Ohio’s seniors were given the opportunity to put on a square cap, turn their tassels and become college graduates on Sunday.
After missing the formal ceremony at the Convo the previous weekend with the team playing against Buffalo on the road, the graduating players were given the chance to walk across the diamond and shake the hand of OU President Roderick McDavis.
As far as the game was concerned, Ohio was seeking its first series victory of the season after splitting a doubleheader with Bowling Green on Saturday.
But that series victory would have to wait, as the Bobcats (13-37, 7-16 Mid-American Conference) were dominated by the Falcons, (18-26, 12-12 MAC) falling 16-2.
“Going into the season we knew we were going to have severe pitching deficiencies,” coach Rob Smith said. “And today was another example of going out there shorthanded and asking certain guys maybe to do more than what they’re prepared or capable of doing at this juncture of their careers.”
A duo of seniors got the scoring started in the second for Ohio, as catcher J.R. Reynolds, making his first start of the weekend, hit a two-out single up the middle to score second baseman Ben Otto, who reached base earlier in the inning on a walk.
But that was the only lead of the day for the Bobcats, as the Falcons answered in a big way in the third inning.
With one out in the inning, starter Sean Kennedy put Bowling Green center fielder Matt Smith on first after hitting his ankle. Kennedy then proceeded to attempt a pick off of Smith, but failed on a bang-bang play. The junior pitcher had a few words with the first base umpire as he disagreed with the call, and things unraveled from there.
Kennedy walked in the Falcon’s first run and then allowed a bases clearing double to T.J. Losby which blew the game open. He finished the day with 3.2 innings pitched, allowing five earned runs on three hits and four walks.
“Sean just lost the strike zone,” Smith said. “It’s just unfortunate that he hit the wall. He had the start earlier in the week (against Dayton) and his workload has increased the last couple of weeks out and I just think he hit the wall at 65 or so pitches.”
The hits kept on coming for Bowling Green later in the game as the Falcons scored eleven runs from the sixth inning on.
Ohio’s final attempt to win a series will be next weekend on the road against Miami in the final series of the season for the Bobcats.
ch203310@ohiou.edu
