Sports
Ohio Falls to Miami Twice in Season Series Finale
By: Nick Ursini
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The Ohio Bobcats (23-29) capped off their season in the annual “Battle of the Bricks” series against the Miami Redhawks (26-27). Miami got the best of the Bobcats with wins in game one and two.
In game one, Miami outhit the ‘Cats 11-7. The game remained scoreless for the first five innings, until the Redhawks broke the tie with three runs in the top of the sixth.
Ohio broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Manny De Jesus drew a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ty Black singled through the right side to cut into the lead.
Miami got the run right back in the ensuing frame and put the game out of reach with a six run ninth inning, pushing their lead to 10-1.
The Bobcats added one run in the bottom of the ninth, but were unable to come close as Miami took game one, 10-2.
Game two was lower scoring, but had the same victor as Miami clinched the series with a 4-0 win.
Connor Sitz took the mound for his final time in a Bobcat uniform. He went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and three strikeouts. Sitz suffered the loss, dropping his record on the year to 2-4.
Miami scored two runs in the fourth, one in the sixth and one in the ninth.
Cole Gnetz opposed Sitz on the mound for Miami. Gnetz threw 4.1 innings, giving up four hits with three strikeouts.
The loss secured Ohio’s sixth series defeat from Mid-American Conference opponents this season. The ‘Cats finished with a 1-6 record against conference opponents.
Game three was one the six graduating seniors will remember forever, a 6-2 victory on their home field against their arch rivals.
Ohio got a great pitching performance from Jake Rudnicki. Rudnicki went six innings, surrendering two runs on five hits and seven strikeouts.
The Redhawks and Bobcats traded runs in the first inning. De Jesus led off the inning with a single. He came around to score on John Adryan’s single through the right side, evening up the score at one.
The Bobcats broke the tie with a run in the fourth inning. Michael Klein singled to left, advanced to third on an error, and scored on a wild pitch.
Ohio added another run in the bottom half of the fifth. De Jesus led off the inning with a single. Mitch Longo singled to center field, scoring De Jesus.
Miami retaliated with a run of their own in the sixth. But Ohio answered right back in the bottom half with two runs.
De Jesus singled to left scoring Spencer Ibarra and Rudy Rott. The Bobcats increased their lead to 5-2.
The ‘Cats added an insurance run in the eight inning to close out the Redhawks, 6-2.
Ohio finishes the year with a 23-29 overall record and an 8-16 record in MAC play.
Miami will continue play in the MAC Tournament next week, but because of other league results, Ohio’s season has come to end, without the chance to defend their title in Avon.