Sports
Baseball: Ohio Falls At Bowling Green Amid Controversy
By: Todd Ward
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Ohio is officially appealing the decision to allow a run in the bottom of the sixth inning by Bowling Green that turned out to be the difference in the game.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth and a 3-0 lead, the Falcons hit three straight singles to load the bases for Brandon Howard. Howard hit a fly ball to right that would have easily scored Andrew Kubuski from third on a sacrifice fly. Instead, Bryan Bien left second base too early tagging up and was called out on appeal by Ohio to end the inning.
After discussion, it was ruled the run by Kubuski would not count, and it would still be a 3-0 game. Ohio rallied in the top of the seventh behind this momentum and scored after a one-out double by Ian Mezlak, followed by an RBI single by Ethan Newton and a two-run single by Jensen Painter to tie the game at three. But the Bobcats missed an opportunity to take the lead, leaving the bases loaded to end the inning.
After the top of the seventh, the umpires had a lengthy discussion with Ohio coach Joe Carbone before deciding to add the run back onto the score to make it 4-3 Bowling Green.
Ohio left 11 baserunners stranded in the game, including two in the ninth inning. The Bobcats had 12 hits total on the day.
Bowling Green scored in the first inning on an RBI single by Kubuski. They followed that up with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning and then a delayed steal of home by Bien also in the fifth. BG also totaled twelve hits on the day.
Ohio starting pitcher Brent Choban went all eight innings despite allowing four earned runs, 12 hits, walking three and striking out eight to get the loss.
Bowling Green’s starting pitcher Matt Malewitz went 6.1 innings, allowing three earned runs, nine hits and no walks, and struck out five to get the win. Closer Nick Bruns came on with two on and two outs in the ninth to get the save for the Falcons.
Ohio manager Joe Carbone said after the game if the Bobcats win the appeal, the game will be re-played starting at the top of the seventh tied at three, and if they lose the appeal they lose the game.