The Nittany Lions countered a five-run Ohio State fifth inning, which gave OSU an 8-7 lead, with six runs in its half of the fifth and two more in the eighth to improve to 14-10 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten. Ohio State, No. 16 nationally, had its three-game win streak snapped and drops to 20-4 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten.
Ohio State started two-time Big Ten pitcher of the week Alex Wimmers, but the talented sophomore managed just 2.1 innings and was followed on the mound by Andrew Armstrong, Theron Minium, Drew Rucinski and Jake Hale.
Early on it was a pedestrian, 2-1, game entering the bottom of the third inning with Ohio State in the lead thanks to a two-out, Cory Kovanda double that scored Matt Streng and Zach Hurley.
Wimmers had worked in the drizzle with a man on and nobody out in the first and second innings, allowing just one second inning run on a weak grounder to third that ended up ricocheting off the bag for an RBI hit.
The drizzle, which had stopped for Ohio State’s third inning at-bat, returned and Penn State loaded the bases with one out on a walk, bloop single and a hit-by-pitch. Another walk tied the score and when Ben Heath cleared the bases with a double to right center field, Wimmers’ day was done.
Armstrong came in but when the third inning had ended, the Nittany Lions had scored six runs off just two hits, but had benefited from six walks and the hit batsmen to take a 7-2 lead.
Ohio State came back. Tyler Engle had a two-out, RBI single in the fourth to bring the Buckeyes to within 7-3. When Michael Stephens spanked a double to right center in the fifth to score Hurley and Kovanda, who had walked and reached on a sweet bunt single, respectively, there was a new ball game at 7-5. Dan Burkhart followed with a single to right center that scored Stephens, made the score 7-6, and chased Penn State starter Calvin Brumley.
Michael Arp drew a walk off reliever Mike Lorentson and Ryan Dew singled to load the bases. Engle followed with a walk that tied the score and then Matt Streng walked for an 8-7 Ohio State lead and a successful comeback – for the time being – from five runs down.
Penn State responded with a six-run fifth inning – off five hits – to take a 13-8 lead. The big hit was a two-run double by Michael Glantz.
Scoring in its fourth consecutive inning, the Buckeyes got two runs back in the sixth off a Michael Arp sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Dew.
After Rucinski set the Penn State hitters down in order in the sixth, Ohio State scored one in the seventh – an RBI single by Stephens – to creep to within 13-11. To help the cause, Rucinski had a second consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to keep the Buckeyes within striking distance.
A second comeback in this marathon game wouldn’t happen, though. Ohio State went down in order in the eighth and had two runners on in the ninth, but couldn’t score.
Kovanda led Ohio State offensively with four hits, two runs and two RBI. Stephens had two hits and three RBI and four other Buckeyes had multi-hit games as the Buckeyes had 15 hits. Penn State scored its 15 runs off 12 hits.
Reliever David Lutz pitched 2.0 innings to pick up the win and improve to 3-0. Ryan Ignas his second save by striking out the two batters he faced in the ninth with men aboard. Reliever Theron Minium gets the loss (0-1).
Bucks Now 20-4
Box Score
Penn State Recap
Columbus Dispatch
Daily Collegian
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Ohio State Defeats Penn State 12-2, Aim for Sweep
Eric Best pitched a career-best 6.0 innings and Matt Streng hit two home runs in a game for the second time this season to lead No. 16 Ohio State to a 12-2 win over Penn State Saturday at Medlar Field. Ohio State is now 20-3 on the season and 2-0 in the Big Ten. Penn State is 13-10 and 0-2.
Best scattered six hits, gave up just two earned runs and struck out four while improving his record to 4-0 this season with the win. Drew Rucinski closed out the seventh inning and Jake Hale retired all six batters he faced in the final two innings and finished his 12th consecutive game without allowing a run.
Streng, who hit two home runs against UConn March 1, hit a solo shot in the third and a two-run blast in the seventh that gave the Buckeyes a 7-2 lead. He also had a single in the sixth (and four RBI) to lead an 18-hit Ohio State attack. Ryan Dew had four singles and scored two runs. Dan Burkhart, Justin Miller, Zach Hurley and Michael Stephens also had multi-hit games with two apiece. Streng (three runs scored) and Tyler Engle, Burkhart and Hurley (two runs apiece) joined Dew with multi-runs scored. Engle also had a pair of RBI.
Ohio State scored a run in the first and another in the third to take a 2-0 lead. Hurley scored from second base on a Stephens first-inning single and Streng sent a Scott Kelley (3-3 with the loss) pitch deep into the right field stands for a solo home run in the third, his fourth of the season.
Hurley saved a run in the fourth inning by ranging to his left into deep left center field to make a diving grab of a Jordan Steranka liner. Cory Wine would have scored from second had Hurley not made the play that preserved a 2-0 lead.
Best cruised through the first four innings by allowing only two hits and getting four strikeouts. He issued his only two walks of the game with one out in the fifth and he gave up his first run when Bobby Jacobs singled. But he got the next two hitters on ground outs to close the fifth inning with Ohio State still in the lead at 2-1.
Three consecutive two-out singles – by Dew, Tyler Engle and Streng – in the sixth inning, plus a throwing error, netted two more runs for the Buckeyes and increased the lead from 2-1 to a less-tenuous 4-1. Engle’s hit was the key hit. Making only his seventh start of the season due to injury and with just 14 at-bats, he laced a single to center to score Burkhart, who had singled earlier in the inning, from second. When the throw to the plate sailed high, both Dew and Engle moved up with Dew eventually scoring on Streng’s wicked-bounce shot off the first baseman’s chest.
Three more runs in the eighth and five more in the ninth iced the victory. Streng’s home run was the big blow in the eighth inning and the ninth-inning runs were compliments of three singles, two walks and an error.
Ohio State Recape & Game Notes
Box Score
Best scattered six hits, gave up just two earned runs and struck out four while improving his record to 4-0 this season with the win. Drew Rucinski closed out the seventh inning and Jake Hale retired all six batters he faced in the final two innings and finished his 12th consecutive game without allowing a run.
Streng, who hit two home runs against UConn March 1, hit a solo shot in the third and a two-run blast in the seventh that gave the Buckeyes a 7-2 lead. He also had a single in the sixth (and four RBI) to lead an 18-hit Ohio State attack. Ryan Dew had four singles and scored two runs. Dan Burkhart, Justin Miller, Zach Hurley and Michael Stephens also had multi-hit games with two apiece. Streng (three runs scored) and Tyler Engle, Burkhart and Hurley (two runs apiece) joined Dew with multi-runs scored. Engle also had a pair of RBI.
Ohio State scored a run in the first and another in the third to take a 2-0 lead. Hurley scored from second base on a Stephens first-inning single and Streng sent a Scott Kelley (3-3 with the loss) pitch deep into the right field stands for a solo home run in the third, his fourth of the season.
Hurley saved a run in the fourth inning by ranging to his left into deep left center field to make a diving grab of a Jordan Steranka liner. Cory Wine would have scored from second had Hurley not made the play that preserved a 2-0 lead.
Best cruised through the first four innings by allowing only two hits and getting four strikeouts. He issued his only two walks of the game with one out in the fifth and he gave up his first run when Bobby Jacobs singled. But he got the next two hitters on ground outs to close the fifth inning with Ohio State still in the lead at 2-1.
Three consecutive two-out singles – by Dew, Tyler Engle and Streng – in the sixth inning, plus a throwing error, netted two more runs for the Buckeyes and increased the lead from 2-1 to a less-tenuous 4-1. Engle’s hit was the key hit. Making only his seventh start of the season due to injury and with just 14 at-bats, he laced a single to center to score Burkhart, who had singled earlier in the inning, from second. When the throw to the plate sailed high, both Dew and Engle moved up with Dew eventually scoring on Streng’s wicked-bounce shot off the first baseman’s chest.
