Sports
Ohio Pulls Off Saturday Win Against Ball State
By: Joseph Hennessy
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Ohio (14-12, 2-0) traveled to Ball State (11-16, 0-5) for one of their first Mid-American Conference games of the season and left the field with two wins thanks to offensive explosions in the games’ critical stages.
Game One
The Bobcats led 3-0 going into the fifth inning. A Cardinals home run allowed them to trim their deficit to 3-1.
An Ohio defensive error in the sixth inning allowed the Cardinals to score three runs and take a 4-3 lead.
No runs were scored for either team until the eighth inning when the Bobcats offense reclicked.
Bases were loaded for outfielder Spencer Ibarra and Ball State’s pitcher walked him. Michael Klein later singled, bringing in another Ohio run. A Ball State defensive error allowed Ty Black to score, giving the Bobcats a 6-4 lead.
The Bobcats’ defense allowed no more runs in the eighth inning and had no success getting additional runs in the top of the ninth inning. Jake Roehn entered from the bullpen, closing the side and giving the Bobcats their first MAC win of the year, 6-4.
Game Two
Ball State started the second game aggressive, leading 4-0 after the second inning.
Tyler Finkler walked in the top of the fourth inning and junior Tony Giannini singled to right. Connor Callery singled to center, bringing in Finkler. Ohio then scored in the fifth inning, slicing the Cardinals lead to 4-2.
In the sixth inning, the momentum shifted to the Bobcats dugout and they seized this opportunity.
Finkler singled, Giannini and Callery walked leaving the bases loaded. Ibarra and Rott walked, scoring one run apiece, tying the game at 4. Black was up to bat and he hit a double to left field, scoring two, giving the Bobcats a 6-4 lead.
Ohio wasn’t done just yet.
Nick Bredeson was next at the plate. His single to left field brought in another Bobcats’ run. They led 7-4 at the end of the sixth inning.
Ohio’s defense didn’t let the Cardinals crawl back into the game. Jake Rudnicki closed the game, allowing zero runs, sealing the green and white’s comeback and their second victory of the day, 7-4.
The Bobcats and Cardinals face each other today for the final game of the series.