Sports
Bobcats Go 1-2 in Weekend Series with UAB
By: Alex Harrison
Posted on:
Ohio Baseball went into a series against the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a 2-1 record but left with an even 3-3 record.
The Bobcats dropped the first two games of the weekend series before finally having some redemption and a well-pitched game on Sunday.
Game One
The series began on Friday and the result was the worst game for the Bobcats so far this year. Ohio was outhit 14-13, each team left 10 on base, but the killer was walks. UAB pitchers walked just four batters to Ohio’s 10 batters. Those walks gave way to a 15-6 UAB win.
Ohio was down 2-1 going into the third inning but exploded for four runs. With two outs and the bases loaded, Tony Giannini singled to score Cody Gaertner and John Adryan. Then the next pitch saw Nate Squires double in Rudy Rott and Giannini to put Ohio up 5-2.
The lead would not stick around, though. UAB went off at the plate, scoring five runs in the fifth, four runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth.
Ohio put out six pitchers in the game, only half of which made it more than one inning. Gerry Salisbury started for Ohio and was hit with the loss after giving up six hits, six runs and three walks in 4.1 innings pitched.
In relief for Ohio, Christian Botter gave up four runs and walked two in only 0.1 innings pitched, and Josh Peterson ended the game by giving up three runs and three hits in one inning of work.
Game Two
Ohio fell again in the second game 7-2. The Bobcats pitching was again susceptible to big innings and batters again left 10 on base.
A walk, a passed ball, a hit batter and a double steal allowed UAB to score three runs in the fifth inning. Evan Peterson singled in Jared Nixon and Griffin Gum followed with a bunt single to bring in another.
Jake Miller started for Ohio and pitched six full innings, giving up four hits and four runs (three earned).
Michael Klein came in to relieve Miller in the beginning of the seventh inning, but he only faced three batters and didn’t record a single out. Klein walked his first batter and gave up back-to-back doubles before being replaced by Jake Roehn who finished the game in relief.
The game was frustrating for the Bobcats, culminating in Head Coach Rob Smith being ejected in the top of the ninth.
With the loss, Ohio, who started the season 2-0, lost its third straight and fell to 2-3.
Game Three
Ohio desperately needed a well-pitched game to rebound, and Jake Rudnicki showed up, leading Ohio to a 2-1 win.
Rudnicki was dominant. In eight innings pitched, Rudnicki struck out 10 batters and gave up one unearned run. Eddie Fitzpatrick pitched the ninth inning to earn the save.
Down 1-0, the Bobcats struck in the seventh. John Adryan walked to begin the inning. With two outs, Tony Giannini homered and put Ohio up 2-1.
The pitching battle continued for the rest of the game, but UAB nearly broke it up in the ninth inning. Fitzpatrick allowed runners to reach first and second with one out, but got a strike out and a groundout to end the game.