Bobcats take 2 from Owens

The Bobcats took 2 games from Owens by scores of  8-1 and 7-2 to win the 4 game conference series 3-1 on the year. These wins move the Bobcat's overall record to 16-6 and an OCCAC best 7-1 in conference play. The chilly wintry mix weather couldn't slow down the Bobcat bats as they tallied 16 hits and scored 15 more runs in the double header. Leading the way was Dominic Daring who finished the day going 4 for 6 including an RBI double and his first homerun on the year. Torrey Roper had another 3 hit day and his light tower power was on full display as all three of his hits went for extra bases. Roper finished with an RBI double and his conference leading fifth and sixth home runs on the season. 

Game 1
The Bobcats would jump out ahead early as a Riley Day lead off walk to start the 2nd inning would set the table for Dom Daring to drive him in with an RBI double into right center giving the Bobcats a 1-0 advantage. Torrey Roper would add to that lead a few batters later with a towering blast over the trees in left field. His fifth homerun of the year made the score 3-0 Bobcats before Express starter Shea Hendrixson was able to slow the rally with a pair of strikeouts to end the inning. But, the Bobcats would get to him again in the third. Brad Wolfe retired the Express hitters in order in the top of the inning and the bats picked up right where they left off plating three more runs behind good two strike hitting. John Costella would reach second with two outs on a 2 strike double to right and then score on the Riley Day single to center. Day would be brought home when Daring hooked a 2 strike fastball around the left field foul pole for his first home run of the year. The two out rally would put the Bobcats up 6-0. The Express would get on the board in the top of the 4th with their first hit off of Wolfe coming as a 2 out solo shot off the bat of Owen Gast to make the score 6-1. Wolfe was impressive once again through his six innings only allowing the 1 run on 4 hits while he struck out 9. The Bobcats would get the run back on aggressive baserunning by Roper scoring on a drop third strike that Logan Wunderle beat to first in the bottom of the inning, and add another in the 6th when Roper would score on a pass ball after doubling to start the inning to make the Bobcat lead 8-1. OCCAC Pitcher of the week Koby Zupko would come out of the Bobcats bullpen to throw a scoreless 7th inning while recording a strikeout to secure the Bobcat win. 

Game 2
Torrey Roper would stoke the Bobcats to a 1-0 lead with his sixth homerun of the season in the second inning, and a Riley Day missile through the trees in the third would score Costella to put the Bobcats up 3-0 after three. The Bobcat pitchers would continue to keep the Express bats in check as starting pitcher Justin Simons would throw the first three innings without allowing a hit while striking out 4. The 4th would get a little dicey as a walk, a base hit, and a pair of errors would get the Express on the board and end the day for Simons. Adam Wibert would come out of the Bobcat bullpen with 1 out and runners on the corners and induce a double play ball to shortstop Jackson Homage to work out of the jam in 3 pitches. A lead off homerun in the top of the 5th would score another for the Express making the game 3-2 Bobcats. Wibert, who entered the game to get the Bobcats out of a jam, would exit with runners on the corners and 1 out after throwing two innings and allowing just the one run whiile striking out three. He would turn the ball over the hard throwing lefty Jagger Jefferis would retire on the first two Express hitters he would face on a strikeout and a 5 hopper to Dylan Cutler at second base to end the threat. As the sun came out in the bottom of the 6th inning the Bobcat bats would heat up. A lead off base hit by Costella followed by a Riley Day hit by pitch would have Express head coach John Parisho making a call to the bullpen for his top arm Wyatt Smith ina n effort to keep the Bobcat lead at 1. Costella and Day would move up a base with the double steal on his first pitch and Dom Daring would send his second into left field to score Costella. That wouldn't be the end of the scoring though, as Tylor Wolfe would hit the 7th pitch of his at bat through the trees behind centerfield for a three run blast to put the Bobcats up 7-2. While I'm sure Jefferis appreciated the insurance runs, he wouldn't need them. Jagger would work a clean 7th inning striking out 2 more to end his day striking out 3 of the six batters he faced without allowing a hit. 

The Bobcats are back in action Sunday in a non conference doubleheader against Kent State Tuscarawas with games beginning at 1 and 3. Both games will be streamed on our Youtube channel Bobcat Athletics BSCOH.