It was free baseball tonight in Iowa City, but it was not good for Buckeye fans as Ohio State was on the losing end of a 4-3 decision at Duane Banks Field (Box Score). The Buckeyes led 3-2 through 7 1/2 innings but gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth before Iowa won it in the home half of the 10th.
Caleb Curry led off the 10th with a single to center off OSU reliever Eric Best and went all the way to third on a wild pick-off attempt. Ohio State intentionally walked the next two batters, but a wild pitch on the second attempt was a wild pitch allowing Curry to score from third to give the last-place Hawkeyes the victory over the Bucks, which are vying for a spot in next week's Big Ten tournament.
The Buckeyes mustered just five hits, but committed three errors in the game. Iowa got six hits and played flawless defense. Four of the five hits by Ohio State went for extra bases. Tony Kennedy, Zach Hurley and Justin Miller had doubles and J.B. Shuck tripled, but the Bucks went in order in the ninth and 10th.
Iowa led 2-1 heading into the sixth before Ohio State plated two runs for the lead. Shuck's triple scored Kennedy who had led off with a double. A groundout by Miller scored Shuck for the lead.
Jake Hale allowed three runs on five hits in his 7.1-inning start. He fanned four but walked four before giving way to Best who did not allow a hit until the 10th. Best fell to 4-2.
The Buckeyes dropped to 28-23 overall and 13-14 in the Big Ten. Iowa improves to 21-31 and 9-20.
2 comments:
We win two I think we are in the B10 tourney easily... to be honest I think if we win 1 we are because I do not see NU taking more than 2 from Mich. But let’s win 4 and go in on a high!
On an unrelated note I saw on the Iowa site an article that they had the top rated 2008 recruiting class in the B10 (#49 nationally) - next highest was Mich (72) and Ill (84). You take these ranking with a grain of salt, but the OSU class in probably not in the top 100. How is that possible - good tradition (in the region), great facilities, etc. The program has been in a slow decline over the last several years with several years of mid-pack B10 finishes and the future is not looking overly bright. Anyone else have the feeling Bob Todd and Co. are on cruise control?
http://hawkeyesports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/051408aab.html
I don't know about cruise control but, we are stuck in netural.I don't really think we are in bad shape,just new to fix some stuff.I think after being at one school for 21 years you do get comforable and set in your ways.
I don't get too exicited over recruiting rankings. It is too early to tell what can happen in 3 or 4 years on a ball diamond. Some times they are good rankings,but not all the time. As i posted yesteday, i don't know who we have signed for next season. The only kids i have heard about are Cypret's son and Oltorik.
Talk to me after next year for a report on those kids.They could be the Big Ten Freshman of the year,we have no clue.
Go Buckeyes beat the Hawkeyes!
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