The chilly temperature outside couldn't cool the Bobcats' bats early in yesterday's game against Cleveland State.
Ohio used its hot hitting to build a 4-0 lead in the first inning, and this early surge proved to be the difference as the Bobcats defeated the Vikings 9-5 in Bob Wren Stadium.
Third baseman Brandon Besl helped power this Ohio offense in the first with an RBI double, saying the fast start was crucial to the win.
It was big to get four runs in that first inning
he said. It is very important to start off well especially since we started to slow down in the middle of the game.
In his first start of the season, Ohio pitcher Kevin Mementowski pitched five shutout innings, allowing only three hits. Although the right-hander recorded only two strikeouts, he forced 10 Vikings groundouts.
I'm glad I threw the ball well but the big thing is that we got a win as a team he said. As soon as they came back we held them off. We had struggled to do this early in the year so it's a good turning point.
Following the first-inning offensive flood, the Bobcats added two runs in the third to push their lead to 6-0. Centerfielder Willie Walker ignited Ohio with an RBI double and led the team with two hits on the game.
Ohio ran into trouble in the sixth as the Vikings scored four runs off Ohio lefthander Chris Rigo. All four runs were unearned in the inning, a throwing error with two outs from Ohio catcher Kris McDonough keeping things alive for Cleveland State.
The Bobcats' fielding troubles continued in the seventh, and the Vikings cut the deficit to one run following first baseman Marc Krauss' fielding error.
All five Cleveland State runs scored were unearned, a sign that the Bobcats must improve their fielding, Ohio coach Joe Carbone said.
We were terrible defensively
he said. We've got to get a lot better
and that's all mental.
Second baseman Bryan Witt extended the Bobcats' advantage to three with an RBI single in the seventh, joining Besl in improving his hitting streak to six games in the victory.
Shortstop Hayden Johnston scored the 'Cats' final run on a wild pitch in the eighth.
With two runners on base and two outs, Carbone replaced pitcher Adam Goodpasture with Andrew Shisila, who then struck out Vikings shortstop Bobby Cash to notch his second save of the season.
With the victory, the Bobcats (4-5) stretched their winning streak to four games, and will put it on the line today against West Virginia State at 4 p.m. Pitcher Matt Schlarb (1-0, 4.82 ERA) is expected to make the start for the Bobcats.
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Steve Gartner
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Ohio University freshman Kris McDonough takes a swing during the Bobcat's 9-5 win over Cleveland State yesterday.
