AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Suffolk baseball's bats never got going and Ohio Northern jumped out to an early lead it never let go of to take down the Rams, 5-2, in game one of a twinbill Wednesday morning at Lake Myrtle Park at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 1 | Ohio Northern 5
RECORDS: Suffolk (2-7) | Ohio Northern (7-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ohio Northern opened the game with a two-run first to force Suffolk to play catch-up.
The Rams made up some ground in the top of the sixth. Max Martin and Will Robbins coupled singles together and moved over on a Polar Bears' error when Colin Flynn put down a bunt. One out later, Chris Cimino kept the single streak going with a base hit to center that brought in Suffolk's first run of the day and sliced the deficit in half, 2-1.
The Polar Bears put up three runs in the sixth to regain a multi-run advantage. The scoring came behind three hits, all singles, and a Rams' fielding mishap.
Down 5-1, Jackson Saylor fanned the first two Suffolk batters. Max Martine kept the blue-and-gold's hopes alive as he barreled a base hit to center, but a long out to left by Robbins sealed Suffolk's setback.
PITCHERS PICTURE
- Pierce Salbego took the loss. He allowed five runs, two earned, on 10 hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
- Will Talbert came out of the pen for 0.1 inning of relief.
- Saylor, who carried a no-hitter into the sixth, picked up the victory behind a one-run, four-hit, nine-strikeout complete-game effort.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Max Martin was responsible for half of Suffolk's four hits with a 2-for-3 effort. He added one run.
- Robbins and Cimino added one hit each with the latter responsible for the lone RBI.
- Flynn put down a sac.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk and Ohio Northern met for the first time.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk aims to bounce back in the nightcap against Ohio Northern.
