Sports
Ohio Baseball: Rock Hurls No-Hitter as Bobcats split Doubleheader
By: Jensen Knecht
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – For the first time in two years, the Bobcats were able to play at Bob Wren Stadium due to the COVID outbreak in March of 2020. In this home opener, the Bobcats faced Morehead State University in a doubleheader.
The Bobcats went into the first game with excitement and to perform well on their home turf. The Bobcats were perfect on defense in the first game with no errors through all 7 innings, They managed to hold off the Eagles from scoring any hits the entire game.
Not only were Ohio’s zero errors a reason why the Eagles didn’t score, but pitcher Joe Rock had a lot to do with it as well. This was a special game for Rock with it being his first no-hitter in his collegiate career.
“[Rock’s] one of the top left-handed pitchers in the country for a reason,” Ohio interim head coach Craig Moore said. “He’s our horse. I expect Joe to give us that opportunity every Friday night going forward into the spring.”
“I really didn’t want to think about it and jinx myself,” Rock said. “Going out there in the last inning and seeing groundball after groundball was a good feeling.”
According to MLB Pipeline, Rock is the No. 56 overall MLB Draft prospect. Rock only walked two batters while striking out six in his seven innings of work.
“The fastball and slider were working good,” Rock said. “I didn’t show the changeup. Just didn’t feel like I needed to.”
The offensive side of things went just as well for the Bobcats in this first game. They managed to score a total of 6 runs. An aspect in this was the Eagle’s errors. This really benefited the Bobcats in being able to maintain a strong lead throughout the entire game.
The Bobcats finished with a double play to secure the no-hitter. Ohio took game one, 6-0.
Going into the second game after a 45-minute intermission, the Bobcats held their heads high after having such a large victory over the Eagles.
The second game was not as successful for the Bobcats compared to the first one. Both teams struggled to put runs on the scoreboard throughout the game. Both the Bobcats and eagles scored one run in the 4th inning, but after that, both teams had a difficult time gaining a lead over the other.
Both teams remained tied throughout the game, which required extra innings. In the 11th inning the Eagles were able to score 2 runs, with the Bobcats still struggling to rack up any runs. The Bobcats lost to the Eagles with a score of 3-1.
Despite the loss, Ohio had solid pitching performances out of its pitchers. Colin Sells got the start and while he only lasted four innings, he only surrendered one run on four hits.
Edward Kutt IV relieved Sells in the fifth and inherited a jam. With runners on second and third, Kutt picked off the runner on second to keep the game tied.
“Eddie Kutt did what he does best and that’s to come in and hold the game for us,” Moore said.
Kutt pitched three innings, surrendering just a walk while striking out five.
The Bobcats will face the Eagles in another doubleheader on Sunday the 28th at 1 and 4 p.m at Morehead State University.