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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio baseball team (5-14) returned to action Tuesday evening (March 18), falling to Dayton (10-13) in a 10-9 in a 12-inning thriller inside Bob Wren Stadium.  

Sophomore JR Nelson (Vernon Hills, Ill.) and freshman Matt Ineich (South Lyon, Mich.) led the Bobcats with three hits each, both collecting doubles. Ineich was among three Bobcats to notch a team-leading two RBI. The other two were sophomore Ben Slanker (Canfield, Ohio) and graduate student Blake Reed (Gahanna, Ohio).  

Nelson and Slanker each had home runs for Ohio.  

Freshman Hunter Winston (Hinkley, Ohio) earned the nod for Ohio. In his first career start, Winston allowed one run on three hits and collected two strikeouts. Ohio used seven pitchers in the loss. 

Ohio had the lead after the first three innings; however, Dayton took over in the top of the fourth. It scored three runs in the inning to put Ohio behind. Dayton expanded on the lead in the top of the sixth.  

The Bobcats clawed their way back to a tie on a two-RBI double by Reed in the bottom of the eighth. Three more runs crossed the plate in that inning to give the Bobcats the lead they needed.  

Dayton was not ready to retire though. It sent a two-run home run into left center in the top of the ninth to tie the game once more.  

The Flyers struck first in extra innings on a single to right field. It was later the Flyers' own error that sent sophomore Pauly Mancino (Westlake, Ohio) home in the bottom of the 10th to equal the score.  

Dayton capitalized on a failed pickoff attempt in the top of the 12th to sneak away with the victory.  

Ohio will be back in action on Friday (March 21) for the first game of a three-game set with Toledo. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Scott Park and the game can be viewed on ESPN+.  

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