Sports
Ohio Baseball Shuts Out Eastern Kentucky
By: Tyler Prich
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Freshman Logan Jacik took the mound against Eastern Kentucky for his first career start for the Bobcats, but only stood on the rubber for two innings as manager Rob Smith used six different pitchers to work the program’s first shutout since 2012.
The Bobcats’ (23-15, 8-7) pitching staff allowed only five hits and did not allow a single walk en route to the 6-0 victory over the Colonels (14-22). Spencer Sapp earned his first win of the season.
The scoring started in the third when Manny Dejesus sent a blooper to left field that landed when Eastern Kentucky’s outfielder missed a diving catch and allowed David Hamlett to score from first. Dejesus advanced to third on a balk and Mitch Longo brought him in with an ground out to put the ‘Cats up 2-0.
Jake Madsen came to the plate in the fifth inning just seven hits away from breaking the record for most career hits in Bobcats history. With two runners on, he sent a rocket over the right field wall for his first homerun of the year.
Madsen added a single in the seventh inning and sits just five hits away from a spot in the record book.
Errant pitching put the Colonels down even further. A wild pitch in the seventh allowed Longo to score from third and give the Bobcats their final run of the game.
Eastern Kentucky could only put seven runners on base thanks to the fresh pitching by the Bobcats. The pitch-by-committee strategy has been a popular choice for Smith this year in order to keep the pressure off his starters.
Ohio will look to carry the momentum into game two of its nine-game home stand with a matchup against Rio Grande on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.