After a tough road weekend in the MAC, Ohio (7-16, 2-7 Mid-American Conference) took on Northern Kentucky in a Tuesday afternoon nonconference matchup that resulted in another devastating loss. Despite an early lead that grew to as many as 4 runs, the Bobcat bullpen imploded again, resulting in an 8-7 loss after a monster comeback from the Norse.
Ohio was on the board early, scoring 3 runs in the top of the first inning before NKU even had a chance to bat. After a leadoff double by freshman infielder Matt Ineich and a walk by outfielder Pauly Mancino, Ohio’s team leader in home runs, Ben Slanker, sent a ball over the fence for a 3-run home run to start the game.
Like most Tuesdays, Ohio coach Craig Moore used several pitchers to get through the game's nine innings. To start, freshman Hunter Winston was handed the ball for his second straight start.
Winston had a successful first inning, escaping scoreless despite allowing a double and a walk. The second inning did not prove to be as fruitful for Winston. The Norse scored 3 runs after allowing two hits, a home run and three walks.
Fortunately for Ohio, its offense was able to string together a couple of hits in the top of the second to score another run before Winston’s poor performance. At the end of the second, Ohio still led, 4-3.
The Bobcats would stay hot in the fourth inning, scoring 3 more runs on a second home run from Slanker and some timely hitting from outfielder Pauly Mancino. After the fourth, Ohio would not score again.
In relief of Winston came seven more pitchers, six of whom escaped without allowing a run. Tyler Peck was the only pitcher outside of Winston to go more than two innings. Despite some recent struggles, Peck looked strong out of the bullpen, recording one strikeout and only allowing a single base runner in the third and fourth innings.
Following Peck were scoreless innings from Luke Bryant and Jacob Tate, each of whom looked good in brief stints on the mound. Things went downhill quickly for Ohio shortly after when three unearned runs scored in the bottom of the seventh inning after a hit by pitch and some poor defense from the Ohio infield.
Despite a bad inning of defense, Ohio’s early onslaught of offense was enough to maintain a slim 7-6 lead going into the eighth inning. Similarly to so many other games this season, a 1 run lead in the eighth inning just wasn’t enough.
Dylan Eggl took the mound in the eighth and recorded two outs to his first three batters faced before allowing back-to-back hits that would score two runs and put Ohio in an 8-7 deficit. Eggl has been the culprit in a handful of blown leads. Against NKU, Eggl raised his ERA north of 10.
With one final opportunity to avoid a monster comeback against them, Ohio went down quietly in the ninth to end the game.
The bullpen for Ohio remains a lingering issue with no clear answer in sight. Now staring down another three-game losing streak, the Bobcats will try to turn the tide in a home series against Eastern Michigan this weekend.
