Despite being on the longest home stand of the season, the Ohio baseball team failed to capitalize over break, losing five-of-eight contests - two-of-three to Northern Illinois this past weekend to open the Bobcats' Mid-American Conference schedule.
LeMoyne arrived first to deal Ohio an 11-3 loss as the Bobcats opened their spring break schedule.
Next up, the Michigan State Spartans visited Bob Wren Stadium to split a four-game series with Ohio. The 'Cats opened the series with a 9-5 victory, but the Spartans took the next two games by scores of 4-1 and 7-6. The Bobcats ended the series on a positive note with a 7-5 win.
Despite Ohio's early season ups and downs Ohio head coach Joe Carbone emphasized the need to focus on each game.
We just take it one game at a time
Carbone said. We're just going to go out there and practice practice practice and just keep trying to get better.
Ohio (6-9, 1-2 MAC) continued its home stand by opening MAC play with Northern Illinois (7-13, 2-1). The Bobcats started conference play by winning the first half of a double-dip with the Huskies, 8-6.
Down 12-2 in the second game, the Bobcats stormed back but were unable to overcome the deficit, eventually losing, 14-10.
It was a long
tough weekend
Carbone said. We just got to get out there and work harder and get better at things that we need to do.
Ohio's problems with the Huskies continued in the series finale as Northern Illinois went ahead early, plating single runs in each of its first two at-bats to take an early 2-0 advantage.
However Ohio's bats awoke in the bottom of the third frame, erupting for four runs on three hits.
Anthony Gressick drove in the first run on a gapping double to right-center, sending Dusty Hammond in to score from first. Jon Vondrell and Willie Walker followed with walks to load the bases for Ohio.
After a Kirk Payne strikeout, a passed ball eluded the Husky catcher to allow Gressick to tie the game at 2-2. Hayden Johnston then followed with the big blow of the inning, delivering a two-out, two-run single to left for a 4-2 Ohio lead.
The Bobcats tacked on two more runs during the next two innings, but the Huskies erased Ohio's lead with five runs during the fifth and sixth innings, pushing them ahead 7-6.
Bobcat pitcher Kurt Smith entered during the seventh inning, making his first collegiate appearance.
It's not much different
Smith said. It's the same game no matter where you are. I had a lot of fun out there. I just can't wait for the next game to get out there again.
Smith allowed three runs over three innings as Northern Illinois collected insurance runs in the final two frames to solidify the comeback.
Kurt Smith is going to be a good pitcher
Carbone said. It was his first time out. He had some breaking balls that he got up
but that's normal for young pitchers ... but he'll be alright.
Ohio manufactured another run in the bottom of the ninth, but still fell by a final of 10-7.
We just got to continue to work on things and try to improve
Carbone said.
Ohio continues its longest home stand of the season when the Bobcats play host to Youngstown State 6 p.m. Wednesday.
- Nick Brockman
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