March 27, 2005
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - It took extra innings to decide a game that was delayed at the start by three hours as Ohio University's (4-12, 1-2 MAC) Brian White hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning, spoiling Miami University's (11-10, 2-1 MAC) bid to sweep the opening series of Mid-American Conference play on Sunday afternoon at Bob Wren Stadium.
The RedHawks put up three runs in the top of the first inning on two hits and a wild pitch. Junior Paul Frietch (Cincinnati, Ohio) doubled and senior Tyler Tabler (Cincinnati, Ohio) singled to drive in runs making it 2-0 for Miami. Frietch scored the third run on Anthony Gressick's wild pitch after he advanced to third on Tabler's single to right.
Ohio roughed up freshman lefthander Bobby Oberschlake (Felicity, Ohio) in the fifth inning chasing him from the game in favor of senior Brad Bachman (Harrison, Ohio). Bachman entered the game with runners on first and third after the Bobcats strung together three hits to lead off the inning, scoring one run. Bachman allowed just one of the inherited runners to score before he recorded three outs, keeping Miami in front, 3-2.
Oberschlake went 4.0 innings and was charged with two runs on five hits in just his second collegiate start.
Miami got one of those two runs back in the top half of the sixth when Tabler's bases loaded ground ball to shortstop was mishandled, allowing sophomore Ryne Robinson (Toledo, Ohio) to score from third.
Bachman walked the leadoff runner in the bottom of the seventh and was relieved by freshman lefthander Matt Erwood (Atlanta, Ga.) after tossing 2.0 innings of no-hit baseball. Erwood walked the only batter he faced and was replaced by hard-throwing freshman righthander John Ely (Homewood, Ill.), who entered the game with runners on first and second.
Ely proceeded to strike out the side but not before the Bobcats managed a trio of hits that plated three runs and gave Ohio its first lead of the day, at 5-4.
Pinch-hitter Evan Armitage (Milford, Ohio) tied the game for Miami in the top of the eighth when he hit into a bases loaded fielder's choice that scored Robinson from third.
Miami threatened to score in the top of the ninth inning. With the bases loaded and just one out, senior John Slone (Cincinnati, Ohio) popped out to second base and was followed by junior Geoff Orr (Orland Park, Ill.), whose line drive found its way into the glove of Ohio's centerfielder.
Ely retired the Bobcats in order in the bottom of the inning, sending the RedHawks into extra innings for just the second time this season.
Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth inning and put Ohio's Brian White at the plate. With one out, White took John Ely's 3-1 fastball and deposited it over the leftfield fence, giving the Bobcats a 6-4, come-from-behind victory.
Ely was tagged with the loss and drops to 2-1 on the year. He tossed 3.1 innings of relief and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out four batters.
Miami travels to Xavier University on Tuesday (Mar. 29) for a non-conference tilt with the Musketeers before hosting the Marshall University Thundering Herd for three MAC games on Apr. 1-3.
