The Ohio State baseball team can breathe a sigh and take a break from travelling because the season-opening stretch of 27 of its first 29 games on the road, including its first two Big Ten Conference series, has ended after a 16-3 loss to Minnesota Sunday at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The loss enables Minnesota to win the three-game series, 2-1, and leaves No. 18 Ohio State with a 22-7 overall mark and a 3-3 record in the Big Ten. Minnesota is 16-9 and 3-2, respectively.
Ohio State will begin a five-game homestand Wednesday with a 6:35 p.m. game against Morehead State University and then play host to its first home Big Ten series of the year Friday through Sunday vs. Michigan State. Ohio State won two of three games at Penn State last weekend before the series this weekend against the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota, using its speed to advance two bases on virtually every hit, scored a run on two hits in the first inning to grab a 1-0 lead. AJ Pettersen sped to third on Derek McCallum’s single to left and scored on a sacrifice fly by Michael Kvasnicka.
That speed on the bases, coupled with a 19-hit attack, proved to be a potent mix as Minnesota came back with seven more runs in the second off seven hits and a throwing error to lead 8-0. The home team added four more runs in each of the third and fourth innings against an array of Ohio State pitchers to put the game away.
Ohio State, at this point using a mix of starters and players into the game off the bench, scored three runs in the fifth inning off four hits. Ben Toussant had a run-scoring double down the left field line and Tyler Engle drove Toussant home with a single to center field. A third run scored off a throwing error.
That would be it for the Buckeyes’ offensively. The team totaled six hits and three runs (one unearned) against Minnesota starter Seth Rosin, who improved to 2-1 with 5.0 innings of work. Minnesota totaled 19 hits against six Ohio State pitchers, but just three hits and no runs over the final 4.2 innings.
Recap and Game Notes
Box Score
7 comments:
It is only the second inning and the game is getting very ugly for the Bucks. Minny up 5-0 in the 2nd inning with no outs. Best had an throwing error on a bunt and has given up 5 hits. 5 GIDP have been a problem for the OSU hitters this weekend too.
Ross Oltrik on the hill. Eric Best could not get any outs in the 2nd. Buckeyes down 8-0 top of the 3rd. When it rains it pours. 2 throwing error's and 7 runs on 7 hits in the 2nd inning.
I am trying to be postive but i have nothing good to say. I am going to play some golf or something. Later guys.
On April 3, 2009 at 9:47 PM I posted ….
Since the beginning of the REAL season the team is 3-3 (2-2 in meaningful games). The ace has been shelled twice, second line pitching is horrific. Hitting has been OK certainly not anything to get excited about when compared to the performance of our opponents during this stretch
On April 3, 2009 11:28 PM
Gobucks4 said...
Oh I wouldn't be so negative. There is still a lot of baseball to be played. We have a good team this year with a lot of heart. I'm really excited about this season. We WILL bounce back; I don't doubt that.
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After these posts the Bucks won 3-2 (because Minn was even more inept than we were at bringing guys in. We had 10 LOB, they had 11) and then we got hammered 16-3. Perhaps I could be construed as negative; but the 2 games after my initial comment proved both of my points ... hitting has been "OK" compared to our opponent's (just good enough in the 3-2 win) and our pitching, especially 2nd line, has been horrific (a 16-3 loss). I don't WANT to be negative ... at this point I want to be WRONG
April 7, 2009 8:42 PM
I can't believe i am saying this but i think OSU kinda needs a guy like Edgin. He was not a stud pitcher at all but he was ok and did throw a lot of midweek games. If Barrera or Minium could step up a little we will be ok. We just have to not totaly wear out the top 6 pitchers.
I hope the weather for tomorrow is decent.
Go Buckeyes!!
BT put himself in the position of not having enough pitching depth to get the team through injuries, mid-week games, etc. Hopefully he will correct that situation for next year.
Guillermo.Agreed
BB33.I'll bet every teem in the country has a guy or two that have their fans saying "gee --- if so and so could just step up a bit we'd be OK"
I hope things will change next year as far as pitching depth. OSU has to find some other arms to help out in the years to come.
Go Bucks beat the Spartans!!
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