Central Michigan posted a fourth-inning snowman as the Bobcats’ chances melted away.
The Chippewas used an eight-run fourth inning to send Ohio to a 13-9 loss in the first-round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The Bobcats (20-34) overcame an early four-run deficit but ultimately succumbed to Central Michigan’s timely hitting and effective relief pitching.
The Chippewas (34-20) kept it simple with five singles to pull away in the first inning. The teams traded runs in the second before the Bobcats climbed back to a tie in their half of the third. Center fielder Gauntlett Eldemire scored on first baseman Tyler Backstrom’s RBI groundout to cut the lead to 5-2. Then with runners on first and second, designated hitter Seth Streich crushed a three-run homer to right field to tie the game.
After retiring the Chippewas in order in the third, the Bobcats took a 6-5 lead.
But Central Michigan torched the Bobcats for eight runs — all with two outs — in the bottom of the fourth. The Chippewas sent 13 men to the plate in the inning but managed only four hits. They benefitted from four walks, a hit batsman and a costly two-out fielding error by Backstrom.
Bobcat starter Jason Moulton threw 118 pitches in just 3 2/3 innings.
“In the fourth inning we couldn’t make a pitch or make a play to get ourselves out of that eight-run debacle,” coach Joe Carbone said.
Ohio’s two most reliable hitters tried to put the Bobcats back into contention. Eldemire got on base with his second infield hit of the game, and left fielder Robert Maddox III put a first-pitch fastball over the right field wall to cut the Chippewas’ lead to five.
Central Michigan relievers Dietrich Enns and Mike Nixon kept the Bobcats from posting another big inning. The duo allowed three runs and struck out seven in five innings of relief.
The Bobcats head to the losers’ bracket and face No. 4 Ball State this afternoon. The Cardinals dropped a 6-4 decision to Bowling Green yesterday. Ohio lost two of three against Ball State in the opening weekend of MAC play.
Rex Ingham will start on the mound for Ohio.
“We’re just going to take it simple,” Maddox said. “Tomorrow, we’re going to be more focused. We’ll come back out and take advantage of the opportunities we get.”
ms229908@ohiou.edu
