Marshall University Athletics
Ohio Opens Series With 12-3 Win
4/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Ohio Opens Series With 12-3 Win
4/15/2005
- Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio University catcher Ben Crabtree had five RBI's to help the Bobcats to a 12-3 win over the Marshall University baseball team Friday night in Athens.
Crabtree had a two-run home run and two RBI's in the Bobcats eight-run second inning.
The win also marked Ohio coach Joe Carbone's 500th career win. Carbone has ties to Marshall as he was the assistant baseball coach from 1970-72.
Things started off tough for Marshall (10-19, 5-5 MAC) as starter Chris Koutsavlis (Pittsburgh, PA) was hit by a line drive in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Brian Colopy hit a line drive at Koutsavlis and hit his throwing arm. Koutsavlis was able to get the out at first, but needed a few minutes to warm back up.
Once he was ready to go, OU (14-13, 5-3 MAC) took advantage, notching three straight singles to take a 1-0 lead. In the second, Koutsavlis tried to go, but never found his touch again, giving up a walk and two singles to load the bases with no outs. The first run of the second crossed the plate when Bryan Buck hit into a fielder's choice. After an RBI double by Brian Colopy and a walk, Koutsavlis left the game with one out and the bases loaded.
Junior Brian Knippelmeyer (Lincoln, NE) entered in relief, and ran into some quick problems ad Ben Crabtree hit a two-RBI double to give Ohio a 5-0 lead. With two outs, a hit batter loaded up the bases for pinch hitter Willie Walker. Walker would take Knippelmeyer deep for his first grand slam of the season to make it a 9-0 game.
Catcher Ben Crabtree was responsible for OU's next three runs, notching an RBI single in the third and a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.
Marshall's offense got on the board in the top of the seventh. Tommy Johnson (Gaithersburg, MD) reached on an error and advanced to second on Brad Helm's (Downingtown, PA) second single of the day. Two batters later, Adam Ptacek (Assaria, KS) laced a single to left to bring in Johnson. After Adam Frederick (Franklin, PA) reached on OU's second error of the inning, Aaron Jamieson (Lindsay, Ont.) hit a bloop single to center to bring in two more runs.
From that point on, no other runs crossed the plate as Ohio U. grabbed the 12-3 win. OU starter Derek Witt went the full distance, giving up three runs, none earned on ten hits. For the Herd, Koutsavlis went 1 1/3 innings giving up six runs. Knippelmeyer did an admirable job in relief, going the rest of the game for Marshall. He pitched 6 2/3 allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits. His work helped to save the rest of the Marshall bullpen for the weekend.
The Bobcat offense out-hit Marshall 14-10. For Marshall, Aaron Jamieson and Brad Helm each notched three hits. Jamieson also had two RBI's. Joe Glevenyak (West Palm Beach, FL) had two hits. Ben Crabtree led the Bobcats with a 4-5, five RBI performance. Three batters also had two hits each.
This marks MU's third loss in a row while Ohio has won 11 of 12.
The Herd will look to end the streak on Saturday, taking on the Bobcats at 7 p.m. at Bob Wren Stadium.
