March 11, 2012
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - Ian Yetsko went 4-for-4 and drove in three runs, as the Oakland baseball team (2-9) dropped another close game, 7-6, to Ohio (6-8) in the series finale on Sunday at Bob Wren Stadium. The Golden Grizzlies and Bobcats both finished the game with 10 hits.
"We have a tough group of young men that are working their tails off every day," said Oakland coach John Musachio. "Every close game, whether won or lost, is preparing us for our ultimate goal of winning a Summit League Championship."
Oakland trailed 7-4 before another late-inning rally cut the deficit to one. Yetsko delivered with his fourth hit of the afternoon to drive in Todd Dunham. Then back-to-back passed balls allowed Yetsko to score. Oakland put the tying run at second base, but could not score and then went down 1-2-3 in the ninth.
The Golden Grizzlies fell behind 4-1 in the first inning, but rallied to tie the game in the sixth. Yetsko again had the key hit with a bases-loaded single that drove in two runs to tie the game 4-4. With the go-ahead run in scoring position Tim Ryan grounded out to the shortstop and Yetsko was called out for interference to end the OU rally.
Ohio responded immediately by scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 6-4 lead. Jensen Painter then hit a solo home run in the seventh for what proved to be the game-winning run. Painter was 2-for-3, while Cody Gaertner went 2-for-2 to lead the Bobcats.
Spencer Marentette drove in Ryan in the first inning to give Oakland a 1-0 lead. The Grizzlies also added a single run in the second when Nolan Jacoby scored after hitting a double earlier in the inning. Kyle Bobolts also had a hit in the inning and finished 2-for-5 on the day.
Sean Kennedy (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Ohio, while Jason Hager (0-1) took the loss for OU. Brett Barber (1) earned his first save of the season with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Oakland drops the series against Ohio 2-1. The Golden Grizzlies are back in action with a double-header on Friday in Dayton, Ohio. The day starts at 10a.m. with a neutral-site game against Canisius before OU takes on hosts Dayton at 2 p.m.
-OAKLAND-
