Sports
Ohio swept by Western Michigan after a 7-0 loss in game three
By: Ayden Crowley
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio (8-19, 4-11 MAC) could not find a big hit in its 7-0 shutout loss to Western Michigan (15-13, 8-4 MAC).
Ohio junior Blake Gaskey got the start for the Bobcats and battled throughout the outing. Gaskey found himself in multiple jams, but early on he was able to work out of them.
He held the Broncos scoreless for the first four innings of play, but head coach Craig Moore said he was making it difficult for himself.
“You wish you wouldn’t be in those situations,” Moore said. “It was a grind spot for him to get through their lineup.”
All the traffic on the basepaths eventually caught up to Gaskey. In the top of the fifth inning, he left a fastball elevated in the zone and designated hitter C.J. Richmond took advantage. He blasted one over the right field wall to give Western Michigan a 2-0 lead.
The Broncos added one more run in the frame to pull ahead, 3-0.
Meanwhile, the Bobcats could not get their bats going.
Ohio got its first hit in the bottom of the fourth inning, and it was just one of four the entire day.
The Bobcats best chance to get on the scoreboard came in the bottom of the seventh when they loaded the bases. With two outs in the frame, Jackson Cauthron flew out to left field, and they were held scoreless.
Western Michigan added four more insurance runs throughout the day to earn the 7-0 victory and the series sweep.
Moore says the team is battling through a mental funk.
“We have to stick together while we are going through this funk,” he said. “That’s what we are going to do. We are going to work with our guys so we can have a better second half of conference play.”
Ohio’s next chance to stop its seven game losing streak is April 9 against Northern Kentucky.