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Sunday, May 10, 2009

Buckeyes Down Illini, 12-7 Win Series

For the second game in a row the Buckeyes bats came alive, pouding Illini pitching for 16 hits again. The 16 hits including 3 home runs, and 6 players had 2-RBI games accounting for the 12 runs.

With the win the Bucks move into a tie for 2nd with the Illini, though they hold the tiebreaker due to the series victory, and sit a half game back of Minnesota going into the final Big Ten weekend.

Minnesota 15-5
Ohio State 15-6
Illinois 15-6
Indiana 14-6

Leading the way for Ohio State at the plate were:

Cory Kovanda 4-for-5, 2 RBI
Dan Burkhart 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 2B
Justin Miller 3-for-5, 2 RBI, HR


Ryan Dew and Tyler Engle also added 2-run HR's, Michael Stephens had a 2-run double as well.

To continue the running joke, Stephens was once again HBP. My last tally was wrong, the correct total is 13 HBP, 11 HR for Stephens. Stephens was HBP in every game this series.


On the mound starter Eric Best picked up his 7th win moving to 7-3 on the season. Best throwing in his 3rd game in 7 days throw 108 pitches, allowed 6 hits, issued 6 walks, struck out 3, and gave up 5 runs all earned in 5.2 IP. Jared Strayer pitched 1 inning of no hit baseball, before giving way to closer Jake Hale who went the final 2.1 inning, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits. Hale gave up his first home run of the season, but struck out a batter and picked up his Big Ten leading 13th save.

The win clinched the Bucks 6th Big Ten series victory, but was just their 2nd win in conference play on Sunday.

A full recap of all 3 games will come tomorrow.

6 comments:

Robbie said...

I think OSU is probably in the best position for the conference title with Iowa coming to down for their final series.

4 of the last 6 said...

Minn, has looked pretty good this year(including 2-1 vs. Bucks); wouldn't count on them doing any worse vs a bad PSU team than we will vs. Iowa. Not saying it can't happen ... but I don't know that our psition is best. Both teams having the same result this weekend (a sweep or taking 2/3) is a distinct possibility ... and given that that gives them the title I'd say that their position is slightly better

BaseballBucks33 said...

Ohio State has no one to blame but themselves. If we would have taken care of business on the Friday Minny game,the Sunday game vs. PSU,NW or Michigan. We would not even be having this discussion. We are having a great season for sure,but if on Saturday OSU is not celebrating a title you have to look into the mirror first and accept what it is.

Robbie said...

PSU is still better than Iowa though, but Minnesota is definitely in a good position as well. So are the Illini playing a team with a losing record.

4 of the last 6 said...

I see that some of the luster has come off the Miami win as they are ranked 21/24 in the latest polls. The only other Buck opponents that are ranked (albeit not very high) are Louisville at 28 (we know what happened there) and Minn at 21 / only recieving votes in one poll (Bucks 1-2 against). So Bucks have 2 wins vs. "ranked" (20 / lower) opponents. Now throw in losses to EMU, Rollins, Marshall, Ball State , RI and Maine ... ouch!! Yes Bucks RPI still decent; but I have a feeling when our schedule / results are in front of the committee that they are going to be less than impressed. Must win the Big 10 tourney or it would be hard to make the case that Bucks deserve to go ahead of teams that play ranked opponents week in and week out thay may not win their conference or their tourney (like GT, Va, Clemson, WV, Missouri, Oklahoma, etc.) Besides ... winning the Big 10 championship / tourney would be neat things to do Regionals or no!!

Robbie said...

What team benefits most from a conference bye? I have to think OSU and IU both rank up there because of their lack of pitching depth. Minnesota and Illinois probably have the most pitching depth, but OSU and IU probably have the best offensive power. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens this weekend.