Three more runs in the eighth and five more in the ninth iced the victory. Streng’s home run was the big blow in the eighth inning and the ninth-inning runs were compliments of three singles, two walks and an error.
Ohio State Recape & Game Notes
Box Score
Friday, March 27, 2009
Ohio State Wins Big Ten Opener
Big innings, quality pitching lead to 8-3 win over Penn State.
A five-run fifth inning erased a 2-0 deficit and carried No. 16 Ohio State to an 8-3 win over Penn State Friday in the Big Ten Conference opener for both schools. The win improved Ohio State’s record to 19-3 and Penn State, which had won six consecutive games, drops to 13-9 on the year.
Sophomore Dean Wolosiansky allowed just five hits and two runs through 7.0 innings to improve to 4-1 on the season. Wolosiansky walked two and struck out six before giving way to Drew Rucinski in the eighth inning.
Offensively, Zach Hurley had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI and Michael Stephens and Justin Miller had two RBI apiece. The Buckeyes totaled eight hits while Penn State was held to six, half of which came in the first inning.
Penn State scored twice in that first inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Blue and Whites loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk, but Wolosiansky got hot-hitting Cory Wine - .442 avg. coming into the game – to ground into a home-to-first double play. Matt Sterenka then singled to center to drive home both runs.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, were not presenting any difficulties for Penn State starter T.J. Macy, who came in with a 2-1 record and a 1.41 ERA and with impressive outings this season against Texas and Rutgers. Macy threw double play balls in each of the first two innings, he had a three-up-three-down inning in the third and the Buckeyes’ leadoff runner in the fourth was caught stealing in another 1-2-3 inning.
The Buckeyes finally got to Macy and took the lead with a five-run fifth inning with all the runs scored with two out. Cory Rupert and Ryan Dew singled and Michael Arp and Matt Streng walked to make the score 2-1. Hurley ripped a single up the middle to score two more and, after Cory Kovanda walked, Stephens singled sharply to left to score two more and give the Buckeyes a 5-2 lead.
Three more runs in the eighth extended the lead. Hurley led off with a double and after Kovanda walked for the third time, both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Hurley scored on Stephens’ sacrifice fly and Kovanda came home on Miller’s towering home run to left field, his fourth of the season and the 29th on the year for the Buckeyes.
Wolosiansky kept the Buckeyes in the game by not allowing another through the next six innings. He helped himself by striking out the side in the fourth after giving up a leadoff single to Wine. Then he got three consecutive outs after hitting the first two batters in the fifth. He enjoyed another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth and with a runner on in the seventh, he got another strikeout and a groundout to end the inning and his fine Friday in Happy Valley.
Penn State scored a run in the ninth off Rucinski, but that would be it.
Games Notes & Release
Box Score
Penn State Recap & Release
A five-run fifth inning erased a 2-0 deficit and carried No. 16 Ohio State to an 8-3 win over Penn State Friday in the Big Ten Conference opener for both schools. The win improved Ohio State’s record to 19-3 and Penn State, which had won six consecutive games, drops to 13-9 on the year.
Sophomore Dean Wolosiansky allowed just five hits and two runs through 7.0 innings to improve to 4-1 on the season. Wolosiansky walked two and struck out six before giving way to Drew Rucinski in the eighth inning.
Offensively, Zach Hurley had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI and Michael Stephens and Justin Miller had two RBI apiece. The Buckeyes totaled eight hits while Penn State was held to six, half of which came in the first inning.
Penn State scored twice in that first inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Blue and Whites loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk, but Wolosiansky got hot-hitting Cory Wine - .442 avg. coming into the game – to ground into a home-to-first double play. Matt Sterenka then singled to center to drive home both runs.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, were not presenting any difficulties for Penn State starter T.J. Macy, who came in with a 2-1 record and a 1.41 ERA and with impressive outings this season against Texas and Rutgers. Macy threw double play balls in each of the first two innings, he had a three-up-three-down inning in the third and the Buckeyes’ leadoff runner in the fourth was caught stealing in another 1-2-3 inning.
The Buckeyes finally got to Macy and took the lead with a five-run fifth inning with all the runs scored with two out. Cory Rupert and Ryan Dew singled and Michael Arp and Matt Streng walked to make the score 2-1. Hurley ripped a single up the middle to score two more and, after Cory Kovanda walked, Stephens singled sharply to left to score two more and give the Buckeyes a 5-2 lead.
Three more runs in the eighth extended the lead. Hurley led off with a double and after Kovanda walked for the third time, both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Hurley scored on Stephens’ sacrifice fly and Kovanda came home on Miller’s towering home run to left field, his fourth of the season and the 29th on the year for the Buckeyes.
Wolosiansky kept the Buckeyes in the game by not allowing another through the next six innings. He helped himself by striking out the side in the fourth after giving up a leadoff single to Wine. Then he got three consecutive outs after hitting the first two batters in the fifth. He enjoyed another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth and with a runner on in the seventh, he got another strikeout and a groundout to end the inning and his fine Friday in Happy Valley.
Penn State scored a run in the ninth off Rucinski, but that would be it.
Games Notes & Release
Box Score
Penn State Recap & Release
Bucks open Big Ten Play; Glance at Penn State Series
The Ohio State Buckeyes, after playing their first 21 games over the course of five weekends in the state of Florida, open their 2009 Big Ten Conference campaign at Penn State Friday thru Sunday. The three-game series will be played at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, on the Penn State campus. Game times are 6:30 p.m. Friday and 2 and 1 p.m., respectively, Saturday and Sunday.
STARTERS
The Buckeyes' starters for this weekend are to be determined.
THREE-GAME SERIES RETURNS
Big Ten Conference series will consist of three nine-inning games. The league has ended its four-game series format that included a 7-inning, Saturday doubleheader and had been in place since 1981.
This Week in Ohio State Baseball
No. 16 Ohio State (18-3; 15-15/5th Big Ten Conference in 2008)
Game 22: at Penn State (13-8 2009; 27-31; 17-15/3rd in 2008)
Friday, March 27 - 6:30 p.m.
Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
Game 23: at Penn State
Saturday, March 28 - 2 p.m.
Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
Game 24: at Penn State
Sunday, March 29 - 6:30 p.m.
Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
RADIO BROADCASTS
103.9 WTDA Talk FM
INTERNET BROADCAST
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
BACK-UP LIVE STATS
gopsusports.com
OHIO STATE vs. PENN STATE
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Penn State, which began in 1958, 51-27. The teams split four games last season in Columbus. The teams are 6-6 in the last 12 games dating back to 2006. Ohio State has won nine and lost only two of the 17 four-game series with the Nittany Lions. There have been six series ties. Also:
• Ohio State is 20-12 in Big Ten series games played at State College.
• Penn State won the only series the two teams have played at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, 3-1 in 2007. The Ohio State win came in the last game and secured a spot in the Big Ten tourney.
• Ohio State is 20-14 in games at Penn State.
• Ohio State leads, 3-1 on neutral fields, and 28-12 in games played in Columbus.
Full Department of Athletics Release
STARTERS
The Buckeyes' starters for this weekend are to be determined.
THREE-GAME SERIES RETURNS
Big Ten Conference series will consist of three nine-inning games. The league has ended its four-game series format that included a 7-inning, Saturday doubleheader and had been in place since 1981.
This Week in Ohio State Baseball
No. 16 Ohio State (18-3; 15-15/5th Big Ten Conference in 2008)
Game 22: at Penn State (13-8 2009; 27-31; 17-15/3rd in 2008)
Friday, March 27 - 6:30 p.m.
Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
Game 23: at Penn State
Saturday, March 28 - 2 p.m.
Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
Game 24: at Penn State
Sunday, March 29 - 6:30 p.m.
Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
RADIO BROADCASTS
103.9 WTDA Talk FM
INTERNET BROADCAST
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
BACK-UP LIVE STATS
gopsusports.com
OHIO STATE vs. PENN STATE
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Penn State, which began in 1958, 51-27. The teams split four games last season in Columbus. The teams are 6-6 in the last 12 games dating back to 2006. Ohio State has won nine and lost only two of the 17 four-game series with the Nittany Lions. There have been six series ties. Also:
• Ohio State is 20-12 in Big Ten series games played at State College.
• Penn State won the only series the two teams have played at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, 3-1 in 2007. The Ohio State win came in the last game and secured a spot in the Big Ten tourney.
• Ohio State is 20-14 in games at Penn State.
• Ohio State leads, 3-1 on neutral fields, and 28-12 in games played in Columbus.
Full Department of Athletics Release
The Daily Collegian: Penn State begins conference play against OSU
By Eddie Gentile
Collegian Staff Writer
Heading into the weekend, the Penn State baseball team holds a six-game win streak with an average margin of victory of more than five runs.
But don't expect those numbers to soften this team's focus.
"We aren't looking back and saying 'Yea, we won six straight,' " head coach Robbie Wine said. "I think, better yet, we're looking ahead to Ohio State. Everybody is ready to start Big Ten play."
This weekend, the Penn State baseball team (13-8) will host the No. 28 Ohio State Buckeyes (18-3) at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to open the Big Ten season.
While the Nittany Lions are currently riding on the momentum of their season-best six wins in a row, the Buckeyes enter Medlar Field as one of the more talented baseball clubs in the nation.
Ohio State is the home of two of the Big Ten's top statistical pitchers. Alex Wimmers sits at a perfect 5-0 record with a 1.62 ERA as a starter and Buckeyes' hurler Drew Rucinski has racked up a 5-1 record with a 2.57 ERA.
Earlier this week, Wimmers pitched five innings of hitless baseball on only three days of rest against the No. 2 Miami Hurricanes before Rucinski entered in a relief role to allow just one hit in his three innings of work. The Buckeyes took down the Hurricanes, 7-1.
The Lions players and coach said they had no particular attack plan to crack the Buckeyes' pitching staff, but instead look to continue what has been working so well at the plate during the team's current hot streak.
"Our motto this year is try and get one run an inning, and we try to average nine runs a game," Lions outfielder Grant Youngblood said. "We're just going to have to be ready go."
Freshman third baseman Jordan Steranka and Youngblood both said the Lion batters have also been approaching the plate with one goal in mind: put the ball in play.
That one-run-an-inning philosophy and simple just-make-contact mindset has Penn State averaging more than eight runs a game in its last six contests, something pitcher Paul Cianciolo says has given him and the rest of the staff confidence on the mound by working with margin for error.
"Any pitcher on our staff has an advantage because we can go out there and put up six runs any inning," Cianciolo said. "It's huge, especially when heading into a big weekend like Ohio State. It's just great to build momentum to go against Ohio State."
Giving the Penn State pitchers confidence may play an especially large role in this weekend's Big Ten opening series.
Not only do the Buckeyes boast a talented pitching staff, but, as a team, Ohio State has the most runs for in the Big Ten -- 199 -- and the best team batting average -- .339 -- compared to Penn States 151 runs and .311 average over the same number of games.
"I haven't really looked into the stats and what they've been doing yet," Wine said Wednesday night. "You're going to have to go out there and not beat yourself and hope for a couple of breaks every once and a while."
The Lions realize the task at hand and have experience facing some of the nation's top talent as they matched up and dropped four straight against No. 9 Texas earlier this year.
But unlike then, Penn State has renewed confidence and momentum to cruise on heading into this weekend's beginning of conference play.
"We know they're a great opponent. But we've been playing well and we have a lot of confidence right now," Steranka said. "We just want to keep that going."
Penn State Student News
Collegian Staff Writer
Heading into the weekend, the Penn State baseball team holds a six-game win streak with an average margin of victory of more than five runs.
But don't expect those numbers to soften this team's focus.
"We aren't looking back and saying 'Yea, we won six straight,' " head coach Robbie Wine said. "I think, better yet, we're looking ahead to Ohio State. Everybody is ready to start Big Ten play."
This weekend, the Penn State baseball team (13-8) will host the No. 28 Ohio State Buckeyes (18-3) at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to open the Big Ten season.
While the Nittany Lions are currently riding on the momentum of their season-best six wins in a row, the Buckeyes enter Medlar Field as one of the more talented baseball clubs in the nation.
Ohio State is the home of two of the Big Ten's top statistical pitchers. Alex Wimmers sits at a perfect 5-0 record with a 1.62 ERA as a starter and Buckeyes' hurler Drew Rucinski has racked up a 5-1 record with a 2.57 ERA.
Earlier this week, Wimmers pitched five innings of hitless baseball on only three days of rest against the No. 2 Miami Hurricanes before Rucinski entered in a relief role to allow just one hit in his three innings of work. The Buckeyes took down the Hurricanes, 7-1.
The Lions players and coach said they had no particular attack plan to crack the Buckeyes' pitching staff, but instead look to continue what has been working so well at the plate during the team's current hot streak.
"Our motto this year is try and get one run an inning, and we try to average nine runs a game," Lions outfielder Grant Youngblood said. "We're just going to have to be ready go."
Freshman third baseman Jordan Steranka and Youngblood both said the Lion batters have also been approaching the plate with one goal in mind: put the ball in play.
That one-run-an-inning philosophy and simple just-make-contact mindset has Penn State averaging more than eight runs a game in its last six contests, something pitcher Paul Cianciolo says has given him and the rest of the staff confidence on the mound by working with margin for error.
"Any pitcher on our staff has an advantage because we can go out there and put up six runs any inning," Cianciolo said. "It's huge, especially when heading into a big weekend like Ohio State. It's just great to build momentum to go against Ohio State."
Giving the Penn State pitchers confidence may play an especially large role in this weekend's Big Ten opening series.
Not only do the Buckeyes boast a talented pitching staff, but, as a team, Ohio State has the most runs for in the Big Ten -- 199 -- and the best team batting average -- .339 -- compared to Penn States 151 runs and .311 average over the same number of games.
"I haven't really looked into the stats and what they've been doing yet," Wine said Wednesday night. "You're going to have to go out there and not beat yourself and hope for a couple of breaks every once and a while."
The Lions realize the task at hand and have experience facing some of the nation's top talent as they matched up and dropped four straight against No. 9 Texas earlier this year.
But unlike then, Penn State has renewed confidence and momentum to cruise on heading into this weekend's beginning of conference play.
"We know they're a great opponent. But we've been playing well and we have a lot of confidence right now," Steranka said. "We just want to keep that going."
Penn State Student News
Columbus Dispatch: Bucks eager for Big Ten
Friday, March 27, 2009 2:53 AM
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
Thousands of Ohio State students spread out across the country and around the globe last week for the much-anticipated downtime that is spring break.
Although the Buckeyes baseball team didn't hit the beaches or nightclubs and spent four days in sleepy Winter Haven, Fla., it would put its trip up against the likes of Cancun, Daytona Beach, South Padre Island and Key West any time.
Five victories in six games, including a stunning 7-1 upset of second-ranked University of Miami in Coral Gables, let Big Tens teams know Ohio State might not be the pushover it was in 2008 when conference play begins today.
"I figure the team is rolling the way we're hitting, fielding and pitching and we have a chance," pitcher Alex Wimmers said. "We could win every series and be Big Ten champs. We've played really good teams. Now, we have a target on our back."
The 16th-ranked Buckeyes (18-3) play Penn State (13-8) in the opener of a three-game series at 6:30 tonight at Lubron Park in State College, Pa.
