Ohio (7-29 overall, 4-14 Mid-American Conference) tallied a second consecutive loss, with its recent game being on the road facing Northern Kentucky University (16-19 overall, 6-6 Horizon League) with a final score of 11-8.
The Bobcats recorded 8 runs on 6 hits with 1 error. On the other hand, the Norse had 11 runs on 11 hits while having 2 errors.
Fifth-year infielder Will Henson was the most productive for Ohio, having 2 runs, 3 hits, 4 RBI’s and 1 home run.
Joining Henson in productivity was junior outfielder Taylor Harris with 2 runs and a hit, senior outfielder Cam Hill with 2 runs, 1 hit, 2 RBI’s and a home run of his own. Graduate student infielder Colton Shirley and redshirt freshman infielder Grant Wilson each had a run of their own, as well.
Starting on the mound for the Bobcats was freshman left-handed pitcher Evan Lichtenauer, and he was by far the best coming out of the bullpen for Ohio. He only allowed 2 runs on 5 hits.
Later in the game, senior left-handed pitcher Dillon Masters and junior right-handed pitcher Hunter Brooks both combined for two scoreless innings from Northern Kentucky.
In terms of the Norse, junior catcher Landon Springmeyer had a monster game with 1 home run, 2 hits and 4 RBI’s. Accompanying Springmeyer were teammates senior infielder Pierce Bauerle, who had 2 runs, 2 hits and 5 RBI’s, and redshirt junior catcher Jake Paulick with 2 runs, 2 hits and 1 RBI.
After three innings of play, Northern Kentucky had a commanding 7-1 lead and had a chance to close out Ohio in seven innings instead of nine. However, Ohio had an explosive fifth inning with Henson scoring a grand slam to bring his team within two.
The Norse responded to this well and went on to score an additional 3 runs to make it 10-5. In the top of the sixth inning, Hill’s home run brought the Bobcats within two yet again, making it 10-7.
But the offense simply wouldn’t continue its hot streak for Ohio for the remainder of the game, except for Harris to score on a sac-fly thanks to Henson. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Norse scored their final run of the game to make it 11-8 in their favor.
This game is the Bobcats' fifth loss against the Norse in every matchup between these two teams. Last season, Ohio fell 13-3 at Bob Wren Stadium.
The closest Ohio came to defeating Northern Kentucky was in their first match back in 2016. At home, the Bobcats were just one run short of winning, but eventually lost 7-6.
Still on the road, Ohio’s next stop is in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, where the Bobcats will be going up against conference opponent the Central Michigan Chippewas. The series will be three games, with the first scheduled to be played this upcoming Friday, with the first pitch thrown at 3 p.m.
