Sports
Bobcats swat three home runs, take game one over Western Michigan
By: Carl Blalock
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – It may have been sunny and pleasant sitting in the stands at Bob Wren Stadium, but if you were sitting beyond the outfield fence, it was raining baseballs.
Five home runs were hit between the two teams in Ohio’s 8-5 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos.
Edward Kutt IV made his final start at Bob Wren, however the first few innings were a bit rocky for the Bobcat fifth year.
Kutt gave up four runs over the second and third innings, including two Bronco home runs by Gavin Doyle and Dylan Nevar.
However, Kutt had the support of his offense.
In the second inning, Michael Richardson hit a two RBI single to score Spencer Harbert and Mason Minzey, but that would just be the opening course for the Bobcats.
Ohio came into the fifth inning trailing 4-2, but that would not last very long.
After a Nick Dolan single, Isaiah Peterson clubbed a two-run home run over the center field wall to tie the game at four. Colin Kasperbauer then hit a triple to the corner of left field later that inning. He came home on a Mason Minzey groundout for the Bobcats to take a 5-4 lead heading into the sixth.
The Bobcats would tack on three more in the sixth inning, with Nick Dolan and Cael Baker hitting back-to-back home runs and Colin Kasperbauer adding an RBI single to put the Bobcats advantage at 8-4.
Kutt settled in after the third inning, although he allowed one more run in the seventh. Kutt finished the day with the win, his fifth of the season.
He pitched 8 innings allowing 5 runs and striking out six. Western Michigan’s Nathan Crandall got the loss. Ohio’s Brett Manis came in for the ninth and got the save.
Redshirt freshman Nick Dolan went 3 for 4 with a home run. Dolan struggled at the plate early in the season with his batting average being as low as .138 in mid April. Now, including the 3 for 4 performance, he is batting .248.
“Our hitting coach really gets on our butt a lot about getting in the (batting) cages and working and it is helping the whole team out, specifically myself,” said Dolan.
The Bobcats (27-21) will try to keep the momentum rolling with an early double header to wrap up the series.
Due to the heat, which is supposed to reach a high of 91 in Athens, game 1 will start at 10 AM on May 20.