CHILLICOTHE - One by one the Bobcats walked slowly out of the dugout with looks of disappointment on their faces. Their season - and some of their careers - had just ended.
Ball State beat the Bobcats 13-10 yesterday at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe and eliminated Ohio from the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Just coming here wasn't enough for us
senior Jerod Yakubik said. We wanted to come in here and win it but it doesn't always happen that way.
Ball State (29-28, 20-9 MAC) struck early. Three consecutive RBI hits gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead in the second inning. It didn't take long for the Bobcats (20-35, 13-16 MAC) to answer, as they scored twice in the bottom half of the inning.
Both teams had solid defensive plays in the third inning. With two on and two outs, Stephen Claypool singled, but Robert Maddox III threw a runner out at home from left field.
Ball State returned the favor in the bottom half of the frame when Yakubik attempted to score from first on a double by Gauntlett Eldemire.
The throw got to home in plenty of time to throw out Yakubik, who threw his helmet to the ground in anger.
That play was kind of frustrating because it was the tying run Yakubik said. They had a perfect relay and a perfect throw. It's just one of those plays.
The Cardinals jumped to a 7-2 lead, but Ohio responded to cut it to 7-6. But the Cardinals scored in almost every inning and opened a 13-7 lead.
Ohio made a run in the ninth to cut it to 13-10, and Eldemire represented the tying run with two men on and two outs.
But Ball State turned to MAC Player of the Year Kolbrin Vitek out of relief, and he struck out Eldemire to end the game.
I didn't see a fastball
Eldemire said. The last pitch I shouldn't have swung at.
Ohio's pitching staff fell apart in the tournament, as the team allowed 26 runs in the two games. With the team's top two pitchers being used Wednesday, Carbone turned to Rex Ingham yesterday.
The senior struggled through 4 2/3 innings and allowed 10 hits and seven runs - five earned. In a show of frustration, Ingham slammed his glove on the top of the dugout as he walked off the mound for the last time in his college career.
We just didn't make quality pitches
coach Joe Carbone said. I thought we played hard. We were in the game and had a chance to tie the game in the last inning. That's all you can do.
The offense tallied 19 runs and 32 hits in the two contests, but the pitching staff could not keep the opponents off the scoreboard.
The careers of seniors Yakubik, Ingham, Kris McDonough and Bryce Butt came to an end with the loss. It may also mark the end for Maddox and Eldemire, who are expected to be high-round selections in next month's MLB Draft.
We're losing Gauntlett and Robert
Carbone said.
But Carbone said he is happy about the class of freshmen he has coming to Athens next year, and the returning players will all play summer ball in hopes of improving.
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Sports
Vince Nairn
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