Sports
Chippewas Close out Bobcats in Extras
By: Nick Ursini
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The Ohio Bobcats (21-25) hit a huge roadblock after their three game win streak was snapped Friday night. Central Michigan (14-33) came to Bob Wren and won games one and three to win the series.
Friday’s opening game was a huge setback for the ‘Cats. Ohio was able to cross the plate twice, but only recorded one hit. John Adryan recorded the Bobcats’ lone base hit of the night, a single to right to lead off the fourth inning.
Central Michigan took the early lead in the series with the 8-2 victory.
Ohio got on the board first with two runs in the first inning, but the Chippewas responded with two in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one in the seventh.
Jake Miller got the start for Ohio. Miller struck out four and allowed five runs, three of which were earned, on nine hits and two walks. He suffered the loss on the mound, dropping to 2-8 on the year.
Starting pitcher Sean Renzi threw a one-hitter for the Chippewas en route to earning the pitching win. Renzi improved him to 5-5 on the year. He fanned five over eight frames, the last seven of which were scoreless. He allowed two unearned runs on a hit and six walks.
Games two and three were nothing like the first.
In the second game, the Bobcats and Chippewa’s combined for 31 hits and left 29 runners on base. The contest lasted four hours and twenty minutes.
Mitch Longo led the Bobcat offense with a 4-for-7 effort that included an RBI and two runs scored.
Central Michigan took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Ohio took command of the lead in the home half of the frame. Tony Giannini sent a one-out single to center, then scored one out later when junior shortstop Tyler Finkler hit a two-run home run over left field wall, the first of his career.
Central Michigan evened the score in the top of the fourth courtesy of Dazon Cole’s one-out solo shot to left center.
The ‘Cats and Chippewas traded runs in the bottom of the fifth and top of the seventh, tying the game, 4-4.
Six straight scoreless innings later, The Chippewas almost broke the tie. Michael Klein worked out of jam to leave the go-ahead run at third.
Ohio broke through in the bottom of the fourteenth for the walk off. Longo beat out an infield single and then advanced to second on a sac bunt from Rudy Rott. Cody Gaertner walked and the stage was set for senior John Adryan.
Adryan hit a one-out single to left center field to score Longo and push the Bobcats to a 5-4 walk-off victory in the bottom of the 14th inning, setting the stage for Sunday’s rubber game.
Sunday’s game followed up game two perfectly. Thirty-nine combined hits, 21 combined runs.
Ohio got the scoring started early. Manny De Jesus led off the inning with a walk. Rott came to the plate with two outs and roped a single into right center.
The Bobcats added two more in the bottom of the fourth. Central Michigan then retaliated with five runs to take the lead.
The ‘Cats stormed back with a five run inning of their own. Giannini hit a one-out single scoring Longo and Rott. Finkler came to the dish and delivered a single to center, scoring Gaertner and Giannini. Ohio took the lead 8-5.
Central Michigan kept their offense rolling with back-to-back two-run innings in the sixth and seventh. Ohio added one in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 9-9.
The game went into extra innings for the second straight game.
The Chippewa’s struck first in extras. Jarrod Watkins lead off with a single. He came around the bases on a double by Zach McKinstry.
Ohio again came back with a run on a Cody Gaertner solo blast to lead off the inning, his second of the game.
The game would remain scoreless until the 13th inning. Central Michigan plated three runs, Daniel Robinson hit a two-RBI single to center. Watkins returned to the plate to deliver a single, scoring Robinson.
Ohio chipped into the lead, adding one run in the bottom half of the inning, but the lead was too big as the Chippewas held on to win the game and the series, 13-11.
The Bobcats return to action Tuesday night for the annual “Battle for the Bell” game against the Marshall Thundering Herd. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. at Bob Wren.