs on two hits, walked one and struck out four.
After a scoreless first inning, Ohio struck first in the top of the second after Cauthron hit a homerun to rightfield, giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. After CMU stranded two runners on in the bottom of the second, Ohio added on in the top of the third, scoring three runs on three hits and was highlighted by a two-RBI double from Antle, giving the Bobcats a 4-0 lead.
CMU cut into the Ohio lead in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs on two hits, cutting the lead to 4-3 going into the fourth inning.
Ohio added on in the top of the fourth inning, scoring four runs on four hits, including Antle's second two-RBI double of the game and a two-run homerun from Smith to put Ohio up 8-3 going into the bottom of the fourth inning.
CMU threatened in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with one out. However, the Bobcats defense was able to get a pop up and a strikeout to end the inning with no runners crossing home, sending the game to the sixth with Ohio still leading, 8-3.
Ohio's bats came alive in the top of the seventh inning, scoring nine runs on nine hits. The inning was highlighted by Antle's third double of the game and two-RBI doubles from Nelson and Adams, helping the Bobcats take a 17-3 lead going into the bottom of the inning.
Ohio added one run in the top of the ninth, taking an 18-3 lead into the final frame. CMU was unable to generate any offense in the bottom of the ninth, with Peck closing out the game and the 18-3 victory.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats wrap up the three-game series with Central Michigan on Sunday, March 24. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Bob Wren Stadium and can be streamed on YouTube.
#OUohyeah
