Sports
Ohio Drops Two of Three To Bowling Green
By: Nick Ursini
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The Ohio Bobcats (16-19) avoided the sweep Sunday after losing the first two games of the series to Mid-American Conference East Division rival Bowling Green (13-23). The Bobcats came into the series riding a three game winning streak, while the Falcons were trying to end their five game losing streak.
Starting pitcher Jake Miller took the mound for the Bobcats, allowing five runs, four earned, on 10 hits. Miller got the loss, dropping his record to 2-6 on the season. Bowling Green jumped out to a 3-0 lead after just two innings of play. Adding two more runs in the third and fifth inning, the Falcons had a commanding 5-1 lead.
The ‘Cats made it a game after a three run inning in the bottom of the eighth. Following back-to-back walks, Tony Giannini singled to center scoring Ohio’s second run of the game. Nate Squires came up to the plate and reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Ohio’s third run. Left fielder Mitch Longo came up and hit a single through the left side cutting the Falcons’ lead to just one run. The Falcons held off Ohio and win the first game 5-4.
Saturday started out the same for the Falcons as they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Ohio’s starting pitcher Jake Rudnicki went six innings, allowed three earned runs on five hits. The lose is Rudnicki’s first of the season (4-1).
Ohio was able to tie the game after runs in the third and fourth inning, But Bowling Green was able to break the tie with a run in the sixth and three in the seventh. Logan Giddings singled to right in the sixth and a Greg Basalyga homerun over the left field wall increased their lead to 6-2 putting the game out of reach and securing a series win.
Sunday started out like Friday and Saturday, but Ohio recovered from a three run deficit after the first inning. Starting pitcher Connor Sitz was chased out of the game after just three innings. Sitz allowed three runs on four hits. Relief pitcher Tom Colletti came in and held the Falcons in check. Colletti went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits. From the fifth to the seventh inning, Ohio crossed the plate nine times.
In the fifth inning, Ty Black started off the inning with a walk. Squires came up and singled to left field. Manny De Jesus came up and ripped a triple down the right field line, scoring Black and Squires. Rudy Rott came to the plate and singled to right field scoring De Jesus, tying the game up 3-3.
Ohio exploded for five runs in the sixth inning, increasing their lead to 8-3. Squires and Tyler Finkler both hit sacrifice flies. De Jesus drew a walk and Rott came to bat and sent the ball over the right field wall for his third homerun of the season.
The Bobcats added a run on a solo homerun from Black in the top of the ninth, putting the game out of reach 10-5. Ohio was able to finish the weekend series with a win increasing their record to 16-19 overall and 5-7 in MAC play.
The Bobcats return to action Tuesday night when they face Morehead State at 6 p.m. at Bob Wren Stadium.