This late in the season, it's important for key players not to get shaken up by a rough performance here and there.
And Friday night against Eastern Michigan, junior Jake Miller made it clear that an early exit against Toledo would not signify what the rest of his season would look like.
The Bobcats' ace pitched six shutout innings, allowing six hits and striking out three while walking two, leading Ohio to a 5-0 win over Eastern Michigan in Friday's series opener in Ypsilanti. Logan Cozart came in after a nearly three-hour rain delay and pitched the final three innings of the Ohio win, earning his record-breaking tenth save of the season.
Sophomore Mitch Longo set the tone early as he grooved a pitch from Eastern Michigan starter Charlie Land over the right field fence to push Ohio ahead 2-0 in the first inning. An inning later, sophomore Ty Black scored on a wild pitch to give the Bobcats a 3-0 lead early.
Ohio's bats were then kept quiet until the sixth inning, when senior Tyler Wells double down the left field line to give the Bobcats a runner in scoring position with just one out. Junior John Adryan was happy to cash in on the opportunity, hitting a single to center field and scoring Wells to push Ohio's lead to 4-0.
Miller's performance wasn't his most dominant to date, but he made up for it with his ability to snuff out any potential Eastern Michigan had to cause damage. Despite allowing eight baserunners, Miller never allowed a runner to reach third base in the game.
Miller had pieced together a string of four consecutive strong outings since his promotion to the starting rotation before allowing five runs in just three innings to Toledo in an 11-2 Bobcat loss last Friday.
Miller allowed a lead-off walk in the seventh before a rain delay forced both teams off the field for nearly three hours. Ohio sent Cozart in to pitch following the lengthy delay, who didn't allow a baserunner in three innings to earn the save.
The save was Cozart's tenth of the season, breaking Chad Reed's record for single-season saves at Ohio.
Longo finished the game 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs for Ohio, while redshirt sophomore Nate Squires went 2-for-3. Jake Madsen hit a triple for the Bobcats, the first of his record-setting career.
The Bobcats will take on Eastern Michigan again Saturday at 3:00p.m. with a chance at clinching a series win.
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