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KENT, Ohio (May 19, 2000) -- The fourth-seeded Ohio University Bobcats used some
late-inning heroics from pinch-hitter Cory Keylor to defeat the
top-seeded Kent State University Golden Flashes 3-1 in the Mid-American
Conference Baseball Tournament Friday at Gene Michael Field.
In the bottom of the seventh, Scott Brownlee started the Bobcat rally
after he was hit by a Dan Adams pitch. Chuck Lombardy tried to sacrifice
Brownlee over, but popped up his bunt. Kent's Dan Gutschmidt was
charging and the ball went over his head. That set up Keylor's
game-ending blast to right field, his 14th of the season.
"He threw a fastball down and inside and I was able to get a good swing
on it," Keylor said.
Walter Novosel (7-2) had a tough first inning, but settled down to
retire 15 of the last 16 Golden Flash hitters to pick up the victory.
Novosel gave up one run on four hits in the complete-game performance.
Adams (4-2) picked up the loss, giving up three runs on two hits in 1
2/3 innings.
"I hit my spots today," Novosel said. "The defense was behind me all
day."
"I thought Walt did a great job," Kent head coach Rick Rembielak said.
"After that first run, he shut us down."
The seventh-inning home run spoiled a solid outing by Kent left hander
Jason Biniker, who pitched 4 1/3 innings of five-hit shutout ball.
"They were both outstanding today," Ohio head coach Joe Carbone said.
"They went batter-to-batter and I think both guys deserve the win."
Kent (40-18) wasted no time in scoring its first run of the game. After
leadoff man Tom Martin doubled, Jess Bechard singled to left to score
Martin. After a couple of flyouts, the rally stopped as Bechard was
caught stealing second base.
Ohio (31-24-1) has a great chance to score in the third inning after
Andrew See reached on an error and Adam Foust walked. But Ryan Kyes
flied out to center and Jeff Rook struck out looking, ending the Bobcat
rally. Kent stopped Ohio rallies with double plays two consecutive
innings. In the fifth, See and Foust connected on back-to-back singles,
but Adams came on in relief and pitched Kent out of the jam, getting
Kyes to ground into the double play on his first pitch.
With the loss, Kent is eliminated from tournament play. Ohio will play
Miami Friday at 4 p.m.