Sports
Ohio Splits First Two Games of Series with WKU
By: Mary Ryznar
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Ohio baseball (5-5) took on the road once again as they traveled to Bowling Green, Ken. to compete in a three game series against Western Kentucky University (4-6) this weekend. The Bobcats opened the series with a loss to the Hilltoppers.
Game 1
WKU had an early lead in the first game of the series, an advantage that even a 3-run inning from Ohio was not enough to make a full comeback and the Bobcats fell 5-4 in 9.
After the Hilltoppers managed to put up two runs in the first inning. Junior designated hitter Michael Klein hit a home run to left center in the top of the fourth. However, the ‘Toppers wasted no time in fighting back as they put up two more in the fifth, forcing Ohio to make constant pitcher changes.
Trailing behind 5-1 by the end of the seventh, things started to look up for the Green and White once the Bobcats took the plate at the top of the 8th. A single by Conner Callery was complimented with an advance to second after Tyler Finkler walked which was then followed by a single from Rudy Rott. With the bases loaded and one out, a single by Michael Klein sent Callery home to score a second run for the Bobcats. Evan Bourn was able to contribute to the comeback with a single to the right that scored two more runs making it 5-4 by the end of the eighth.
Lefty Gerry Salisbury started the game for Ohio and allowed two runs in the first inning. In just 4.2 frames, Salisbury allowed a total of four runs on 10 hits and two walks. Kenny Ogg came in to relieve in the top of the sixth who was then relieved by Cory Blessing in the bottom of the seventh. Closing the game on the mound was senior Tom Colletti who came in at the bottom of the eighth.
By the end of the game, Bourn went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and Callery had a pair of singles and a run. Klein went 2-for-3 in hits and recorded his third home run of the season.
Game 2
Ohio went into Saturday’s looking to make a comeback and that’s just what they did as they shut out the Hilltoppers 3-0.
In Friday’s game, the Bobcats had pitching issues that led to a 5-4 upset. Things seemed to be the opposite in the second game. Opening the game on the mound, Butch Baird went 6.2 innings, allowing no runs and only four hits. Baird was relieved by Jake Rudnicki in the bottom of the eighth. Rudnicki recorded two strikeouts before he was relieved by Jake Roehn. Roehn shut out WKU with two strikeouts to end the game.
Although the Bobcats showed exceptional skills on the mound, there were some key players who returned to the plate ready to put some runs up after falling short in Friday’s game. Senior Tyler Finkler had a solo home run in the third inning to score the first run for Ohio. It was in the top of the fourth inning when Evan Bourn doubled to lead off the inning for the Bobcats. With the help of his teammates Tanner Piechnick moving him to third and Ty Black singling to the center, Bourn was sent home giving the Bobcats a 2-0 lead. The third and final run was scored by Conner Callery after Spencer Ibarra’s single sent him home making the score 3-0 in the seventh.
Both Ohio and Western Kentucky are 1-1 in the series as they wrap up the weekend in Kentucky at the third and final game of the series on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.