Sports

 

The series win was the fourth straight MAC series victory for Ohio, the last time the Bobcats won four straight league series was in 2009. 

 

Ohio head coach Joe Carbone is impressed with his team’s MAC series streak. “For as many freshmen as we’re playing, it’s a pretty good accomplishment, it’s a pretty good accomplishment for any team. Right now we are on a little bit of a roll, we just got to keep plugging away,” said Carbone. 

 

Seth Streich went all nine innings for Ohio, allowing only four hits, one earned run and recording 10 strikeouts. 

 

The start was only Streich’s fourth start since March 17, he is coming off of a hamstring injury and has recently been nursing a left oblique strain. 

 

While Streich looked very good on Sunday, he still says that he does not feel back to 100 percent yet. “I don’t think I’m quite there yet, but today is definitely something to build on,” said Streich. 

 

Streich went on to say, “This year’s performance against Buffalo is really reminiscent of last year in Buffalo when I threw quite a few pitches. Today was just something to build on coming off of a hamstring injury and now my oblique is hurting me, but it was a good performance for me today.”

 

Jensen Painter roped one to center field for a triple in the bottom of the first to get Ohio’s bats going. In the next at bat, Jake Madsen brought in Painter on an RBI single. Ohio led 1-0 after the first inning. 

 

In the second, Doug Holmes advanced Ian Mezlak to second base on a single to start a run-filled inning for Ohio. Newton batted in Mezlak to start the scoring and then Doug Holmes scored on a past ball. 

 

Tyler Wells got hit by a pitch to load the bases for Jensen Painter, but Painter proceeded to strike out. Jake Madsen then flew out in the next at bat. 

 

Buffalo’s Mike Burke walked Dan Schmidt with the bases loaded to score another run for the Bobcats to give Ohio a 4-0 lead after two innings. Ohio stranded three runners in the inning, but still did some damage as it scored three runs. 

 

After three innings on the mound for Ohio, Streich had pitched 29 strikes on 39 pitches, allowing zero runs and only one hit.

 

The always reliable Ethan Newton opened the fourth inning for Ohio with a single, but nothing would come out of the inning.

 

Streich was dealing on the day, and he chose a great game to pitch well as many scouts were at Bob Wren Stadium watching his performance. 

 

Ohio’s scoring subdued as the game went on, the Bobcats failed to score a run after the second inning.

 

Ohio has failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position at multiple different points this season. “We are off and on with cashing in on scoring opportunities. We let some opportunities get away, but thanks to Seth, he kept guys at bay,” Carbone said.

 

Buffalo loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh, and John Mestas had an RBI single to score a run for Buffalo. 

 

But, Streich dealt his way out of the jam by striking out two Buffalo batters in a row. Buffalo left three runners stranded in the inning. 

 

After seven innings on the mound, Streich had nine strike outs and allowed only one run. 

 

Ohio and Buffalo were both scoreless in the eighth inning. Streich took the mound in the ninth, looking for a complete game victory, and got it, securing the 4-1 win for Ohio.

 

Ohio (22-17, 11-4 MAC) faces off against Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday in Richmond, KY.