News
Late runs decisive in doubleheader split
NC, ONU play pair of one-run games
September 3, 2011
Jesse Johnson ripped three hits in Newport's doubleheader split at Ohio Northern.
ADA — Late runs were the difference as Newport and Ohio Northern split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon. Newport won the opener, 6-5, and Ohio Northern claimed game two, 3-2.
Newport is now 3-6 in OAC play, 13-10 overall. Ohio Northern is 3-7 in the conference, 9-16 for the season.
“With the way we played, it’s hard to be disappointed,” Newport head coach Tony Haley said. “Even though you win the first game and you’re thinking sweep, I like the way we played. We just couldn’t put anything together against their left-hander, Valentour, in the second game.”
In the opener, the Bulldogs broke a 4-4 tie with a pair of runs in the seventh inning as Mitch Fogg (Sandusky/St. Mary’s Central Catholic) scored on a wild pitch and Chad Knittel (Jackson) chased Brad Middendorf (Fort Loramie) home with a sacrifice fly.
Zach Stakely (Pataskala/Licking Heights), pitching in relief of Kenny Branscom (Chillicothe) got the win. Stakely surrendered a run in the ONU seventh, but slammed the door with the assistance of catcher Ben Butler (Beavercreek/Carroll), who cut down a would-be base stealer to end the game.
Late-inning heroics belonged to the Polar Bears in game two.
Newport tied the game at 2-2 on a Wade Rethmel (Defiance/Tinora) RBI single in the sixth, but Ohio Northern scratched out the game-winner in the seventh inning to earn the split.
Dustin Anderson (Houston, Texas/Lakota West) took the loss in relief of Ronnie Campbell (Lynchburg/Lynchburg-Clay), who threw 4.1 innings of two-run ball.
For the doubleheader, Jason Iles (Fayetteville), Rethmel and Tyler Ledford (West Liberty/West Liberty-Salem) had three hits each.
“We’re not out of the OAC picture,” Haley said. “We still have two home doubleheaders. You have to try to sweep at home and split on the road.”
The Bulldogs will face Northern Kentucky University 7 p.m. Thursday in a nine-inning game at Florence Freedom’s Champion Window Field.
