The rain held off, and Joe Carbone got another chance to get his players out on the field yesterday at Cincinnati.
The results were so-so.
Ohio split its double-header against the Bearcats. They took the first game easily, 7-1, but dropped the day's finale, 12-8 at Marge Schott Stadium.
We played well in the first game and the first four innings of the second game
Carbone said. After that we couldn't get anybody out.
It was the second-consecutive double bill the Bobcats have played in the last week.
They swept Otterbein at Bob Wren Stadium last Wednesday - the first time they've played during the week since the beginning of April due to 11 rainouts.
Yesterday's pair of seven-inning games showed the polar opposites of Ohio's pitching staff.
They let a lead slip away in the
second game.
Ohio led, 5-3, entering the bottom of the fifth inning. Michael Dillon, Zach Fairbanks and Ryan Burgett combined to allow nine runs in the decisive inning. Chris Peters, Beach Brooks and T.J. Jones knocked in four runs on base hits to put the Bearcats ahead for good.
The Bobcats put up three runs in the top of the seventh inning, but couldn't bring around enough runners to overcome the deficit.
The first game, though, showed the hurlers at their best.
Zach Elmer started the opening match, going a strong 4 2/3 innings with one run allowed on four hits. Matt Schlarb held the lead with 2 1/3 innings out of the bullpen, giving up just one hit.
Elmer snatched his second win in nine starts, giving up the fewest runs he has all season. Schlarb showed signs of coming around after piling up a 21.00 ERA in his first six appearances.
Elmer has been sick the last few weeks, and a cut on Schlarb's throwing hand had been bothering him.
We hope they're back to where they were Carbone said. Hopefully
this is good news.
The Bobcats (23-20, 13-8 Mid-American Conference) picked up four runs in the sixth inning to extend their 3-1 lead and give Schlarb room to breathe in the final two innings.
They looked to forget a three-game sweep over the weekend at Bowling Green, improving to 3-1 in their last four midweek games.
Ohio has dropped five of its last six MAC games and has fallen to a tie for third in the MAC East Division after holding first place two weekends ago.
I thought we were swinging the bats pretty well today
Carbone said. We still came back.
Ohio faces Dayton today at Bob Wren Stadium with the first pitch set for 6 p.m.
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Sports
Dylan Scott
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