Baseball uses late rally to earn double header split against Capital
By: Andrew Korba
ADA -- The Ohio Northern baseball team rallied for a 4-3 victory in the second game of a double header, after dropping Game 1 by a 3-1 score against Capital on Tuesday afternoon at Wander Field.
The Polar Bears are now 8-9 on the season and 1-3 in OAC play, while the Crusaders fall to 11-7, 2-2.
In Game 2, the Polar Bears found themselves trailing 3-0 heading into the ninth inning.
But, ONU rallied for three runs to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
Sophomore Dan Belliveau lead things off with a single to right.
Senior Kevin Obarski then hit into a fielder's choice and Belliveau was forced out at second.
Sophomore Jack LaMarca walked and junior Daniel Rodriguez followed with a single to load the bases.
Junior Matt Magni then came up and hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Obarski to get ONU on the board.
Freshman Cody Meyer then hit a groundball to third that kicked up on Capital thirdbaseman Ryan Pearson.
The ball landed in foul territory, scoring LaMarca and sophomore pinch runner Derek Lenardos, to tie the game at 3-3.
The Crusaders were retired in order in the top of the tenth.
Freshman Nick Eltzroth ripped a one out single for the Polar Bears in their half of the tenth.
Belliveuau followed with a single to right, advancing Eltzroth to second.
Obarski would then rip a hit into right center to score Eltzroth and give the Polar Bears the 4-3 victory.
"We had great at bats in the second game," said head coach Gene Stechschulte. "We hit the ball hard, but just couldn't get a rally going. These guys kept their heads up and came through when we needed it."
Eltzroth picked up the win by pitching a scoreless inning and moves to 2-1 on the season.
Freshman Zach Maier went 5.2 innings, giving up three runs on five hits.
Sam Sifferlin took the loss for Capital and is now 1-1.
"Our pitching was great all day," Stechschulte added. "We made a few mistakes, but they kept us in both games and gave us a chance to win."
In Game 1, senior Austin Price (2-2) pitched all seven innings, giving up three runs and striking out a career high 11 batters.
The Crusaders got in the board in the first inning on an RBI single.
ONU would tie the game in the fourth inning on a fielders choice by LaMarca that scored Belliveau.
Capital would take the lead back in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly and tacked on an insurance run in the seventh inning.
Robert Fravel (3-1) fired a complete game for Capital, giving up one run on three hits and striking out eight.
Ohio Northern will return to action on Wednesday with a double header at St. Francis (Ind.) that begins at 2:30 pm.
