The Bobcats capped a five-game homestand sweep last night, but it required more brains than the brawn they relied on last weekend.
Ohio (8-22, 4-5 Mid-American Conference) used six pitchers to stymie Duquesne (7-25) en route to a 4-2 victory.
The Bobcats' modest offensive performance contrasted with their previous four wins in which they scored 66 runs.
Sometimes you get into a slugfest
sometimes you get into a pitchers' duel said coach Joe Carbone. It was a little bit more of a defensive pitchers game (last night).
Carbone called to the bullpen a total of five times in the previous four wins. Last night, he equaled that number in six innings.
I thought (the pitchers) all did a very credible job he said.
The Bobcats got their bats going in the bottom of the first. Designated hitter Seth Streich reached base on a bloop single and then stole second. Left fielder Robert Maddox III laced a single up the middle to bring Streich home.
Duquesne pulled even in the third. Pitcher Brent Choban walked Jackson Boyd and Matt Carson, and Andrew Heck singled to load the bases. Choban overshot third baseman Bryan Barnes on a pickoff attempt, allowing Boyd to score.
Ohio regained the lead in the fourth. Barnes scored on Kris McDonough's RBI groundout to third. Barnes reached base on a fielding error, advanced to second on Adam Gecewich's single and then to third on a passed ball.
Barnes chipped in again in the fifth to extend the lead to 3-1. The third baseman singled up the middle to score Jerod Yakubik from second.
But the Dukes put up a run of their own in the sixth. Reliever Brock Trimbur walked designated hitter Mark Tracy, who scored on catcher Anthony DeFabio's RBI double.
The Bobcats restored their lead to two runs in their half of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Yabukik grounded out to second to score McDonough.
The Bobcat pitchers held the Dukes to five hits and one earned run. The defense committed three errors but also stranded seven Duquesne base runners.
Streich and Gecewich picked up the slack in Gauntlett Eldemire's absence. Streich filled Eldemire's spot in the batting order and went 2-3 with a run. He has gone 5-11 with a home run and four RBIs since first hitting third in the lineup Saturday against Western Michigan.
Gecewich played center field for the third straight game in place of the injured Eldemire.
I think Gecewich did a great job in center field
Carbone said. Streich got a couple base hits
scored a run. They pick up the slack a little bit.
Gecewich, who was last week's MAC East co-player of the week, has recorded 10 outs since taking over in center. He made five put outs against Duquesne.
It's a lot of fun to actually have that responsibility
he said.
We miss (Eldemire) in the lineup
miss him on the field
but it's been a lot of fun
and I'm just going to enjoy it all.
Gecewich is a natural centerfielder, and Streich has experience hitting in the core of the lineup, making the transitions smooth.
I think the biggest thing for me is staying relaxed and playing how I know how to play
Streich said.
