The Ohio baseball team evened its season record with a 3-0 win against West Virginia State as four Bobcat pitchers combined for the team's second shutout on the season.
Starter Luke Howard gave up five hits and struck out two West Virginia State batters in four innings of work.
The right-hander said that getting good defense behind him was key to him pitching well.
If the defense plays good
then I'm going to pitch good he said. I'm not a big strikeout guy so I like it when the defense plays good behind me.
Left fielder Ryan Planck, who started in just his third game on the season, said he felt good at the plate as he went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
I've been trying to work to get back into the lineup
and it felt good to finally be able to contribute to the team
he said. We've put together a few wins now
so it's nice to be able to contribute to that.
Ohio coach Joe Carbone said he wanted to get Planck in the lineup tonight.
He's been looking good in batting practice and looking much better in the outfield
he said. I thought he did a good job.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when Ohio (13-13 overall, 4-3 Mid-American Conference) put two runs on the board.
Plank led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He then went to third on a single by Dusty Hammond. Planck scored Ohio's first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center field off the bat of Phil Sabatini. Hammond crossed the plate for Ohio's second run on a fielding error by the West Virginia State shortstop.
Bryant Witt got on base after being hit by a pitch to start off the fourth inning. He advanced to second on a groundout by Willie Walker and then scored on a single through the left side by Hammond.
Yale Silverman relieved Howard and pitched four scoreless innings, but West Virginia State threatened in their final at-bat.
Daniel Utts entered in the top of the ninth, and after giving up two base hits, Carbone brought in right-hander Dan O'Rourke to close out the game. After loading the bases, he struck out the final two batters to give Ohio its 10th win in 11 games.
The Bobcats continue their homestand this weekend when they welcome conference foe Marshall to Bob Wren Stadium. The three-game series begins Friday at 7 p.m.
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Julie Goldberg
