Ohio lost two of three games in its weekend home series against Eastern Michigan. With a loss in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday, Ohio lost its third Mid-American Conference series of the season.
Game One
Just over 14 hours removed from blowing a save opportunity in a tough extra-inning loss to Eastern Michigan, Jake Roehn needed to bounce back quickly in the ninth inning against Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
Roehn, who had allowed at least one run in his previous five appearances out of the bullpen, rebounded with a crucial save in the Bobcats’ 5-4 win over the Eagles in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader at Bob Wren Stadium.
Roehn’s save preserved Ohio’s solid morning offensive. The Bobcats tallied 11 hits to earn the win and even the weekend series against Eastern Michigan.
The Bobcats took a 5-4 lead in the eighth inning when catcher Dan McCauley drove into third baseman Tony Giannini from third base with a sacrifice fly.
After Eddie Kutt gave up a single to Kolton Schenker to begin the ninth inning, coach Rob Smith turned to Roehn, who gave up Eastern Michigan’s tying run in Ohio’s 5-4 extra-inning loss Friday. Roehn induced a sacrifice bunt to record the first out of the inning, but a catcher's interference from Dan McCauley put runners on first and second base.
Roehn struck out Shane Easter and worked a groundout from Nate Jones to seal the win and his sixth save of the season. He gave three hard claps into his glove as the Bobcats exited the dugout to celebrate the win, which was just their third in their last seven games.
"It felt great," Roehn said. "The last two or three weeks, it's been rough. I had some things wrong mechanically that we've been working on, so it was really nice to see it start to pay off."
Roehn’s solid performance came after a decent start from Derek Carr. In his third start of his career, Carr pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed three runs, but just one earned, from three hits, two walks and pair of strikeouts. The right-hander lowered his season ERA to 2.86.
First baseman Rudy Rott led Ohio’s offense and went 3-for-3 with a run. Left fielder Tanner Piechnick also launched a two-run home run, his fifth homer of the year, to left field to give Ohio a 4-2 lead in the third inning. The ball cleared the netting that was built to prevent balls from landing in the parking lot beyond the fence 340 feet away from home plate.
Piechnick believed the home run was the farthest ball he had ever hit in a game.
"Once I looked up, I knew (the ball was gone)," Piechnick said. "Right off the bat, I actually didn't (know). Once I saw it in the air, I was like, 'Yup, that's the one.' "
The Bobcats had a 47-minute hiatus before their second half of Friday’s doubleheader to close out the series against Eastern Michigan.
Game Two
Tanner Piechnick’s face was solemn. But as Piechnick fielded questions about Ohio’s failed comeback attempt, he was even-keeled.
The Bobcats scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but before that, they hadn’t scored a run. They also had tallied four hits. With two outs and bases loaded for Ohio in the bottom of the ninth, Dan McCauley was up to bat. Devon Garcia was on third base, ready to score the tying run.
McCauley struck out, though, and that was it. Ohio lost 4-3 at home against Eastern Michigan during Saturday’s series finale.
Despite lacking momentum for about the first six innings, the Bobcats closed the game with solid offense.
“I think we brought more energy out of the dugout, and it helped get the guys going a little bit,” Piechnick said.
Piechnick said he was proud of how the Bobcats rallied back. After being down 4-0 through seven innings, the Bobcats had an eighth inning that was one of their best in the series.
With the bases loaded, Ohio had one out. McCauley was at the plate, and Eastern Michigan pitcher Thomas House threw a wild pitch. Rudy Rott scored from third on the wild pitch, and that cut the lead to 4-1. McCauley then hit a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield, and Piechnick scored.
The Bobcats’ rally ended as Evan Bourn hit an RBI single to drive in Tony Giannini for a run. The Bobcats gained momentum later in the game, and they put themselves in position to win.
Still, gaining momentum earlier in the game – and continuing that momentum – will be something the Bobcats will have to improve on going forward.
Coach Rob Smith said he thought the Bobcats’ energy was present throughout the weekend. Ohio didn’t oust itself against Eastern Michigan. The Bobcats didn’t make mistakes that are preventable.
Derek Carr had two errors on the mound in the first game Saturday, but the Bobcats’ pitching staff only gave up a combined six walks in the doubleheader.
Smith said that it’s good the Bobcats’ walks have been down lately. If the Bobcats can continue to not give up many walks, they’ll be in position to win games.
The Bobcats (17-17, 5-7 MAC) couldn’t complete the comeback in the series finale. But what Smith can take away going forward is that his team is still competing.
“They’re fighting and they’re competing. We gotta find ways to get ourselves more wins,” Smith said.
