Ohio evens the series with Western Michigan after a comeback victory over the Broncos.
A 5-run deficit wasn’t enough to keep the hot bats of Ohio down.
After being down 5-0 in the third inning, the Bobcats tied the game in the 7th inning and took the lead in the 8th inning, as they defeated Western Michigan, 7-5.
Western Michigan’s Hunter Prince drove in the first runs of the game, hitting a single to left field that scored Nick Vogelmeier and Kurt Hoekstra. Prince then scored after Ohio left fielder Tyler Wells had trouble fielding a double by Brett Sunde.
The Broncos struck again in the third inning, pushing across two runs as Sunde hit an RBI single that scored Kurt Hoekstra and Jared Kujawa. Ohio turned a double play to end the inning.
Ohio starting pitcher Tom Coletti was replaced by Jake Rudnicki after Coletti went three innings, allowed five hits, and five runs.
The Bobcats got their first run across the plate in the bottom of the fourth as Tyler Wells hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Mitch Longo. They scored once again in the bottom of the fifth, as Manny DeJesus drove in Kyle Dean on an RBI groundout, making the score 5-2.
Western Michigan threatened to break the game open in the top of the sixth inning with one out, as they loaded the bases, but Rudnicki struck out Vogelmeier and forced Hoekstra to popout.
Ohio tied the ballgame up in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs. Longo singled home Tyler Finkler and then Kyle Madsen doubled home Garrett Black. Mitch Longo, who reached by a single, scored after a wild pitch, tying the game at five.
Relief pitcher Logan Cozart came in the next inning and retired the Broncos in order.
Ohio took the lead in the bottom of the eighth with the help of a throwing error from Western Michigan shortstop Kurt Hoekstra, whose throw, which bounced to the first baseman, allowed pinch runners David Hamlett and Nate Squires to score. The Bobcats led 7-5.
Cozart retired the side in order to seal the victory for the Bobcats.
Ohio, now 14-10, will face Western Michigan, now 9-13, in the rubber match of a three-game set tomorrow at 1:00 pm at Bob Wren Stadium.
