Racers Win Non-Conference Bout with USF

LIMA, OH - A single game respite from league play saw UNOH (17-12) work through a bullpen battle for a 7-3 win over Saint Francis (16-19).

Jeremy Suarez struck out the side to start the game allowing the Racers to get on the board first. A walk, a sac bunt and a wild pitch got Nolan Hull to third before a grounder from Tyler Grigalis brought him home. The game entered the home fourth still 1-0 as the teams combined for just three hits over two and a half innings. Seth Freeman hit a lead off double, but it was the only hit of a complicated at bat that proved costly for the Cougars. A walk and an error loaded the bases and one more base on balls scored the second run of the game. Liam Hackim managed to finally get his first RBI in almost three weeks after getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. With no outs and the bases still loaded, Darius Freeman and Eliomar Otero each skied out to center field but both picked up sac flies giving UNOH a 5-1 lead. The next two hits of the game went to Saint Francis and was enough get one run back, but the next two and half innings only produced one total hit. 

The Cougars made things interesting again in the eighth after loading the bases and getting two back with a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly. The Racers saved a run thanks to a lighting fast pick off move from Elliot Traver to get a runner at third. The next batter singled followed by a hit batter and an error that reloaded the bases again. It looked like Saint Francis may clear the bases with a shot into the right center gap. Ben Jackson other plans and stole a sure three-run hit with a full-stretch diving snag at the warning track. UNOH took advantage of the opportunity and got both runs back with one swing of the bat. Darius Freeman blasted his third home run of the season over the right center fence to go back up by four 7-3. The Cougars went away in order in the ninth and the Racers took the win.

 Darius Freeman matched his career best with three RBI while going a perfect 2-2 at the plate. Eliomar Otero and Diego Clariot each finished 2-3 in the game. 

Jeremy Suarez went two and third off his first career start giving up just two hits with four strikeouts and no walks. AJ Buchman (2-0) pitched just an inning and two-thirds to earn the decision on a day that saw fifteen different pitchers toe the rubber. Buchman didn't give up a hit while striking out five and walking one. Five more pitchers combined for three innings of relief work giving up two runs and two hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Eliott Traver registered his fourth shutout of the season giving up just one hit over two innings with one strikeout and no walks. 

UNOH gets back to WHAC play with a big two-game series against Madonna on Saturday, April 15. Game one first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM at Racer Field.