Ohio freshman second baseman Nate Squires’s hat blew in shallow right field, adding comic relief to an otherwise dismal game for the Bobcats.
Youngstown State, (5-17) on the strength of an 11-run third inning, defeated the Bobcats 20-15 on Tuesday evening at Bob Wren Stadium.
“You can’t make some of the mistakes we did and win a Division I baseball game,” coach Rob Smith said. “If we don’t play better defense than that, we are going to continue playing the way we have.”
The Bobcats (3-16) finished with five errors in the game.
Ohio gained the early 6-2 lead after the second inning with four runs batted in from sophomore catcher Cody Gaertner. Then things came unhinged.
The Penguins almost around batted twice in the third inning as outfielders Nick Dinello and Kris Moules along with infielders Marcus Heath and Neil Schroth all recorded two RBIs in the inning.
Ohio had surrendered 20 runs after the top of the sixth — the most it has allowed in any game this season, and the game wasn’t over. Consequently, it was also the highest run output Ohio had all season as well.
Sophomore pitcher Nick Plys (0-1), who was saddled with his first loss of the season, and Ryan Ferrell surrendered 14 runs in three innings.
Brad Przebieda came on in relief and did not fare much better, acquiescing four runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Logan Cozart and Brett Barber rounded out the pitching corps. Barber worked two innings, held the Penguins scoreless and struck out three.
Gaertner had his four RBIs but he also scored five runs. Sophomore Tyler Wells drove in four runs to help the Bobcat attack.
“I was very pleased with his approach at the plate tonight,” Smith said. “He exemplifies the way I wish all of our players played and if we can continue to develop the players in our program to play with that kind of intensity and as we continue to recruit to find more players, he is a good model to follow.”
Despite the offensive production, Smith was succinct in his displeasure of the game.
“I was very pleased with how we hit, but as we progress this program, hitting is not going to win us games, “ Smith said. “You have to be able to make the routine plays. We did a poor job of that tonight.”
nr225008@ohiou.edu
