There may not be an airport in Athens, but Gauntlett Eldemire and Robert Maddox III turned Bob Wren Stadium into their personal launching pad this weekend.
The junior outfielders combined for seven home runs in the series, and each had a three-homer game as the Bobcats swept Buffalo (20-26, 6-15 Mid-American Conference) at home this weekend.
Eldemire hammered the second pitch he saw Saturday over the right center field fence. He added solo shots in the third and sixth innings.
In his final at bat of the game, Eldemire almost hit another home run, but the ball hit the base of the center field wall for a double.
Everybody wanted me to hit four home runs, but I wasn't trying, Eldemire said with a laugh. The first one was helped by the wind - I got lucky with that, and I just felt comfortable after that.
The Bobcats (17-30
10-11 MAC) scored in almost every inning and won 17-5.
After popping up in his first at bat of the series Friday Eldemire reached base in his next 15 plate appearances. He raised his batting average from .379 to .424.
Maddox struggled at the plate and in the field for much of the first two games. But he came alive yesterday with blasts in the fourth fifth and eighth innings. He finished with seven RBIs in the game
and the Bobcats won 12-5.
We joke about it, but we don't try to come out here and hit home runs, Maddox said. We just put good swings on the ball, and it just goes out.
It just happens that Gauntlett and I keep going back-to-back.
Jason Moulton set the tone on the mound Friday. The junior right-hander shut down the Bulls as he allowed just one run in eight innings and struck out nine in Ohio's 5-1 victory.
Seth Streich did his best to match the effort as he fought through 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs Saturday to get the win.
When we score a lot of runs
our pitchers are more into the game; they're more confident
they trust us more
Maddox said. It also helps us out on defense a lot when our offense is rolling.
The Bobcats' 11 home runs on the weekend matched the total number of runs Buffalo scored in the three games.
We're just happy to win three games
said coach Joe Carbone. We don't care how we do it.
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