This is the second-best start in team history after the 1991 team that was 19-2 in nonconference play on its way to a team record 52 wins.
Last year, Ohio State finished fifth in conference in the regular season with a 15-15 record and lost two games in the double-elimination Big Ten tournament.
The difference has been a lineup that is batting .350 with a .550 slugging percentage. Outfielders Zach Hurley and Michael Arp of Reynoldsburg are batting .389 and .388, respectively, and catcher Dan Burkhart .378. The team has 34 more extra-base hits than last season at this time.
The schedule has been difficult. There have been victories over four Big East teams: Notre Dame, Connecticut, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
"I think you've also got to understand that we still think we're pretty young," coach Bob Todd said. "We went through some growing pains last year with as many as seven freshmen in the lineup. These freshmen have matured a little bit and have a summer league season under their belts. They are playing with a little confidence."
The Big Ten race will be far different than in the past with three nine-inning games instead of four-game series with nine-inning games on Friday and Sunday and two seven-inning games on Saturday. There will be 24 conference games instead of 32.
Todd said the premium will be on starting pitching. Wimmers (5-0) will assume his role as ace next week after one-hitting Miami over five innings on Tuesday. Jake Hale will be the closer.
Burkhart said the Buckeyes will have to get into a Big Ten mind-set, and that means dealing with the fickle weather and opponents that know your personnel better than anyone.
"Every Big Ten game is like a championship game," he said. "(The new format) will be a little different. I think we're ready for it. I do think we have a different mentality. We're a little more fired up."
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
Thousands of Ohio State students spread out across the country and around the globe last week for the much-anticipated downtime that is spring break.
Although the Buckeyes baseball team didn't hit the beaches or nightclubs and spent four days in sleepy Winter Haven, Fla., it would put its trip up against the likes of Cancun, Daytona Beach, South Padre Island and Key West any time.
Five victories in six games, including a stunning 7-1 upset of second-ranked University of Miami in Coral Gables, let Big Tens teams know Ohio State might not be the pushover it was in 2008 when conference play begins today.
"I figure the team is rolling the way we're hitting, fielding and pitching and we have a chance," pitcher Alex Wimmers said. "We could win every series and be Big Ten champs. We've played really good teams. Now, we have a target on our back."
The 16th-ranked Buckeyes (18-3) play Penn State (13-8) in the opener of a three-game series at 6:30 tonight at Lubron Park in State College, Pa.
This is the second-best start in team history after the 1991 team that was 19-2 in nonconference play on its way to a team record 52 wins.
Last year, Ohio State finished fifth in conference in the regular season with a 15-15 record and lost two games in the double-elimination Big Ten tournament.
The difference has been a lineup that is batting .350 with a .550 slugging percentage. Outfielders Zach Hurley and Michael Arp of Reynoldsburg are batting .389 and .388, respectively, and catcher Dan Burkhart .378. The team has 34 more extra-base hits than last season at this time.
The schedule has been difficult. There have been victories over four Big East teams: Notre Dame, Connecticut, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
"I think you've also got to understand that we still think we're pretty young," coach Bob Todd said. "We went through some growing pains last year with as many as seven freshmen in the lineup. These freshmen have matured a little bit and have a summer league season under their belts. They are playing with a little confidence."
The Big Ten race will be far different than in the past with three nine-inning games instead of four-game series with nine-inning games on Friday and Sunday and two seven-inning games on Saturday. There will be 24 conference games instead of 32.
Todd said the premium will be on starting pitching. Wimmers (5-0) will assume his role as ace next week after one-hitting Miami over five innings on Tuesday. Jake Hale will be the closer.
Burkhart said the Buckeyes will have to get into a Big Ten mind-set, and that means dealing with the fickle weather and opponents that know your personnel better than anyone.
"Every Big Ten game is like a championship game," he said. "(The new format) will be a little different. I think we're ready for it. I do think we have a different mentality. We're a little more fired up."
Yahoo/Rivals.Com NCAA Projection
A bit on the same as SEBaseball put out. Kendall Rogers who does a great job covering college baseball nationally for Yahoo and Rivals.com has released his own 64team NCAA projections. Only difference in the Columbus Regional, Kent State is the #4 seed, and Rhode Island, who beat the Buckeyes earlier this season, replace Xavier and is a projected #3 seed.
For the most part these are silly and fairly useless this early, but its great that people who cover college baseball nationally have recognized the start and potential the team has.
Rivals.com/Yahoo Projection
For the most part these are silly and fairly useless this early, but its great that people who cover college baseball nationally have recognized the start and potential the team has.
Rivals.com/Yahoo Projection
Thursday, March 26, 2009
SEBaseball Regional Projections: Ohio State Hosting & #1 Seed
Yes there is still two months left before the committee selects participants to the 2009 NCAA Baseball Tournament, but its always good when you see things like this, regardless of the stage in the season.
Mark Etheridge who does a great job covering baseball in the southeastern portion of the country will do weekly NCAA field projections, with who would make the field of 64 if the season ended today, regional host and sites, and national seeds.
As of now Etheridge sees Ohio State hosting a Regional and being the #1 seed in the Regional. Also in the Columbus Regional would be Kentucky as the #2 seed from the SEC via at-large birth, Kent State as the #3 via an auto bid from the MAC, and Xavier as the #4 as the auto bid from the A-10.
Ohio State is currently being viewed favorably off the strength of its 18-3 record which has produced an RPI of 16 according to Boyd's World. The Bucks have a chance to solidify its RPI and national rankings with a successful two weeks as Penn State has an RPI of 113, non-conference Xavier 57, and next weekend Big Ten opponent Minnesota sits at 20.
Ohio State has not hosted a Regional since 2003, and if the Bucks take care of the chances in front of them, the schedule is shaping out to end the drought.
SEBaseball's Regional Projection
Boyd's World RPI
Mark Etheridge who does a great job covering baseball in the southeastern portion of the country will do weekly NCAA field projections, with who would make the field of 64 if the season ended today, regional host and sites, and national seeds.
As of now Etheridge sees Ohio State hosting a Regional and being the #1 seed in the Regional. Also in the Columbus Regional would be Kentucky as the #2 seed from the SEC via at-large birth, Kent State as the #3 via an auto bid from the MAC, and Xavier as the #4 as the auto bid from the A-10.
Ohio State is currently being viewed favorably off the strength of its 18-3 record which has produced an RPI of 16 according to Boyd's World. The Bucks have a chance to solidify its RPI and national rankings with a successful two weeks as Penn State has an RPI of 113, non-conference Xavier 57, and next weekend Big Ten opponent Minnesota sits at 20.
Ohio State has not hosted a Regional since 2003, and if the Bucks take care of the chances in front of them, the schedule is shaping out to end the drought.
SEBaseball's Regional Projection
Boyd's World RPI
Wimmers, Rucinski, Hale combine to 1 hit #2 Miami in 7-1 Win
Apologies for the later delay, traveling around and haven't had an internet connection. Haven't quite learned how to actually post entries from the cell phone yet. Also now that our adventure of being The Ohio State University at Florida is over, I can attend games and do more than just depend on the Department of Athletics for recaps.
A trio of Ohio State pitchers, led by starter and winner Alex Wimmers (now 5-0), one-hit the No. 2 Miami Hurricanes and the Buckeye bats did more than enough to secure a 7-1 victory Tuesday before 1,755 fans at Alex Rodriguez Park. Ohio State, ranked 16th in the Collegiate Baseball poll, improves to 18-3 with the win while Miami, No. 2 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, falls to 18-5.
Wimmers, pitching on three days rest for the first time as a collegian, was a warrior, pitching 5.0 innings without allowing a base hit. He exited with the Buckeyes up, 6-1, with a first inning Miami run unearned and set up by two errors and a walk. Wimmers walked five and struck out two for the game.
