Homan lifts Indians past Versailles in ninth

VERSAILLES, Ohio — Ian Homan had just one hit and one RBI in his previous 22 plate appearances.

He broke the slump with a hit he’ll remember for quite some time.

Homan, a Fort Recovery High School sophomore, hit a two-run single in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday, leading the Tribe baseball team to a 2-1 victory over the Versailles Tigers.

The Indians (10-3, 3-1 Midwest Athletic Conference) and Tigers (7-1, 3-1 MAC) were scoreless through the first eight innings.

Reese Rogers singled to start the ninth, and Kody Shinabery followed with a walk. Ethan Schoen put runners in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, and Homan put a 1-0 pitch from Keaton McEldowney into right field to break the shutout.

Versailles trimmed the deficit in the home half of the frame on an error, and the Tigers later loaded the bases with two outs but Ben Homan induced a fly out to end the game and get the win.

Rogers led all players with three hits. Riley Post hit a double and Cade Wendel also had a single. Ian Homan, who was hitless in his previous three games, raised his batting average to .100 on the year 

It was a pitcher’s duel in every sense. Fort Recovery senior and Kent State signee Nick Thwaits struck out 11 batters and allowed one hit in five innings before giving way to Wendel. Then Wendel fanned six batters and gave up one unearned run on three hits in 3 1/3 innings of relief before Ben Homan got the final two outs.

The Tigers’ Cole Niekamp, an Ohio State commit, scattered four hits over eight innings while striking out seven and walking one. McEldowney suffered the loss in relief.