Ohio took down rival Miami 13-10 at Bob Wren Stadium in the most exciting game of Ohio’s season. Going into the eighth, Ohio was down 10-3, but just like it has all season, Ohio found a way.
The game flipped upside down in the eighth inning when the Bobcats erupted for ten runs, including a Wes Lug grand slam that brought the Bobcats to their first lead of the game.
Lug is not a regular starter for the Bobcats and the sophomore had never hit a home run as a Bobcat.
“Well, my number got called today and I just wanted to contribute to the team,” Lug said. “I didn’t know it was going to be this big.”
Lug was the centerpiece of the Bobcats' eighth inning but when the ten runs in an inning, it’s a whole team effort.
The first three batters of the inning all tallied extra-base hits including an A.J. Rausch triple that scored Nick Dolan and seemed to inject fuel into the dormant offense. From there, the team just kept on hitting.
“We never quit and that’s a testament to our team and our offense,” Colin Kasperbauer said.
The Bobcats got themselves into a hole early on in the game after a rough start from Mid-American Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week Luke Olson.
Luke Olson (30) pitches against Miami on Friday, April 14, 2023 at Bob Wren Stadium | Photo by Ashley Beach
The right-hander struggled all night long. He pitched three innings and allowed a season-high six walks. Olson eventually found the zone despite struggling with command, but Miami went for seven hits and two home runs in his innings.
Not only did Olson struggle, but Miami’s starter, Connor Oliver, pitched one of his best games of the season.
Oliver went six innings without allowing an earned run and picked up seven strikeouts along the way. The lefty was fired up throughout his start and often strutting off the mound to end each of his well-pitched innings.
Zach Weber came into the game in the fourth to relieve Luke Olson and did a decent job slowing down Miami’s heavy offensive attack.
Weber inherited two runners upon his arrival into the game. On his second pitch, he was able to force a double-play followed by a strikeout of Miami’s next batter that escaped Ohio from letting up even more runs to start the game.
Weber would go on to pitch four good innings out of the bullpen where the righty allowed three runs.
Ohio’s offense began to pick up in the seventh when the Bobcats threatened with bases loaded. After a couple of walks from Miami’s new pitcher, Patrick Mastrian IV, both Kasperbauer and Cole Williams were able to pick up RBIs to chip away a little bit more at Miami’s then eight-run lead.
Then came the eighth. Where a spark began the flame of the Bobcats' dominant offense.
After the eighth, the Bobcats had too much momentum flowing in the crisp night air to lose.
Braxton Kelly, a solid closer for the Bobcats all year, came in and slammed the door just like he has on five other occasions this year. Kelly came in and set down all three of Miami’s batters by way of the strikeout before the bench burst from the dugout in celebration of completing a seven-run comeback.
“To get this win in the fashion that we did it, what more can you look for?” Kelly said. “It was the ultimate high in my opinion.”
