Ohio seemingly forgot all about its recent offensive struggles, as it busted out its best offensive performance of the season in a sweep of Ball State to start off the Mid-American Conference portion of the schedule.
The Bobcats (14-12, 3-0 in the MAC) earned their first conference sweep since May 2015 when they swept Eastern Michigan. It is also their first time they’ve swept the opening MAC series since 1997.
Coincidentally, both years the team made the NCAA Tournament.
Game three:
Michael Klein was key on both sides of the plate, shutting down the Ball State’s offense on the mound and knocking in a run of his own.
Ohio won the series finale, 10-0, to complete the sweep of the Cardinals. It was the first MAC regular-season shutout win since May 8, 2015.
Klein tossed a gem in the final game of the series, allowing no runs and just four hits while striking out nine.
Infielder Ty Black, who struggled at the plate to start the season, turned in his best performance of the season, knocking in three RBIs including a fifth inning two-run home run and a seventh-inning RBI single.
Sunday’s win was the Bobcats’ fourth shutout of the season.
Game two:
In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, it was the bullpen that helped Ohio seal a 7-6 victory.
After a five-inning outing by starter Butch Baird, Tom Colletti and Jake Rudnicki combined for four innings and allowed three-hits while shutting out Ball State.
The Bobcats initially trailed the game 4-0 after two innings, but a five-run sixth inning helped propel Ohio to victory.
Black drove in two runs on a bases-loaded double following back-to-back bases loaded walks. Nick Bredeson also had an RBI single in the inning.
Rudnicki earned the save in the game, his first of the season.
Game 1:
Ohio kicked off the series with a 6-4 win behind a great offensive outing from the top of the lineup.
The first three batters in the Bobcats lineup, Spencer Ibarra, Rudy Rott, and Klein, all scored, recorded a hit and an RBI in the game.
Ball State starter pitched all nine innings despite earning the loss.
The Bobcats took an early lead in the first inning courtesy of RBI hits from Klein and Tyler Finkler and then never trailed. Jake Roehn earned his fifth save of the season with a one-hit, scoreless appearance in the ninth.
