CSU Falls to Ohio in Baseball Season Opener

CHARLESTON, S.C. – When the adverse weather finally relented, the CSU baseball team opened the 2008 season with a 9-1 loss to Ohio on Saturday. The Bobcats jumped out to an early lead, scoring five runs over the first three innings, and rode the arm of Chris Rigo to begin the season with a victory. Redshirt junior Michael Obuchowski drove in the Buccaneers’ lone run with a single in the seventh inning.

Rigo (1-0) went seven innings, giving up one run on one hit with six walks and five strikeouts to pick up the win. Senior Cody Higgins (0-1) was charged with the loss for CSU (0-1), giving up five runs on six hits with three strikes outs in six innings.

Ohio (1-0) got on the board in the top of the first inning when a double by Brandon Besl brought Mike Stiffler home from second. Stiffler did more damage in the top of the second, belting a home run to right center with a pair of runners on to put the Bobcats up, 4-0. An inning later, Robert Maddox gave his team a 5-0 lead solo homer to right field.

Higgins held Ohio scoreless over the next three innings, keeping the Bucs within striking distance while Rigo carried a no-hitter through six innings.

After junior T.J. Green replaced Higgins on the mound for CSU in the top of seventh, Gauntlett Eldemere led off the inning with a double for the visiting Bobcats. Four batters later with runners on the corners and two outs, Ohio went up 6-0 when Chris Klimko knocked a single into left center that brought Eldemire home from third. The Bobcats had a chance to build on its lead further on a single by Jerod Yakubik, but Buccaneer left fielder Tyler Thornburg denied Besl at home plate with a strong throw to end the inning.

In the bottom half of the inning, junior Kory Morian drew a walk and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Brantley Meier, giving CSU a runner in scoring position. Coming to the plate as a pinch hitter, Obuchowski took advantage of the opportunity with a single through the right side of the infield that brought Morian home to score.

Eldemire added to the Bobcats’ lead in the top of the eighth inning, sending a three-run shot over the wall in center field to extend Ohio’s advantage to eight runs. The Buccaneers threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning, putting runners on the corners, but the game ended with a groundout to the shortstop.

The final two games of the weekend series with Ohio will be played back-to-back as part of a doubleheader tomorrow. The first game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at Buccaneer Field on the campus of CSU.