The Ohio Bobcat baseball team stole two of three from Mid-American Conference West Division leader Ball State behind solid pitching performances and timely offensive outbursts.
This weekend was incredible for us
Ohio reliever Dan Weiss said. Everyone played real solid.
Ohio starting pitcher Derek Witt turned in a solid performance in the series opener, tossing 6 2/3 innings, allowing only three earned runs and one walk.
However, lightning suspended play, and the game resumed before Saturday's contest. Once resumed, the Bobcats' previous 3-2 lead was not enough to hold the Cardinals as Ball State rallied to win the suspended game, 4-3.
Pitcher John Angelicchi (1-4) also turned in a great start to help the Bobcats (10-14, 4-5 MAC) claim a 4-3 victory Saturday over the Cardinals (16-14, 6-3 MAC). Angelicchi tossed 6 2/3 innings, striking out five and allowing two runs.
I thought (Angelicchi) pitched well Carbone said. He's always had confidence in his ability. He just went out there and pitched.
Continuing in his place, relievers Adam Goodpasture and Chris Rigo came in to shut the door on Ball State and secure the win. Rigo picked up his fourth save of the season.
Offensively, Ohio plated all four runs in the sixth inning. Down 2-0, the Bobcats sent nine batters to bat. Anthony Gressick and Willie Walker each had RBI singles, while Hayden Johnston and Jared Willis also pushed in a couple with a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly.
Ohio's offense continued to produce in the series finale including a five-run outburst in the fifth inning en route to a 9-6 victory.
We put a couple of big innings together Carbone said. Everybody did a good job up at the plate.
Trailing 2-0 in the third, Ball State retaliated with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Ball State and Ohio traded the lead back and forth between the third and fifth innings. Catcher Chris Klimko's two-out, two-run double capped Ohio's fifth-inning rally and, after their at-bat in the fifth, the Bobcats never trailed again.
If the offense is hitting
then the pitchers feel less pressure to make as many good pitches so they're just out there throwing the ball
Klimko said. It helps the pitchers a ton.
Following starter Kurt Smith's departure, Weiss tossed the final five innings of no-hit ball while striking out four and walking just one to complete the Bobcat victory.
He was the guy of the weekend
Carbone said.
Ohio returns home for a 6 p.m. game Tuesday against West Virginia.
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