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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Buckeyes Drop Hit-fest to Louisville, 13-12

There were a lot of crooked numbers on the scoreboard and when the final out was made, Louisville emerged with a 13-12 victory over Ohio State Wednesday night in a non-conference contest at Bill Davis Stadium (box score).

The-Ozone.net Photo Gallery

Seven runs crossed the plate in the first inning when Ohio State was able to claim a 5-2 lead, but the Cardinals pulled within one, 5-4, with two in the third before getting their big inning, scoring four times in the fourth to move ahead, 8-5. They scored another run in the fifth and the Buckeyes answered with two in the bottom of the frame to close to a 9-7 score. Each team scored twice in the sixth and Louisville appeared to be in control with two more in the seventh to build a 13-9 lead.

Ohio State scored three unearned runs in the eighth to pull within the 13-12 score and the potential tying run was nabbed at the plate for the final out. Louisville threatened in the ninth, but the Buckeyes escaped unscathed. The Buckeyes got the lead-off man on in the bottom of the ninth and sacrificed him to second, but Tony Kennedy and Cory Kovanda struck out to end the game.

The teams combined for 37 hits, 19 by the Cardinals and 18 by Ohio State.

The Buckeyes got a long ball from Justin Miller, who finished the game 5-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored. His other four hits were singles. His home run was just the eighth hit by a Buckeye this season. Tony Kennedy was 3-for-6 and scored twice while the Buckeyes also got multiple hits from J.B. Shuck, Zach Hurley, Dan Burkhart and Brian DeLucia, who provided Ohio State’s only other extra-base hit, a two-run double in the first.

Buckeye pitching had allowed only 11 home runs all season, but surrendered four to the ‘Ville. Tonight, Ohio State used five different pitchers. Andrew Armstrong got the midweek nod but pitched just 3.0 innings before giving way to Drew Rucinski in the fourth. Armstrong allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits and struck out four against no walks. Josh Edgin, Alex Wimmers and Eric Best followed. Louisville used six different pitchers.

Ohio State dropped to 18-12 while Louisville, a 2007 College World Series participant, improved to 21-14.

Louisville Recap.

I would have loved to have seen this game tonight at the Bill. I like this game on the schedule and would like to see more games scheduled with teams who can help the RPI.

This weekend, third-place Ohio State (7-4) is home this weekend for four games against second-place Purdue (9-3) and the winner will be trying to keep close to Michigan (11-1), which has lost just one conference game.

12 comments:

BaseballBucks33 said...

Ready to watch the bucks play in perfect baseball weather today in Columbus. Hope the guys come to play against the Cards. IU lost to the Cards last night in the 9th. Hope the Bucks fair better.

I also read on OSU web site that we might play a DH next Wed. vs. Akron starting at 4pm. Not set in stone yet. I figured we would find a game since we lost 1 to (weather) at MSU.

Lets hope the bats are hot tonight.

rockybuckeye said...

To make up the game I would like a Thursday DH against Kentucky, heck I'd take 1 game. They're boasting a pretty high RPI, doing well, and a short drive. Would be nice to see us play more games against Lousiville, and throw in guys like Kentucky, Notre Dame, Tennessee and the such. They're are quality teams in the area in as short or shorter of a drive as Central Michigan and the likes. Softball is actually playing Kentucky today.

Lineup
Kennedy LF
Kovanda 2B
Shuck CF
Miller 1B
Hurley DH
Dew RF
DeLucia 3B
Burkhart C
Engle SS
Armstrong P

Nice to see DeLucia back in. Still no arp and/or Macke.

Buckeye Nine said...

For whatever reason Notre Dame refuses to play Ohio State. The Indians had been trying to get the two teams to play at Jacobs Field and offered to treat them like the pros for a Tuesday night game and Wednesday matinee. The Irish said it was too far to travel. Wah! The Buckeyes could improve their RPI with Kentucky and Tennessee on the schedule but it is doubtful either would visit Bill Davis Stadium. RPI is not the issue though unless you win almost 40 games to tempt the committee into an at-large bid.

Guillermo said...

Todd, are the Bucks willing to play ND in Cleveland and it is only the Irish holding things back?

Buckeye Nine said...

Yes, the Irish wouldn't agree to the games, but I'm not even sure that offer is still even on the table. It was odd, too, because the games were being proposed for mid-May after Notre Dame had completed final exams.

rockybuckeye said...

Yeah I understand about the RPI not being relevant if you only have 32 wins or whatever, but as a program as a whole I think a couple challenges even if they are losses are better than beating up MAC schools, heck we haven't even been beating them up with regularity of late.

However I do know our options are limited with classes going the entire season, the travel, and the overall amount of quality teams in the area.

Just thinking of ways the program can better itself.

BaseballBucks33 said...

Crazy game tonight. The Cards played home run derby in the 4th. Drew R was serving them up.

The Cards 3rd baseman should be in the bigs,the guy is huge and for real. What a stud he was tonight. His HR to center was half way to the practice field.

Great to see the guys battle back many times.Gus had a nice HR and we had some good AB.We had a chance to tie it in the 9th,Burkhart had a good AB to lead off the 9th with a single. We never quit that i like.

I could talk about this wild game all night.We got rocked on the hill.Wimmers and Best did well.Zack is also playing well right now.

I had heard about ND not willing to play us in Cleveland.That to me is odd.I also would like to play Kentucky some time too.Don't know if Tenn would come to Columbus.I remember a game a couple of yrs. back at the Jake, that was fun.

This was a fun game tonight with the Cards. Nice to play someone else other than a MAC school on a weeknight.Had a nice talk with a scout from Seattle also,that was cool.

Guillermo said...

After last night's game the best I can say is thank God we don't play Western Carolina again this year. They are ranked 5th in the country in HRs.....Louisville is (was) ranked 96th!

bbneedssun said...

Would like to see the team use a little more upper class leadership. The freshman are good but the team needs more "been here done that". As far as Carolina last year I think Best went 5 against them and gave up 1 earned run -no homers. But after that it was bombs away. Last evening the the young guys will learn fastball have to hid the edge and not be on the fat part of the plate.

rockybuckeye said...

Think for this weekend would like to see Rupe at SS and DeLucia at 3rd for a game or 2. Engle has slid into a bit of a funk, and DeLucia usually gets it done at the plate. These are some pretty important games we can't waste. Also give Burk a rest. How many games in a row has he been behind the plate? Throw Gusser back there.

LF Kennedy R
2B Kovanda R
CF Shuck L
C Miller R
DH Hurley L
1B Meade R
RF Dew L
3B DeLucia R
SS Rupert R

Yay, nay?

rockybuckeye said...

I just saw the post above mine..

Well when you consider who the 4th and 5th year players are...

5th
DeLucia
Macke
Kennedy
Meister

4th
Arp

Its not that surprising based on the small #'s, losing last years Juniors hurt the leadership, when you consider 2 were captains, the other Big Ten POY. And as far as I know/have heard the guys listed above do the best they can, especially Arp, and DeLucia. Kinda feel Macke and Meister are getting shafted right now, (moreso Macke) and it is probably taking its toll on morale.

BaseballBucks33 said...

Yeah it shows how far Rory has fallen when Edgin pitches before he does. I really feel bad for the kid.I also would like to see Macke play more also.I do know one thing Chris is a IF not an OF. I could not believe he put chris in RF the 9th last night and not Arp.

That is funny,i was thinking the same thing about Delucia at 3rd.He is hitting well of late.Engle and Burkhart are hitting the Frosh. slump right now.