Central Michigan University Athletics
Howard's Blast Helps Chippewas Top Bobcats, 9-3
4/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio -- Tom Howard hit a three-run home run to cap a four-run eighth inning for Central Michigan to break open a pitcher's duel against Ohio in a 9-3 victory at Bob Wren Stadium on Friday to open the second week of Mid-American Conference play.
A leadoff single by Tyler Hall, an infield single by William Arnold and a two-out walk to Jordan Dean loaded the bases for the Chippewas (11-16, 1-3 MAC). After a wild pitch by the Bobcats (13-12, 1-3 MAC) allowed Hall to score, Howard blasted a 1-0 pitch over the wall in center field to give the Maroon and Gold breathing room.
Ohio took advantage of back-to-back errors in the third to open the scoring but committed two errors of its own in the fourth that led to a run for CMU.
Brendan Emmett drew a one-out walk in the sixth and came around on a two-out double to left center by Faiman on the first pitch of the at-bat for the Chippewas' first lead of the game.
The Bobcats would answer in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run by Adam Gecewich off Central Michigan starting pitcher Trent Howard, but it CMU was able to put rallies together in each of the final two innings.
A throwing error with the bases loaded and an RBI groundout by Matt Faiman allowed CMU to tack on three more runs in the ninth.
Trent Howard (2-3) earned the victory, giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out four. Seth Streich took the loss for Ohio, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks in 7 1/3 innings.
Faiman had a pair of hits for the Chippewas, while Taylor Emody and Gecewich had two hits for the Bobcats.
The series continues with game two on Saturday at 3 p.m.
