Sports
Bobcats Take Doubleheader Sweep of Buffalo
By: Eric Singer
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On a chilly Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, NY, the Ohio Bobcats baseball squad capped off the weekend sweep of the Buffalo Bulls, winning both games of a doubleheader by a score of 5-3.
With the wins, the Bobcats (17-12, 5-4 Mid-American Conference) move into a tie for second place in the MAC-East division with Akron, and trail first place Kent State by just one game.
In game one, the Bobcats got a big start out of Connor Sitz, who has become their most reliable pitcher in the rotation. Sitz tossed 5.2 innings and allowed just six hits and three earned runs while striking out seven batters. Reliever Logan Cozart, who has been almost automatic out of the bullpen this season, threw three shutout innings in relief, and allowed just one hit and struck out four, picking up his third win of the season along the way.
Offensively, Ohio got contributions from almost every spot in the lineup, as catcher Kyle Dean was the lone starter that did not record at least one hit in the game. Manny DeJesus and Mitch Longo led the ‘Cats offense, combining for two hits, two runs scored, and four RBI’s, including DeJesus’ clutch hit late in the game.
With Ohio trailing 3-2 in the top of the ninth inning, DeJesus ripped a go-ahead two-RBI double to left field, scoring Nate Squires and Ty Black, to put Ohio in front for the first time in the game at 4-3. A few batters later an RBI single by Mitch Longo scored DeJesus to finish the scoring and a 5-3 lead for Ohio.
In game two, Ohio got another great start from its starting pitcher, as Jake Rudnicki pitched five shutout innings. He only allowed four hits and two walks, and struck out four hitters as he picked up his second win of the season.
DeJesus was one of the offensive stars again, racking up three hits and one run scored. But Jake Madsen and Tyler Wells brought much of the muscle in the game, combining for four hits, three runs scored, and three RBI’s.
Ohio was the first on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning, as an RBI single from Wells scored Madsen to give Ohio the 1-0 lead.
Later in the top of the sixth inning, it was Madsen’s turn as he smacked an RBI double to left center field, scoring Longo all the way from first base to give Ohio a 2-0 lead. And the very at-bat, a throwing error from the Buffalo pitcher allowed Madsen to score and make it 3-0 Ohio.
The trio of Christian Botter, David Hamlett, and Corey Wells held the Bobcats lead out of the bullpen, with Wells tossing 2.2 innings on his way to his first save of the season.
Ohio is back at it on Wednesday when they travel to Huntington, WV for the second game of the home-and-home series with Marshall (9-21, 2-9 C-USA).