After a seven-game losing streak during spring break, Ohio defeated Miami on a walk-off home run by outfielder Brian White. White's homer gave Ohio a 6-5 win in 10 innings.
I was looking for a fastball; he got a little behind. I was sitting on a fastball hoping he would give me something to hit. White said.
Ohio coach Joe Carbone said of the win, Hopefully this gives us impetus to get on a winning streak. Winning streaks are more important than losing streaks.
Carbone continued to talk about how Ohio (4-12 overall, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) managed to come back against Miami (11-10, 2-1) who was picked to win the division, We could have folded the tent ... Hats off to my kids.
Ohio began its rally in the bottom of the seventh. Down 4-2, Ohio loaded the bases and managed to take the lead 5-4 on RBI singles from Willie Walker and Anthony Gressick.
Miami tied it up in the following inning. That would finish the scoring for a while, sending the game into extras, leading to White's eventual walk-off bomb to left.
The win helped Ohio to avoid a sweep by Miami, as Ohio opened MAC play.
Looking to rebound after five straight losses, Ohio returned to Athens and Bob Wren Stadium to open MAC play against Miami this past weekend.
Ohio began the series last Friday by dropping the first game in a 7-4 loss. Although Ohio lost, the team fought until the very end. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Ohio managed to score three runs. Five straight batters reached base in Ohio's last inning efforts, led by a home run courtesy of White.
The next day Ohio continued its surge by posting an early 2-0 lead led by RBI singles from White and catcher Ben Crabtree. However, Ohio surrendered the lead in the third when starter Rob Harmon gave up a three-run home run. By the end of the sixth inning Ohio was down 6-2.
Ohio put two more on the board in the seventh and one in the eighth, but it was not enough as Harmon suffered his second-straight loss (2-2) by a final score of 6-5.
Before last weekend's series with Miami, Ohio endured a rather soggy spring break, playing some tough competition. Ohio began its break by canceling its opening series at home with LeMoyne (March 11-13). Therefore, Ohio kicked off its home opener with No. 23 Michigan (March 19-20).
Ohio came up on the wrong end of a 5-0 shutout loss in its home opener to Michigan. The following day proved to be equally as difficult as Ohio dropped two more in a doubleheader, losing 10-4 and 8-2.
Michigan's strong pitching corps led them to become the first team to sweep Ohio in its home-opening series since Cincinnati did so in 1987.
Next, Ohio traveled to take on James Madison (March 22-23) for a two-game set. However, once again the weather was not in favor for Ohio. The Bobcats took a tough loss to James Madison, losing 8-7 in 12 innings, before the following day's game was cancelled because of rain.
Ohio looks to continue its momentum when the team hosts Cleveland State. The game is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bob Wren Stadium.
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Nick Brockman
