Zach Maier fires first career complete game in Baseball's double header split at Muskingum

By: Andrew Korba

NEW CONCORD -- Sophomore Zach Maier threw his first career complete game, as the Ohio Northern baseball team split a double header at Muskingum on Saturday afternoon.

Behind Maier, the Polar Bears (18-7, 6-4) won Game 1 by a 4-1 score, but the Muskies (10-13, 5-5) took the second game 4-2.

Maier struck out two batters and surrendered an unearned run, to pick up the win in Game 1 and move to 3-2 on the season.

Junior Brady Foley paced ONU offensively, going 3-for-3 with a RBI and run scored.

Maier gave up a run in the ninth and Muskingum loaded the bases. But he was able to get Will Simpson to bounce into a game ending fielder's choice.

Northern jumped on the board in the third inning on a RBI single from Foley that scored sophomore Andy Lubonovic.

The Polar Bears plated three more runs in the eighth inning, to make the score 4-0.

ONU loaded the bases and a wild pitch by Muskingum allowed sophomore Clay Small to score.

Sophomore Nick Eltzroth drove in a run on a fielder's choice and junior Jack LaMarca followed with a single to drive in Foley.

In Game 2, Muskingum scored three early runs to take a 3-0 lead after two innings.

Northern got a run back in the top of the third on a single from Eltzroth that scored Lubonovic.

The Muskies responded with a run in the bottom of the third to push their lead to 4-1.

ONU got a run back in the sixth inning on a RBI double by junior Dan Belliveau.

Senior Chad Smith fired 5.1 scoreless innings in relief, giving up just three hits.

Ohio Northern will return to action on Tuesday, when it hosts a key OAC double header at home against Baldwin Wallace, beginning at 1 pm.