Bobcats Split With Eagles

Bobcats split with Eagles

Another miserably cold double header at Force Sports Park in Sandusky, Ohio ended with the Bobcats and the Eagles of Clark State splitting the pair of games by finals scores of 3-2 Eagles and 4-2 Bobcats. The Bobcats dropped the important one however as the first game of the series was a conference matchup. The conference loss moves their conference record to 7-5, they are 13-9 overall on the season. While the bats were quiet on the cold and foggy day, Domonic Prevesk still managed to collect 3 hits in 7 tries. Tylor Wolfe and John Costella each added a pair of hits to the effort. Hudson Cornett threw a complete game in game 2 for the win, while Jagger Jefferis took a tough luck L after throwing well in game 1. 

Game 1

Jagger Jefferis and Clark State starter Will Stultz matched up well as both lefties managed to put a zero in the scorebox in 4 of their 5 innings pitched. In the third inning Jefferies was touched for a 2 RBI triple that got lost in the fog hovering over rightfield to push two runs across for the Eagles. In the bottom half of the same inning the Bobcats managed to get one back when a single by Dom Prevesk followed by a Rontrell Greer double put two men on base for the middle of the Bobcat lineup. Johnny Costella singled to drive in Prevesk to make the game 2-1. Tylor Wolfe singled to load the bases with nobody out. A confusing bit of umpiring would end the inning for the Bobcats as a missile through the middle by Logan Wunderle hit the glove of the diving Eagles shortstop and fell out as he came to the ground. The ball was ruled dropped, but signaled to be caught. The shortstop stepped on second base to get Wolfe in a forceout for the second out of the inning and then threw to first to try to get Wunderle for a double play. Wolfe, who was standing on first base thinking the ball had been caught, was then called for interference causing Wunderle to be the third out of the inning. Instead of the Bobcats scoring two and taking the lead. The inning was ruled over on a wacky play that ended up being the deciding factor in a very close game. Jagger Jefferies would throw up 2 more zeros before being lifted after allowing a run to come in and  two more Eagles to reach base with 2 outs in the 5th inning. Noah Brite would come out of the Bobcat pen and end the Eagle threat, closing the book on Jefferies day. Jagger would finish having allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and a walk while striking out 5 batters, turning in another quality pitching performance.The Bobcats got one back in the bottom of the 6th when a pair of walks followed by a Blake Fuller linedrive single and another single off the bat of Prevesk scored Wunderle to make the game 3-2. The Bobcat threat would end there however as they wouldn't threaten in the 7th after Noah Brite tossed another clean frame. They drop game 1 by a final of 3-2. 

Game 2

The Bobcats played from ahead in game 2 as back to back singles by Greer and Wolfe, followed by back to back walks to Drew Firchau and Caleb Atwood would plate the first run of the ball game and give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead after the first inning. That lead would quickly vanish as some shotty defensive play on part of the Bobcats would see 2 unearned runs come home to score for the Eagles. Bobcat starter Hudson Cornett was able to induce a double play ball and then record his third strikeout of the game to end the inning with the Bobcats only trailing 2-1. The score would remain 2-1 all the way to the bottom of the 6th inning. With the Bobcats running out of chances, the bats would finally wake up. Back to back two out walks to Firchau and Atwood would put two runners on with two away for Bobcat catcher Aaron Miranda. Miranda, a recent Illinois Wesleyan University commit, would come through for the Bobcats with a line shot into left field that would score Logan Wunderle, who entered to run for Firchau, from second base. Atwood moved up to third on an errant throw putting Bobcats at the corners with 2 outs in a now tied ball game. John Costella would come off the bench to pinch hit and he quickly fell behind in the count 0-2. Miranda stole second on the first pitch to Costella to put two runners in scoring position for the Bobcat slugger. Costella fouled off a few pitches and ran the count to 2-2 before lacing a single into left that scored both Atwood from third and Miranda from second; Miranda diving headfirst into home plate just ahead of the throw to put the Bobcats on top 4-2 going into the 7th. Hudson Cornett came back out for the 7th inning with a chance to win the ball game, and he did just that. The Eagles would scratch out a run on a few singles, but the Bobcats prevailed winning by a final of 4-3. Cornett looked superb in this start. He tossed all 7 innings in 102 pitches allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits and 3 walks while he struck out 7 Eagles hitters. The Bobcats will face off against PSU Beaver in a non conference matchup before lining up with Hocking College this weekend.