He was replaced in the sixth by Drew Rucinski, who worked 3.0 innings with his only base runners the result of a first-batter-faced single and a walk allowed in the seventh.
Hale then came in and slammed the door shut on a win for the 11th time this season. He struck out two of the three batters he faced. In all, Hale and Rucinski faced 14 batters and allowed just one hit and one walk.
“We pitched Alex on three days rest and we didn’t expect that he was going to give us a complete game, but he competed and when he left in the fifth inning he hadn’t given up a hit,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. “We were also being very conscious of the fact that we have conference play this weekend at Penn State.
“So Drew Rucinski came in and gave us three quality innings and, most importantly, he was able to throw strikes with three pitches. And it’s great to see that Jake Hale has bitten into the idea that he wants to be our closer and he did a great job, too.
“Any time a team has confidence in a pitcher in the late innings, it really helps the psyche of the team and they play with much more confidence.”
Ohio State scored four times in the top of the third inning – off five hits and one error – to chase Miami starter Daniel Miranda (1-2) and claim a 4-1 lead. Ryan Dew and Matt Streng opened with doubles down the opposite lines to tie the score at 1-1. Zach Hurley singled and Cory Kovanda walked, and after both moved up on a nicely executed sac bunt by Michael Stephens, both scored on a soft, two-out single to right center field by Dan Burkhart, with Kovanda hustling and diving head first to beat the throw to the plate.
Four Buckeye errors through the first five innings hurt the team’s pride more than the score. Two first-inning errors allowed Miami to score without getting a hit. In the fourth inning, another error put the leadoff runner on board, but a 6-4-3 double play erased the error, and Wimmers was able to get another ground out to escape the inning with a 4-1 lead.
Another heads up play got the Buckeyes out of the fifth inning unscathed after Wimmers walked the leadoff batter. Cory Rupert leaped to snare a high line drive. He threw wide to first, but Matt Streng chased the ball down and fired a strike to Kovanda at second who tagged out the sliding runner.
Ohio State increased its lead to 6-1 off a two-run home run from Michael Arp – his third of the season – to deep left field in the top of the sixth inning. Also scoring on the play was Burkhart, who led off with a single.
Ohio State’s final run came off a throwing error by the Miami second baseman in the ninth. Arp peeled around from second to score after he walked and was sacrificed over by Ryan Dew.
For the game, Ohio State had seven runs, eight hits and four errors. The Hurricanes had one run off one hit and committed two errors.
Burkhart had two hits, an RBI and a run scored and Arp had two runs scored and two RBI to lead the Buckeyes’ offensively.
Game Notes & Recap
Box Score
A trio of Ohio State pitchers, led by starter and winner Alex Wimmers (now 5-0), one-hit the No. 2 Miami Hurricanes and the Buckeye bats did more than enough to secure a 7-1 victory Tuesday before 1,755 fans at Alex Rodriguez Park. Ohio State, ranked 16th in the Collegiate Baseball poll, improves to 18-3 with the win while Miami, No. 2 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, falls to 18-5.
Wimmers, pitching on three days rest for the first time as a collegian, was a warrior, pitching 5.0 innings without allowing a base hit. He exited with the Buckeyes up, 6-1, with a first inning Miami run unearned and set up by two errors and a walk. Wimmers walked five and struck out two for the game.
He was replaced in the sixth by Drew Rucinski, who worked 3.0 innings with his only base runners the result of a first-batter-faced single and a walk allowed in the seventh.
Hale then came in and slammed the door shut on a win for the 11th time this season. He struck out two of the three batters he faced. In all, Hale and Rucinski faced 14 batters and allowed just one hit and one walk.
“We pitched Alex on three days rest and we didn’t expect that he was going to give us a complete game, but he competed and when he left in the fifth inning he hadn’t given up a hit,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. “We were also being very conscious of the fact that we have conference play this weekend at Penn State.
“So Drew Rucinski came in and gave us three quality innings and, most importantly, he was able to throw strikes with three pitches. And it’s great to see that Jake Hale has bitten into the idea that he wants to be our closer and he did a great job, too.
“Any time a team has confidence in a pitcher in the late innings, it really helps the psyche of the team and they play with much more confidence.”
Ohio State scored four times in the top of the third inning – off five hits and one error – to chase Miami starter Daniel Miranda (1-2) and claim a 4-1 lead. Ryan Dew and Matt Streng opened with doubles down the opposite lines to tie the score at 1-1. Zach Hurley singled and Cory Kovanda walked, and after both moved up on a nicely executed sac bunt by Michael Stephens, both scored on a soft, two-out single to right center field by Dan Burkhart, with Kovanda hustling and diving head first to beat the throw to the plate.
Four Buckeye errors through the first five innings hurt the team’s pride more than the score. Two first-inning errors allowed Miami to score without getting a hit. In the fourth inning, another error put the leadoff runner on board, but a 6-4-3 double play erased the error, and Wimmers was able to get another ground out to escape the inning with a 4-1 lead.
Another heads up play got the Buckeyes out of the fifth inning unscathed after Wimmers walked the leadoff batter. Cory Rupert leaped to snare a high line drive. He threw wide to first, but Matt Streng chased the ball down and fired a strike to Kovanda at second who tagged out the sliding runner.
Ohio State increased its lead to 6-1 off a two-run home run from Michael Arp – his third of the season – to deep left field in the top of the sixth inning. Also scoring on the play was Burkhart, who led off with a single.
Ohio State’s final run came off a throwing error by the Miami second baseman in the ninth. Arp peeled around from second to score after he walked and was sacrificed over by Ryan Dew.
For the game, Ohio State had seven runs, eight hits and four errors. The Hurricanes had one run off one hit and committed two errors.
Burkhart had two hits, an RBI and a run scored and Arp had two runs scored and two RBI to lead the Buckeyes’ offensively.
Game Notes & Recap
Box Score
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Rollins Upends Bucks 4-1
The No. 16 Ohio State baseball team had its nine-game winning streaked snapped, 4-1, Monday afternoon against Rollins College. The Buckeyes, who moved up to No. 16 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball rankings, will carry a 17-3 record into its Tuesday night contest at No. 6 Miami. Rollins improved to 18-12 on the year.
Two Tars’ pitchers – starter Marc Hewett and Robbie Pagano – held the Buckeye bats in check by giving up just five hits with the only run scored on a Dan Burkhart single in the fourth inning. Hewett, who left the game at the start of the seventh inning due to a leg cramp, improved to 3-1 with the win. Pagano recorded his first save of the year.
Michael Stephens had two of the Buckeyes’ five hits. Both were doubles. He scored on Burkhart’s single to cut into a 3-0 Rollins lead. The Tars built the lead on Ohio State starter Andrew Armstrong (1-1) with a two-run first inning home run by Bryan Bennett and a solo shot from Jesse More in the third.
Armstrong gave up just one more run the rest of the way in pitching the first complete game of his career. He scattered 10 hits, walked only one and had five strikeouts.
Bucks Win Streak Snpped
Box Score
Two Tars’ pitchers – starter Marc Hewett and Robbie Pagano – held the Buckeye bats in check by giving up just five hits with the only run scored on a Dan Burkhart single in the fourth inning. Hewett, who left the game at the start of the seventh inning due to a leg cramp, improved to 3-1 with the win. Pagano recorded his first save of the year.
Michael Stephens had two of the Buckeyes’ five hits. Both were doubles. He scored on Burkhart’s single to cut into a 3-0 Rollins lead. The Tars built the lead on Ohio State starter Andrew Armstrong (1-1) with a two-run first inning home run by Bryan Bennett and a solo shot from Jesse More in the third.
