Duquesne Tops Vikings, 6-3, In Quirky Game
    Half-hour delay precedes strange plays in field.
    Mike Ochwat scored a run on a pair of hits against Duquesne.

    Mike Ochwat scored a run on a pair of hits against Duquesne.

    April 6, 2005

    Box Score

    Eastlake, Ohio - Passed balls, wild pitches and missed bases followed a delayed start at Eastlake Ballpark on Wednesday (April 6) night, as the Vikings dropped a 6-3 decision to Duquesne. CSU could not hold a 3-2 advantage in the eighth to fall to 4-11 on the season.

    While each team committed only one error a piece, three passed balls and three wild pitches fueled both offenses in the early going before the Duquesne bats put the game away in the late innings.

    Mike Grecco smashed a two-run triple to right center and came in after the throw from right rolled into the Viking dugout for a 5-3 advantage. The Dukes added a single run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Nolan Pena.

    CSU appeared to be threatening in the bottom of the eighth when Jeff Katlen sent a deep drive to the wall in center and cruised into second base with an apparent double. After pitcher Joe Kaye appealed to first, the hit was nullified as Katlen was called out for missing first base on his way to second.

    The Vikings took an early 2-0 lead in the third. Josh Geric led off with a double to left center, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a single through the left side by Mike Ochwat. Ochwat then came around on a wild pitch and a pair of groundouts.

    The Dukes cut the lead in half in the fourth after Eric Morrison doubled and moved around on a passed ball and wild pitch. Pena came in from third to tie the game in the sixth on groundout by Grecco.

    The Vikings answered swiftly in the bottom half of the inning with an unearned run on a groundout by Kolin Kelly.

    Ochwat scored a run and drove one in on a pair of hits, while Marc Sikora tallied two hits of his own.

     

     

    The start of the game was delayed 28 minutes to complete preparation on the field.

    The Vikings will open Horizon League play this weekend against Youngstown State beginning with a 6:00 p.m. game at Eastlake Ballpark on Friday (April 8).