Miller goes the distance as pitcher and Ohio defeats Bowling Green in MAC Tournament opener.
In 2015’s season opener, Ohio’s Jake Miller acted as the closer, allowing three runs on four hits in just one inning of work, holding off UNC-Asheville in a 16-9 victory.
However, During the Mid-American Conference Tournament’s opening game Wednesday, Miller acted as the ace starting pitcher, stretching four hits across a complete game and shutting down Bowling Green’s offense.
The Bobcats defeated the Falcons 6-2 to advance in the winner’s bracket in Ohio’s first MAC tournament appearance since 2012. Ohio will play Thursday at 4:30 p.m. against Western Michigan.
Coach Rob Smith was unavailable for comment after the game.
The Falcons was able to draw first blood in the first inning, thanks to a pair of blunders by the Bobcats. Miller hit the first batter of the game with a pitch and an error on second baseman Nate Squires’ part, allowed that batter to score from second with one out.
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Ohio was able to bounce back quickly, however, with an RBI single by Jake Madsen in the bottom of the first inning off of Bowling Green’s starter Jason Link. Link defeated the Bobcats earlier in the season, allowing just one earned run in 5 ⅔ innings against Ohio on April 10, but lacked the same command Wednesday evening. He sacrificed five runs, six hits in three innings of work.
The Bobcats officially broke through in the third inning, when they began the inning with back-to-back singles and then followed with back-to-back walks to force home a run. Tyler Wells then rapped a single to centerfield to score two runs and push Ohio’s lead to 4-1.
Ohio continued to add to its lead in the fourth inning, when Link allowed two more runners to reach home to begin the set. That’s when Devin Daugherty became Bowling Green’s new pitcher, and allowed a two-run single to Garrett Black later in the inning to give Ohio a 6-1 lead.
With that comfortable advantage, some of the big-stage pressure slipped off Miller’s shoulders, as he was able to settle in and pitch through the Falcons’ lineup.
Miller pitched just one 1-2-3 inning in the game, but was able to stretch out four hits, two walks and two hit batters across his nine innings of work while smothering almost every opportunity Bowling Green had to start a rally. Miller also struck out seven batters in the game.
The complete game by Miller was the first of the season for Ohio pitchers.
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Black was the lone Bobcat to finish the game with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Wells finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs, while Nate Squires went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Recently crowned MAC Player of the Year Mitch Longo went 0-for-3 with a walk. Ohio was held hitless by Daugherty in its last four innings.
Western Michigan defeated Kent State 5-0 to advance to Thursday’s winner’s bracket game against Ohio. The Broncos beat the Bobcats in two out of three games at Bob Wren Stadium earlier this season.
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