Armstrong gave up just one more run the rest of the way in pitching the first complete game of his career. He scattered 10 hits, walked only one and had five strikeouts.
Bucks Win Streak Snpped
Box Score
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Hartford's Rally Comes Up Short, Bucks win 9th in a Row
The No. 22 Ohio State baseball team won its ninth consecutive game with a 9-8 win over Hartford Sunday at Chain of Lakes Field. The win improved the team’s record to 17-2 on the season. Hartford drops to 1-10.
Ohio State starting pitcher Ross Oltorik, a true freshman, pitched a career-long 5.0 innings, allowing just one run off six hits to record his initial collegiate win against no losses. He struck out a career-best five batters and walked three in his best performance to date as a Buckeye.
Oltorik had a couple of one-two-three innings, including striking out the side in the fourth, and he successfully got himself through a couple of tight situations. In the second inning with Ohio State up 2-0, Oltorik got through a bases loaded with nobody out pinch with a fly ball and a thank-you-very-much one-two-three double play with Oltorik fielding a one-hopper and throwing to Dan Burkhart for the force at home. Burkhart then threw to first to get the batter.
In the fifth inning, Oltorik faced a bases loaded with one out exam. He passed this test with flying colors as well, getting back-to-back strikeouts of the four and five hitters and fist-pumping all the way to the bench at the end of the inning to close the scorebook on his first collegiate win.
Meanwhile, the Ohio State offense was chipping away at a handful of Hawk pitchers and building a 9-1 lead. Zach Hurley led off the game with a triple and he scored on a groundout. Michael Stephens followed with a single and scored on Justin Miller’s single for a quick, 2-0 lead.
Consecutive doubles by Ryan Dew and Michael Arp plated another run for a 3-1 lead after the Buckeyes’ second, and then Ohio State scored four times in the seventh off four hits and two Hartford errors. Hurley, Cory Kovanda, Michael Stephens and Miller all singled and scored runs off Hartford reliever Matt Govoni.
Three consecutive two-out doubles in the eighth – by Kovanda, Chris Griffin and Miller – increased the lead to 9-1.
Miller led the Buckeyes offensively with four hits and three RBI. The senior captain recorded his 55th career multi-hit game and his three RBI represented the 35th time he has had multiple RBIs in a game.
The first four hitters for Ohio State – Hurley, Kovanda, Stephens and Miller – all had multiple hits as did Ryan Dew and Michael Arp, and the Buckeyes totaled 16 hits on the afternoon.
Hartford rallied with four runs in the eighth inning and another three in the ninth – with half of its 14 hits coming in those two innings – before closer Jake Hale came in to get the final three outs for his fourth save of the season and his 10th consecutive game finished without allowing a run.
Bucks now 17-2
BoxScore
Ohio State starting pitcher Ross Oltorik, a true freshman, pitched a career-long 5.0 innings, allowing just one run off six hits to record his initial collegiate win against no losses. He struck out a career-best five batters and walked three in his best performance to date as a Buckeye.
Oltorik had a couple of one-two-three innings, including striking out the side in the fourth, and he successfully got himself through a couple of tight situations. In the second inning with Ohio State up 2-0, Oltorik got through a bases loaded with nobody out pinch with a fly ball and a thank-you-very-much one-two-three double play with Oltorik fielding a one-hopper and throwing to Dan Burkhart for the force at home. Burkhart then threw to first to get the batter.
In the fifth inning, Oltorik faced a bases loaded with one out exam. He passed this test with flying colors as well, getting back-to-back strikeouts of the four and five hitters and fist-pumping all the way to the bench at the end of the inning to close the scorebook on his first collegiate win.
Meanwhile, the Ohio State offense was chipping away at a handful of Hawk pitchers and building a 9-1 lead. Zach Hurley led off the game with a triple and he scored on a groundout. Michael Stephens followed with a single and scored on Justin Miller’s single for a quick, 2-0 lead.
Consecutive doubles by Ryan Dew and Michael Arp plated another run for a 3-1 lead after the Buckeyes’ second, and then Ohio State scored four times in the seventh off four hits and two Hartford errors. Hurley, Cory Kovanda, Michael Stephens and Miller all singled and scored runs off Hartford reliever Matt Govoni.
Three consecutive two-out doubles in the eighth – by Kovanda, Chris Griffin and Miller – increased the lead to 9-1.
Miller led the Buckeyes offensively with four hits and three RBI. The senior captain recorded his 55th career multi-hit game and his three RBI represented the 35th time he has had multiple RBIs in a game.
The first four hitters for Ohio State – Hurley, Kovanda, Stephens and Miller – all had multiple hits as did Ryan Dew and Michael Arp, and the Buckeyes totaled 16 hits on the afternoon.
Hartford rallied with four runs in the eighth inning and another three in the ninth – with half of its 14 hits coming in those two innings – before closer Jake Hale came in to get the final three outs for his fourth save of the season and his 10th consecutive game finished without allowing a run.
Bucks now 17-2
BoxScore
Buckeyes Sweep Cadets, Improve to 16-2
No. 22 Ohio State defeated Army twice Saturday at Chain of Lakes Field, 3-1 and 8-4, to improve to 16-2 on the season and extend its winning streak to eight games. Army, which had come into the day a winner of four consecutive games, drops to 6-8 overall.
A five-run third inning broke a 3-all tie in the nightcap and gave the Buckeyes a comfortable, five-run cushion, 8-3. The big inning included four hits and two Cadet errors. Michael Stephens and Ryan Dew each singled and scored in the inning and Cory Rupert walked and scored. All three scored on the big hit of the inning: Matt Streng’s bases-loaded triple, his third of the year, down the right field line.
Starter Eric Best picked up a win in his third consecutive appearance. He also pitched at least 5.0 innings for the third consecutive game. The junior, now 3-0 on the season, gave up five hits and three runs before turning the game over to Drew Rucinski in the sixth inning.
Army scored a run in the sixth to creep to within 8-4, but Jake Hale came into the game in the seventh and, for the eighth consecutive game, allowed no runs and finished out an Ohio State win.
For the Buckeyes offensively, Streng led with two hits, two runs scored and the three RBI. Zach Hurley and Dew also had two hits.
A combined two-hitter from Dean Wolosiansky and Drew Rucinski, coupled with just enough run support, enabled the Buckeyes to win game one against Army, 3-1.
Ohio State starter Wolosiansky (3-1) went 4.1 innings and allowed just one hit and one run before exiting in the fifth. Rucinski came on in relief and pitched the final 2.2 innings without allowing a run to get his second save of the season.
Rupert hit a solo home run over the 380-foot mark in left center field – his second of the year – to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead. The Cadets matched the score with a run in the third off a walk, sacrifice and RBI double by Zach Price.
Army left a man on from the second through the sixth innings, but Dan Burkhart gunned down a runner attempting to steal third in the fourth, and Rucinski struck out two looking to end the fifth inning and halt two of Army’s best chances to add to its score.
Stephens opened the fifth with a triple over the center fielder’s head and scored on Burkhart’s sacrifice fly, giving the Buckeyes the lead once again at 2-1. Ohio State added an insurance run in the seventh. Cory Kovanda singled, went to second on a sacrifice, to third on a passed ball and he scored on Justin Miller’s sacrifice fly.
Recap and Game Notes
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
A five-run third inning broke a 3-all tie in the nightcap and gave the Buckeyes a comfortable, five-run cushion, 8-3. The big inning included four hits and two Cadet errors. Michael Stephens and Ryan Dew each singled and scored in the inning and Cory Rupert walked and scored. All three scored on the big hit of the inning: Matt Streng’s bases-loaded triple, his third of the year, down the right field line.
