Eltzroth, Thomas lead Baseball in 11-10 loss against Neumann (Pa.)

By: Andrew Korba

FORT MYERS (Fla.) -- Freshman Nick Eltzroth and junior Brian Thomas collected three hits apiece, but the Ohio Northern baseball team fell 11-10 to Neumann (Pa.) on Monday afternoon at the Gene Cusic Classic.

The Polar Bears are now 1-2 on the season, while the Knights improve to 6-2.

Eltzroth posted a 3-for-5 day, driving in two runs and also scoring twice.

Thomas also went 3-for-5 and scored a run.

Northern trailed 10-4 entering the sixth inning and rallied to tie the game.

In the sixth, Eltzroth ripped a one out single and junior Matt Magni followed with a double, advancing Eltzroth to third.

Sophomore Brady Foley hit a sac fly to score Eltzroth and make it 10-5.

Sophomore Jack LaMarca followed with a single to score Magni and cut the ONU deficit to 10-6.

The Polar Bears loaded the bases in the seventh and Eltzroth ripped a double to score two runs.

After a strikeout, senior Tom Walton singled up the middle to score freshman Grant Wilson and Eltzroth to knot the game at 10-10.

Neumann answered with an RBI single in the eighth to grab the lead back.

Northern jumped on the board first in the second, when senior Kevin Obarski doubled to left, scoring Wilson.

The Knights answered with four runs in the bottom half of the second and tacked on two more runs in the fourth to open up a 6-1 lead.

ONU responded in the fifth, when senior Cory Martin hit a bases clearing double to bring Northern to 6-4.

Erik Klimoff picked up the win for the Knights to move to 3-0 on the season and Jake Yarber pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.

Freshman Ben Eckert picked up the loss for Northern and falls to 0-1.

Ohio Northern will return to the diamond on Tuesday when they face Illinois College at 10 am and Thiel (Pa.) at 1 pm.