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Ohio Wesleyan 8, Ohio University 7
March 5, 2008
![[ Brent Wilkins ]](../images/wilkins.jpg)
Senior outfielder Brent Wilkins (Fairview Park/Fairview) scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning and senior lefthander Joey McDaniel (Dublin/Scioto) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth and retired the side in order in the bottom of the 10th to lift Ohio Wesleyan over Ohio University in the Bishops' season opener on Wednesday at V.A. Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe.
Wilkins led off the top of the 10th with a bunt single and McDaniel followed with an infield single. Sophomore catcher Steve Ruygrok (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creek) sacrificed the runners to second and third before Wilkins scored on a wild pitch by Bobcat reliever Cody Neyman.
McDaniel then retired the Bobcats 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning to give the Bishops the win.
Ohio Wesleyan had erased a 6-0 deficit in the final 2 innings of regulation play. Sophomore designated hitter Jared Turner (Versailles) was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the eighth and junior outfielder Matt Rhode (Port Clinton) followed with a double. Senior second baseman Jerrell Johnson (Shaker Heights) plated Turner with an infield grounder that Bobcat second baseman Zach Keen misplayed for an error, and McDaniel followed with an RBI single to bring the Bishops within 6-2. Senior first baseman A.J. Dote (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) singled to load the bases, and junior shortstop Logan Hronis (Rocky River/St. Edward) plated a run with a sacrifice fly before Wilkins drove in another run with an infield out.
The Bishops rallied again in the ninth. Ruygrok was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and one out later, Rhode singled Ruygrok to third. Johnson followed with a single to score Ruygrok, and continued to second on Bobcat centerfielder Matt Stiffler's error on the play, with Rhode checking in at third. Adam Goodpasture relieved for Ohio at this point and struck out McDaniel for the second out before uncorking a wild pitch to score Rhode with the tying run. Dote delivered a single to score Johnson and put the Bishops ahead 7-6.
Ohio University tied the game in the bottom of the inning, opening the frame with bunt singles by Stiffler and Gauntlett Eldemire before Marc Krauss singled down the rightfield line to score Stiffler. Hayden Johnston was walked intentionally to load the bases, and the strategy worked to perfection when McDaniel induced Robert Maddox III, Jason Selhorst and Jerod Yakubik to tap into infield grounders, with the Bishops cutting down the lead runner at the plate each time to get out of the inning.
Maddox III had a 2-run triple to highlight Ohio University's 3-run third inning, while Stiffler's bases-loaded double in the sixth had stretched the Bobcat lead to 6-0.
Rhode and sophomore third baseman Eric McComas (Beverly Hills, Mich./Birmingham Groves) had 3 hits apiece for Ohio Wesleyan, while Dote had 2 hits and Johnson drove in 2 runs.
McDaniel was the winning pitcher in relief for the Bishops, allowed 3 hits and a run in 2.0 innings. Senior righthander Xander Jones (Pomfret, Conn./Pomfret School) gave up 4 hits and 3 runs during the first 5.0 innings and sophomore righthander Matthew Struble (Defiance/Edon) worked a scoreless eighth.
Zach Fairbanks started for Ohio University, blanking the Bishops on 3 hits over the first 6.0 innings. Goodpasture was charged with the loss in relief.