Starter Eric Best picked up a win in his third consecutive appearance. He also pitched at least 5.0 innings for the third consecutive game. The junior, now 3-0 on the season, gave up five hits and three runs before turning the game over to Drew Rucinski in the sixth inning.
Army scored a run in the sixth to creep to within 8-4, but Jake Hale came into the game in the seventh and, for the eighth consecutive game, allowed no runs and finished out an Ohio State win.
For the Buckeyes offensively, Streng led with two hits, two runs scored and the three RBI. Zach Hurley and Dew also had two hits.
A combined two-hitter from Dean Wolosiansky and Drew Rucinski, coupled with just enough run support, enabled the Buckeyes to win game one against Army, 3-1.
Ohio State starter Wolosiansky (3-1) went 4.1 innings and allowed just one hit and one run before exiting in the fifth. Rucinski came on in relief and pitched the final 2.2 innings without allowing a run to get his second save of the season.
Rupert hit a solo home run over the 380-foot mark in left center field – his second of the year – to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead. The Cadets matched the score with a run in the third off a walk, sacrifice and RBI double by Zach Price.
Army left a man on from the second through the sixth innings, but Dan Burkhart gunned down a runner attempting to steal third in the fourth, and Rucinski struck out two looking to end the fifth inning and halt two of Army’s best chances to add to its score.
Stephens opened the fifth with a triple over the center fielder’s head and scored on Burkhart’s sacrifice fly, giving the Buckeyes the lead once again at 2-1. Ohio State added an insurance run in the seventh. Cory Kovanda singled, went to second on a sacrifice, to third on a passed ball and he scored on Justin Miller’s sacrifice fly.
Recap and Game Notes
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Wimmers 14 K's, Buckeyes 14 Wins
Alex Wimmers Strikes Out 14 in 2-0 Win
Alex Wimmers pitched his second consecutive gem, going the distance, striking out 14 and not walking a batter, and Ohio State scored twice in the seventh inning for a 2-0 win over Indiana Friday at Chain of Lakes Field. The win, in a wonderfully pitched ball game by both teams that did not feature an extra base hit, was Ohio State’s sixth consecutive and improved its record to 14-2. Indiana drops to 7-12.
“A great effort by Wimmers,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said after the game. “He really pitched well and then he got stronger once we were able to give him the lead.”
One week after striking out 15 Pitt Panthers and earning a “Louisville Slugger” Player of the Week award, Wimmers was even more dominant as he allowed only five singles to an Indiana team that was hitting .338 overall, second in the Big Ten to Ohio State’s .357 average entering the game. His 9.0 scoreless innings lowered his earned run average to 1.85 on the season and his record improves to a perfect, 4-0.
But it wasn’t just Wimmers who was hot. Indiana freshman left-hander Blake Monar (2-1) was also cruising and in control. Monar went 7.0 innings and allowed just four hits while walking two and striking out six.
Both pitchers were so good, in fact, that the first real drama didn’t occur until the top of the sixth inning. Indiana stroked two singles in the inning sandwiched around two more Wimmers strikeouts – Nos. eight and nine of the game – and up to the plate came the dangerous All-American catcher Josh Phegley.
On a one-one pitch count, Phegley sent a high fly ball into right foul territory that sure-handed Michael Arp would have made the play on had he not tripped over the bullpen pitcher’s mound and taken a nasty, dirt-cloud forming spill. He got back up, though, dusted off and one pitch later Wimmers rewarded Arp’s hustle by slamming a one-two pitch by the .422-hitting Phegley to end the inning.
Monar came back with a three-strikeout bottom of the sixth and the two teams went into the seventh inning still tied at 0-0.
Not to be outdone, Wimmers got through his portion of the seventh by throwing just four pitches. After Alex Dickerson led off with a first pitch single, Wimmers got a two-pitch force play at second and a one-pitch, textbook, 6-4-3 double play by Cory Rupert, Cory Kovanda and Matt Streng to end the inning.
The breakthrough run came in the bottom of the seventh. Dan Burkhart and Rupert led off with singles and when Ryan Dew hit a screamer that the second baseman couldn’t handle, Burkhart scored from second and Rupert moved to third. Arp ripped a single to right to score Rupert and the Buckeyes had a 2-0 lead.
Looking as strong as ever, Wimmers retired the side in order in the eighth, including two more strikeouts.
The sophomore came out in the ninth to try and make it back-to-back complete game wins, but to do so, he would have to face the top of the Hoosiers’ order. T.C. Knipp led off with a single, but Wimmers got called third strikes on Jerrud Sabourin, who has led the Big Ten in hitting for much of the early spring, and Phegley to give him 14 for the game and 29 over the course of the last two games. Alan Dickerson then grounded out to Rupert and the Buckeyes had a terrific win in a classic ball game.
Ohio State continues its spring break games with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday against Army. First pitch, in what we are learning will be seven-inning double headers, is set for 1 p.m. at Chain of Lakes Field.
Game Notes and Recap
Box Score
Alex Wimmers pitched his second consecutive gem, going the distance, striking out 14 and not walking a batter, and Ohio State scored twice in the seventh inning for a 2-0 win over Indiana Friday at Chain of Lakes Field. The win, in a wonderfully pitched ball game by both teams that did not feature an extra base hit, was Ohio State’s sixth consecutive and improved its record to 14-2. Indiana drops to 7-12.
“A great effort by Wimmers,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said after the game. “He really pitched well and then he got stronger once we were able to give him the lead.”
One week after striking out 15 Pitt Panthers and earning a “Louisville Slugger” Player of the Week award, Wimmers was even more dominant as he allowed only five singles to an Indiana team that was hitting .338 overall, second in the Big Ten to Ohio State’s .357 average entering the game. His 9.0 scoreless innings lowered his earned run average to 1.85 on the season and his record improves to a perfect, 4-0.
But it wasn’t just Wimmers who was hot. Indiana freshman left-hander Blake Monar (2-1) was also cruising and in control. Monar went 7.0 innings and allowed just four hits while walking two and striking out six.
Both pitchers were so good, in fact, that the first real drama didn’t occur until the top of the sixth inning. Indiana stroked two singles in the inning sandwiched around two more Wimmers strikeouts – Nos. eight and nine of the game – and up to the plate came the dangerous All-American catcher Josh Phegley.
On a one-one pitch count, Phegley sent a high fly ball into right foul territory that sure-handed Michael Arp would have made the play on had he not tripped over the bullpen pitcher’s mound and taken a nasty, dirt-cloud forming spill. He got back up, though, dusted off and one pitch later Wimmers rewarded Arp’s hustle by slamming a one-two pitch by the .422-hitting Phegley to end the inning.
Monar came back with a three-strikeout bottom of the sixth and the two teams went into the seventh inning still tied at 0-0.
Not to be outdone, Wimmers got through his portion of the seventh by throwing just four pitches. After Alex Dickerson led off with a first pitch single, Wimmers got a two-pitch force play at second and a one-pitch, textbook, 6-4-3 double play by Cory Rupert, Cory Kovanda and Matt Streng to end the inning.
The breakthrough run came in the bottom of the seventh. Dan Burkhart and Rupert led off with singles and when Ryan Dew hit a screamer that the second baseman couldn’t handle, Burkhart scored from second and Rupert moved to third. Arp ripped a single to right to score Rupert and the Buckeyes had a 2-0 lead.
Looking as strong as ever, Wimmers retired the side in order in the eighth, including two more strikeouts.
The sophomore came out in the ninth to try and make it back-to-back complete game wins, but to do so, he would have to face the top of the Hoosiers’ order. T.C. Knipp led off with a single, but Wimmers got called third strikes on Jerrud Sabourin, who has led the Big Ten in hitting for much of the early spring, and Phegley to give him 14 for the game and 29 over the course of the last two games. Alan Dickerson then grounded out to Rupert and the Buckeyes had a terrific win in a classic ball game.
