Sports
Ohio Baseball falls in mercy rule loss to Northern Kentucky
By: Thomas Henry
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — On a warm evening decorated with a beautiful sunset, Ohio Baseball (9-30) fell to the Northern Kentucky Norse (23-16) 13-3 at Bob Wren Stadium in a disappointing defeat for the Bobcats that saw them get mercy ruled for just the fourth time this season.
Things got off to a bad start from the first inning, when Northern Kentucky picked up two runs on an RBI-groundout and a bases-loaded walk to take a quick 2-0 lead. The Bobcats responded quickly in the bottom of the frame, however, with a two-run single by DH Jackson Cauthron and a run-scoring single by first baseman Drew Cox to give Ohio a 3-2 lead. The slim lead was not to last, as Ohio starter Trey Barkman was unable to get out of the second inning, departing the game after 1 1/3 innings pitched with two earned runs, four walks, and one strikeout to his name. The Bobcats turned to their bullpen to try to stem the bleeding after the Norse went back in front, but could not extinguish the rally, as Northern Kentucky went on to plate eight runs in the inning and take a 10-3 lead, turning a close game into a blowout before two innings were in the books.
For the rest of the game, Ohio was plagued by its inability to hit with runners in scoring position. The Bobcats’ bullpen settled in and allowed only one run from Northern Kentucky over the next four innings, but Ohio could not cash in on multiple scoring opportunities, including leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, stranding nine men on base before the Norse scored two more runs in the seventh to end the contest.
“We’ve been doing a good job with that throughout the year,” Ohio head coach Craig Moore said after the game when asked about the team’s struggles with runners in scoring position. “Again, it’s baseball, you know, and you’re not gonna be able to get those situations that could be positive all the time. But I do believe in our hitters that when we do get runners in scoring position, they’re gonna come through for us. Unfortunately, we just weren’t able to capitalize.”
The loss to the Norse extends Ohio’s losing streak to seven games, a season-high, and drops the Bobcats to 9-30. Ohio gets a three-day break in the action before resuming play on Friday against the 22-18 Miami RedHawks in a battle of the bricks matchup. The rivalry game will be on Friday at Bob Wren Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m.