In Ohio’s (1-6) last weekend series against West Georgia, coach Craig Moore’s team scored only 7 runs in a 1-2 weekend. However, a much-needed change of scenery seems to have changed the tide for Ohio, with the team dominating Butler13-9 in its home opener.
While Ohio was most outwardly dominant on the offensive end, with each player in its batting order recording at least one hit and eight of the nine scoring a run, senior pitcher Blake Gaskey started the afternoon lights out on the mound.
Gaskey opened the game with a lead-off strikeout, following it up with a ground out and a fly out to Butler’s first three batters. While the stat line itself shows nine hits and 7 earned runs, Gaskey did more than enough to keep the Bulldogs at bay.
“I feel like the scoreboard doesn’t reflect a lot,” Gaskey said. “It was big to go in and get out, get that 0 on the board early and have that early lead.”
Ohio’s offense followed Gaskey up with proficiency. Despite a lead-off strikeout from starting pitcher Corbin Snyder, freshman infielder Matt Ineich started an impressive day with a walk before advancing to third on an error. It didn’t take long for Ineich to score, as a single from sophomore Trae Cassidy secured Ohio’s first run.
In the game, Ineich would later extend his hitting streak to seven consecutive games, adding four RBIs to his single run and hit. His singular hit would net the Bobcats 2 runs in the third inning, extending the lead to a back-breaking 10-2 margin.
“(Ineich) is a mature freshman, and he’s a guy that puts his head down and stays in his lane,” Moore said. “It’s good to see what he’s doing for us offensively, and looking forward to him continuing to make progress.”
Ineich’s run would quickly be followed by the game’s most explosive play. With two runners on base in Cassidy and sophomore Ben Slanker, sophomore Caleb Karll would send a ball flying out of Bob Wren, giving Ohio a 4-0 lead.
As the first inning came to a close, Gaskey would continue to maintain Ohio’s lead. He finished the day pitching five-and-a-third innings, leaving the game with an 11-7 lead, and ending the day with his first win of the season. In his wake came junior Landon Price, who finished the sixth inning without allowing a run.
Price would do much of the same in the top of the seventh, despite allowing a hit and a walk, while leaving three on base. Price would finish the day with two-and-a-third innings pitched, allowing just 1 earned run at the top of the eighth.
“Price came in and did a great job of just holding (the lead),” Moore said. “He was able to minimize the damage and got out of a couple tough situations.”
Coming in for Price to finish the game was redshirt junior Dylan Eggl, who continued the great pitching night for Ohio. Eggl finished his one-and-a-third innings, not allowing a hit or an earned run, despite a single score from Butler with him on the mound.
“Last year, we struggled a little bit coming out of the pen,” Gaskey said. “This year, the guys have been awesome coming out of the pen and doing the job. We just need to keep it.”
In its home opener, Ohio would also see a home run from Slanker and a productive game from Cassidy on both ends. The Bobcats will look to continue their success Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. as they face the Bulldogs twice more.
