MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. – The Ohio Bobcats baseball team (8-31, 5-16 MAC) defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas (16-20, 9-12 MAC) 16-6, ending the game after eight innings via run rule. The Bobcats were fueled by an eight-run seventh inning that broke the game open.
The Bobcats scored 16 runs on 16 hits and one error, while the Chippewas scored six runs on twelve hits and one error.
On the hill, freshman right-hander
Evan Lichtenauer (Newark, Ohio) got the start, going 5.2 innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits, striking out two. Junior hurler
AJ Dallmayer (Washington Court House, Ohio) got the win, allowing three runs in 0.2 innings pitched. Senior
Landon Price (Middle Point, Ohio) finished the game for the Bobcats, holding the Chippewas scoreless in 1.2 innings pitched.
At the plate, the Bobcat offense was powered by sophomore designated hitter
Brady Alexander (Glenshaw, Pa.) and junior outfielder
Taylor Harris (Parrish, Fla.). Hitting in the leadoff spot, Alexander went three-for-six with two RBI's and scoring a run. Right behind him in the order, Harris went two-for-five with four RBI's, including his third home run of the season. Harris also scored three runs in the game.
The Chippewas jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning.
After scoreless frames in the second and third innings, the Bobcats would answer in the top of the fourth, as junior outfielder
Cameron Boyd (Villa Hills, Ky.) led off the inning with a single and would come around to score the Bobcat's first run of the game. Later, fifth year infielder
Will Henson (Chicago, Ill.) would get on base with a single of his own, scoring from third base on an error to cut the deficit to one run.
Ohio would tie the game in the top of the sixth, when junior third baseman
Dylan Shepherd (Barrie, Ont.) would come around to score after a leadoff single.
The Bobcats broke the game open in the seventh, beginning their rally with a walk drawn by Harris, eventually scoring on a Shepherd double. Henson would then score after a savvy tag from third on a sac fly from catcher
Tyler Stack (Oswego, Ill.). Two batters later, redshirt freshman infielder
Grant Wilson (Bradenton, Fla.) would hit his third home run of the season, a three run shot that gave the Bobcats an 8-3 lead with two outs in the inning. After a CMU pitching change, redshirt sophomore outfielder
Max Palinski (Gates Mills, Ohio) kept the two out rally going with a triple to right center. Alexander then legged out an infield single to score Palinski. After another pitching change, Harris stepped to the plate and launched a home run to left field in a two-strike count, capping off a mammoth eight-run inning for the Bobcats.
After Central Michigan responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame, Ohio kept their foot on the gas with another rally in the eighth. Stepping to the plate with the bases loaded and one out, Alexander singled to right, scoring senior utilityman
Cale Steinbaugh (Georgetown, Ill.). One batter later, Harris continued his strong day at the plate, singling up the middle to score Wilson and Palinski. Another
Cameron Boyd single would score pinch hitter
Colton Shirley (Anderson, Ind.), and a Henson single to left scored Harris, capping off a five-run rally, and setting up a run-rule victory if the Bobcats could hold the Chippewas scoreless in the bottom of the frame.
Price and the Bobcat defense delivered, retiring three straight batters after a leadoff double to seal the 16-6 run-rule victory after eight innings.
The Bobcats will return to action at Bob Wren Stadium on Tuesday, April 21 when they host the Northern Kentucky Norse for a midweek tilt. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET and can be viewed on ESPN+.
#OUohyeah
