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Ohio University 13, Ohio Wesleyan 9 (4/12/2002)

Ohio Wesleyan blasted 5 home runs, including 2 by senior outfielder Shaun Rice (Dublin/Columbus Watterson), but Ohio University rallied for a non-conference win on Friday in Athens.

The Bobcats struck for 3 runs in the bottom of the first inning, loading the bases on 2 singles and a walk before Ben Crabtree cleared the sacks with a double to right center.

But senior lefthander Matt Farmwald (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) settled down after that and blanked the Bobcats for the next 4-plus innings.

Meanwhile, Ohio Wesleyan drew even with 3 runs in the top of the third. Rice led off the inning with a homer, and 2 outs later, senior first baseman Drew Caravella (Columbus/Hilliard Davidson) walked before junior catcher Bo Burnett (Powell/Olentangy) cracked a game-tying homer to right center.

Rice gave the Bishops a 4-3 lead with a leadoff homer in the fifth.

Ohio University then put across 7 runs in the bottom of the sixth, chasing Farmwald and taking the lead for good. Mike Arbinger had a 2-run double in the frame, which included 5 hits and 2 Bishop errors.

Ohio Wesleyan came back with 5 runs after 2 were out in the top of the seventh. Burnett and sophomore third baseman Tyler Mott (Grove City) started the rally with 2-out singles and moved up on a wild pitch. Junior catcher Mike Schultheis (Columbus/Watterson) doubled both runners home. Sophomore outfielder Byron Lowe (Medford, Mass./Cambridge Ridge) then pulled a 2-run homer down the leftfield line and junior second baseman Matt Fortuna (Strongsville/St. Edward) followed with a solo shot to pull the Bishops within 10-9. Rice then walked and stole second before the inning ended on a groundout by junior outfielder Joe Loudenslager (Hilliard/Darby).

Lowe and Fortuna's back-to-back round-trippers marked the first time since March 15, 2001, that the Bishops had accomplished that feat.

Ohio University got 3 of the runs back in the bottom of the inning on Arbinger's bases-loaded double.

Ohio Wesleyan threatened in the ninth as Mott drew a leadoff walk and junior shortstop Seth Tenpenny (Powell/Worthington Kilbourne) doubled with one out, but Fortuna and Rice struck out to end the game.

Rice, Burnett, Mott and Fortuna had 2 hits apiece, with Rice, Burnett and Schultheis each driving in 2 runs. Caravella lined a single to center in the fifth inning, breaking the Ohio Wesleyan career hits record of 256 set by Scott Tedder from 1985-88.

Arbinger was 4-for-5 with 5 RBI and Crabtree was 4-for-5 with 4 RBI for the Bobcats.

Farmwald was charged with the loss, his first in 6 decisions this season. Matt Cochrell picked up the win in relief for the Bobcats.