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Sunday, March 2, 2008

Ohio State Loses to Arkansas 8-6

Ohio State let a three-run lead evaporate before losing 8-6 to Arkansas Sunday (box score) in the team’s final game of the Dominos Pizza Classic. The team came away disappointed with its 1-2 finish this weekend, especially after having four- and three-run leads on both Texas A&M and Arkansas, respectively. A win in either game would have helped the team’s RPI. Arkansas recap.

Today’s game played out a lot like that game Friday vs. Texas A&M when Ohio State took an early lead only to see it slip away in an 8-5 loss. Arkansas struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Ohio State countered with three runs in the second and two more in the third to take a 5-2 lead before Ryan Cisterna’s two-run homer to center pulled the Razorbacks within one in the fourth. Aaron Murphree put the Razorbacks in front, 6-5, with a two-run bomb to right-center field in the bottom of the fifth. He connected for another two-run shot in the bottom of the seventh to extend the lead to 8-5. It was his third long ball of the weekend. His first was a walk-off, two-run homer Friday vs. Louisiana Tech. I’m guessing he earned a spot on the all-tournament team when it is announced after today’s second game between A&M and La Tech.

The Buckeyes added a run in the eighth to pull within the 8-6 final score. Ryan Meade got his third hit of the day when he doubled with two outs. He scored on a triple by Zach Hurley, but J.B. Shuck, the OSU starting pitcher and now the DH, struck out to end the threat.

Tony Kennedy started in centerfield where Shuck had started the first two games of the week before moving to the mound in today’s start. Kennedy misplayed a ball in the first inning that led to the second Arkansas run. Neither Shuck nor Kennedy has the range of Matt Angle, the seventh-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles last June, but both will get better. Right fielder Ryan Dew tried to make an over-the-shoulder grab in the fifth and could not come up with it. Casey Coon was able to get to second base and then scored on Murphee’s go-ahead home run. The Buckeye outfield had issues all weekend. Hopefully, they will get some outdoor practice time in Columbus this week. If not, they’ll have to keep working on it again next weekend when they’re in West Palm Beach to face Air Force, Maine and Connecticut.

Outdoor practice time is really what the team needs right now. Monday is a scheduled day off, which is too bad since the forecast in Columbus calls for a high of 63 degrees. Tuesday and Wednesday the high is not expected to reach 40. If it is dry though, I’m guessing the Buckeyes will bundle up and take fly balls on the turf field outside of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
I certainly will not make excuses for the Buckeyes, but the wind was a factor in this game. The first three Arkansas home runs benefited from the 20-mph wind blowing straight out to center. At times it was gusting to nearly 35 mph. Of course, Razorback batters are putting the ball in to the air something the Buckeyes have not been able to do. Ohio State again appears to lack power at the plate. Last year, it had only 21 home runs all season, which were the fewest since hitting 14 in 1980. In the last three seasons, the Buckeyes have not hit more than 28 home runs after hitting at least 42 in the previous 15 seasons.

Shuck pitched 5.0 innings and allowed the six runs on eight hits. He struck out two and walked four, including three in the fourth inning, in the loss. He stayed in the game as the DH, replacing Ben Toussant. Alex Wimmers took Shuck’s place on the mound and had control issues, hitting two batters and fanning three in his two innings of work. Murphree’s second homer of the game came off his offering. Eric Best pitched the bottom of the eighth.

Meade finished 3-for-4, drove in a run and scored three times. Hurley also had two hits as the Buckeyes finished with 10 hits in the game. They had double figure hit totals in all three games this weekend.

2 comments:

rockybuckeye said...

Very nice write up.

You take it for granted when you have defensive players up the middle with the range, speed, and glove of Angle. As well as the glove and arm of Fryer behind the plate.

Can you imagine this team with Luebke, Fryer, and Angle back?

But thats only a dream.

33 hit it on his comment in the last blog, the OF struggle. I understand TK is a 5th year and you want your Seniors to lead, but I believe he was up today with the bases loaded, and nothing? Might be wrong, but there was 1 huge chance that went for nothing. Dew, eventually the light has to come on. But with Arp, and Hurley producing, keep riding what is hot I say.

The IF was solid. I'm still nervous having Gus at 3B, but Meade did a good job on both sides.

Just one of those games for Shuck. Arkansas has a top 30 team, with the power (wind-aided) just wasn't his day. We were still in a position to win.

Does this look terrible?
Hurley LF
Arp RF
Shuck CF
Miller C
Meade 1B
DeLucia 3B
Engle SS
Kovanda 2B

BaseballBucks33 said...

Yes, this years team would be great with Fryer,Angle and Luebke back. But you can not be upset that trio went pro. All 3 are great ball players and even better kids.

I wish Jared Strayer would get a chance to pitch. A couple times i watched him at Kilbourne he was really good. I would think he would be a great addition to the bullpen and maybe a weekday starter?

Also wanted to know if Theron Minium is healthy? I know last year he was injured some. When he did pitch he was ok.One more option in the bullpen for middle relief is always good.

Rockybuckeye- i like that lineup,i also would rather see Gus at 1st or behind the dish.I don't really know much about Tyler Engle.Looks like he is holding his own right now.

Drew