OHIO Baseball
RedHawks rock Bobcats in series finale
Shisila shines in gloomy loss
By Michael Weisman, Senior Sports Writer
May 14, 2007 | 7:27 p.m.
The Ohio Bobcat baseball team entered Sunday's series finale against Miami with the hopes of completing a sweep over their rival, but it didn’t take long for those plans to get spoiled. The Bobcats allowed six runs in each of the first three innings, creating an insurmountable lead for the Bobcats that led to their 18-4 defeat on Senior Day.
The Bobcats used three pitchers in the first three innings, before reliever Andrew Shisila stopped the bleeding and held Miami scoreless in the final six innings. The four Bobcat pitchers combined to allow six walks, while Ohio’s defense committed a season high six errors, which led to 13 unearned Miami runs.
"We can't give up 18 runs in the first three innings and expect to beat a good team," Bobcat coach Joe Carbone said. "We gave them four outs [an inning] and when we give them four outs, they get six runs."
Bobcat starter Matt Schlarb struggled out of the gates. After allowing a single and a walk, Miami catcher Eric Darlage skied a pitch over the pitcher's mound, but a miscommunication between infielders allowed the ball to drop for the first of the Bobcat's six errors and Miami's first run. Schlarb allowed three more hits and hit a batter, before the Bobcat's escaped the inning by throwing out Chris Niro at second base. The damage had been done, however, as Miami led 6-0 before Ohio even swung a bat.
Schlarb struggled again in the second inning, allowing another six runs. Two errors and two walks during the inning helped Miami score the six runs. Schlarb failed to finish the inning, allowing 12 runs, all unearned and all with two outs in the inning, over one and 2/3 innings pitched. He allowed six hits, while walking three and picked up the loss, which dropped his record to 7-3.
"We got behind real early. It's tough to stay in the game when you're down 12 nothing to start off," senior Willie Walker said. "We just gave up a few too many walks and they had some key hits at the beginning that kind of killed us."
The Bobcats did manage some offense in the bottom of the second as third baseman Brandon Besl led off with a single, then advanced to second on a groundout, and scored on catcher Chris Klimko's RBI single. The Bobcat offense was short-lived, however, as Miami responded with another six runs in the third inning and batted around the order a third consecutive time, ending any hope of a Bobcat comeback.
Cody Neyman relieved Schlarb, but managed to pitch only two-thirds of an inning and allowed four earned runs. He was pulled in favor of Daniel Utts, who failed to record an out, allowing two runs, one of which was earned. Shisila then entered to get the Bobcats out of the mess. Shisila put the RedHawks' bats to sleep the rest of the game, pitching six and 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. He allowed only two hits, while striking out three and walking one. The six and 2/3 innings pitched is Shisila's career long.
"I just came in and tried to stop the bleeding. The scoreboard shows it. I just wanted to throw strikes and get people out," Shisila said.
The Bobcats managed to score their second run in the third inning as first baseman Marc Krauss singled in Matt Stiffler. The Bobcats added two more runs in the seventh inning, but the Miami pitchers never struggled. Jeff Day earned the win, improving to 2-2 while pitching six innings and allowing only two runs on six hits and striking out six. Reliever Matt Erwood grabbed his first save of the season, pitching three innings of two hit baseball. He allowed only two runs, one earned, and struck out four.
Krauss was the lone Bobcat to record multiple hits, going 2-5 with two RBIs. Every RedHawk starter reached base at least twice. Brandon Hillier (3-6), Jeff Carroll (3-4, 2 RBIs), Blake Chaffee (3-5, 4 RBIs), and Niro (2-4, 3 RBIs) paced the RedHawks on offense.
"We have to give Miami credit," Carbone said. "They hit the ball today and we didn't hit the ball."
Shisila shines in gloomy loss
On a day when the Ohio Bobcats allowed 18 runs in the first three innings to rival Miami, committed a season-high six errors, and lost 18-4 on Senior Day, it was tough to find any positives. The lone bright spot for Ohio came from relief pitcher Andrew Shisila, who shutdown the powerful RedHawk offense after entering in the third inning to stop the bleeding. Shisila recorded the final two outs in the third inning and then went on to pitch six more scoreless innings to close out the game.
"He went in there, got his curve [ball] working," senior center fielder Willie Walker said. "I saw him throwing a few [curveballs] from the outfield. He went after the guys and that's what we needed."
Shisila allowed only two hits and one walk, while striking out three RedHawks. The shutout performance lowered his ERA from 4.03 to 3.10. The six and 2/3 innings pitched was a career long for Shisila, whose previous career high was four and 1/3 innings.
"That was the most I've pitched in awhile (since high school)," Shisila said. "I didn't think I could go that long so I surprised myself."
In his last outing, the junior right-hander from Mentor, Ohio, managed to last only one-third of an inning. He allowed four earned runs on two hits and two walks against Kent State on April 29, in a 16-1 loss which dropped his record to 1-3.
"Last time out wasn't too good [for Shisila]," Bobcats coach Joe Carbone said. "We haven't been able to find a third starter. Once Shisila got in [the Miami game], I thought he did a good job."
The Bobcats have struggled to find a third starter behind Kevin Mementowski and Chris Rigo in their rotation. Much of the MAC season, the Bobcats have been forced to use the bullpen early on their Sunday games (the third game of the series). Matt Schlarb started for the Bobcats against Miami and lasted only one and 2/3 innings.
"Everyone has to stay ready," Shisila said of the bullpen. "When you're called on, you're called on."
Shisila used his fastball and slider often to throw strikes and keep the Redhawk bats in check. Shisila said the game gave him great confidence heading into their last weekend series against Bowling Green, where he could find himself back in the starting rotation as the third starter.