Ohio State continues its spring break games with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday against Army. First pitch, in what we are learning will be seven-inning double headers, is set for 1 p.m. at Chain of Lakes Field.
Game Notes and Recap
Box Score
Friday, March 20, 2009
Game 16: Revenge.
Starting the Spring Break trip is a game tonight versus the Indiana Hoosiers.
Last season the upstart Hoosiers who earned the 6th and last seed to the Big Ten Tournament, ended Ohio State's season in the first game of the losers bracket in the double-elimination tournament.
Due to the Big Ten's scheduling process, the Hoosiers as in 2008 are not on the Bucks 2009 conference schedule, and tonights game will be considered a non-league game. Indiana was picked by Baseball America to win the Big Ten, and trout out on of the best catchers in college baseball in Junior Josh Phegley. Hopefully Burkhart can continue his hot start, show he's the Big Ten's best catcher, and the Bucks finally get rid of that sour taste from last seasons end.
Update: The start of the game is being delayed due to rain. The estimated start time is 6:30 PM.
Update 2: Well now its 7:30 and no start, but it appears the game will start before 7:45. The audio feed from IU is up and playing, just music right now.
Update 3: 7:47 and the game is underway.
Tonight's lineup:
Hurley lf
Kovanda 2b
Stephens cf
Miller 3b
Burkhart c
Rupert ss
Dew dh
Arp rf
Streng 1b
Wimmers sp
Live audio is provided by Indiana free of charge by listening Here
Go Bucks!
Last season the upstart Hoosiers who earned the 6th and last seed to the Big Ten Tournament, ended Ohio State's season in the first game of the losers bracket in the double-elimination tournament.
Due to the Big Ten's scheduling process, the Hoosiers as in 2008 are not on the Bucks 2009 conference schedule, and tonights game will be considered a non-league game. Indiana was picked by Baseball America to win the Big Ten, and trout out on of the best catchers in college baseball in Junior Josh Phegley. Hopefully Burkhart can continue his hot start, show he's the Big Ten's best catcher, and the Bucks finally get rid of that sour taste from last seasons end.
Update: The start of the game is being delayed due to rain. The estimated start time is 6:30 PM.
Update 2: Well now its 7:30 and no start, but it appears the game will start before 7:45. The audio feed from IU is up and playing, just music right now.
Update 3: 7:47 and the game is underway.
Tonight's lineup:
Hurley lf
Kovanda 2b
Stephens cf
Miller 3b
Burkhart c
Rupert ss
Dew dh
Arp rf
Streng 1b
Wimmers sp
Live audio is provided by Indiana free of charge by listening Here
Go Bucks!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wimmers Racks Up the Awards
Alex Wimmers’ 15-strikeout, complete game win over Pittsburgh Friday has earned the sophomore from Cincinnati recognition as a “Louisville Slugger” National Player of the Week. The Archbishop Moeller graduate was also honored by the Big Ten Conference this week as its co-pitcher of the week.
Collegiate Baseball, which selects the “Louisville Slugger” honorees each week, released its Top 30 poll and the Buckeyes, winners of five consecutive games and now 13-2 on the season, have climbed to No. 22 in the nation.
Wimmers, 3-0 with a team-low 2.52 earned run average in 25.0 innings pitched, logged 9.0 innings in the 20-3 win over Pitt. He scattered six hits and allowed three earned runs while walking only two. He gave up a first inning, two-run home run and then was overpowering the rest of the way in registering the most strikeouts in a game by a Buckeye since Major Leaguer Scott Lewis struck out 16 Indiana Hoosiers on April 18, 2003.
Referring to his performance, Wimmers said after the game that “everything was working. My curveball was working. My change was working with the lefties. I felt good the whole game. I just went out there and competed the best I could. Dan [Burkhart] called a great game. He and I just kept talking in between innings about what we wanted to do out there and it paid off. A couple guys hit me hard but thank goodness our offense picked me up today.”
Burkhart who has played baseball with Wimmers since they were nine-years-old and has caught him hundreds of times, including as teammates at Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller H.S., was impressed with what he saw and caught during the game.
“I don’t think I’ve every seen his curveball better and his off-speed pitch was on the whole day,” Burkhart said after the game.
Wimmers struck out the side in the first inning. He added two more strikeouts in each of the second and third innings to tie his career high of seven in one game. When he got Danny Lopez swinging to start the fourth inning, Wimmers had set a new career best with his eighth of the game. And he wasn’t done...strikeout-wise or inning-wise.
“I liked the fact that Alex wanted to go out there in the eighth and ninth innings and finish the game,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said afterward. “He competed for us and that was good to see.”
Wimmers leads the Big Ten in strikeouts (33) and ranks among the conference’s top 10 in ERA (2.52) and opponents’ batting average (.237).
Ohio State Release
Louisville Slugger Player of the Week Release & Collegiate Baseball Rankings
Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week
Collegiate Baseball, which selects the “Louisville Slugger” honorees each week, released its Top 30 poll and the Buckeyes, winners of five consecutive games and now 13-2 on the season, have climbed to No. 22 in the nation.
Wimmers, 3-0 with a team-low 2.52 earned run average in 25.0 innings pitched, logged 9.0 innings in the 20-3 win over Pitt. He scattered six hits and allowed three earned runs while walking only two. He gave up a first inning, two-run home run and then was overpowering the rest of the way in registering the most strikeouts in a game by a Buckeye since Major Leaguer Scott Lewis struck out 16 Indiana Hoosiers on April 18, 2003.
Referring to his performance, Wimmers said after the game that “everything was working. My curveball was working. My change was working with the lefties. I felt good the whole game. I just went out there and competed the best I could. Dan [Burkhart] called a great game. He and I just kept talking in between innings about what we wanted to do out there and it paid off. A couple guys hit me hard but thank goodness our offense picked me up today.”
Burkhart who has played baseball with Wimmers since they were nine-years-old and has caught him hundreds of times, including as teammates at Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller H.S., was impressed with what he saw and caught during the game.
“I don’t think I’ve every seen his curveball better and his off-speed pitch was on the whole day,” Burkhart said after the game.
Wimmers struck out the side in the first inning. He added two more strikeouts in each of the second and third innings to tie his career high of seven in one game. When he got Danny Lopez swinging to start the fourth inning, Wimmers had set a new career best with his eighth of the game. And he wasn’t done...strikeout-wise or inning-wise.
“I liked the fact that Alex wanted to go out there in the eighth and ninth innings and finish the game,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said afterward. “He competed for us and that was good to see.”
Wimmers leads the Big Ten in strikeouts (33) and ranks among the conference’s top 10 in ERA (2.52) and opponents’ batting average (.237).
Ohio State Release
Louisville Slugger Player of the Week Release & Collegiate Baseball Rankings
Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week
No Time to Relax; 6 Games in 6 Days for Spring Break Trip
The Ohio State Buckeyes are heading on spring break this week...finally! After finals week this week and four straight weeks of travel to places like St. Petersburg, Winter Haven, Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, Fla., for four-games-in-three days action, the team will take off Thursday afternoon for six games over the course of five days.
This Week in Ohio State Baseball
No. 22 Ohio State (13-2) on Spring Break in Winter Haven, Orlando and Miami...
Game 16: vs. Indiana (6-10 2009; 31-30 in 2008)
Friday, March 20 - 6 p.m. (Note: this is a new start time!)
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Games 17-18: vs. Army (5-7 2009; 25-25 in 2008)
Saturday, March 21 - 1 & 4 p.m.
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Game 19: vs. Hartford (1-7 2009; 18-31 in 2008)
Sunday, March 22 - 11 a.m.
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Game 20: at Rollins (17-9 2009; 29-24-1 in 2008)
Monday, March 23 - 1:30 p.m.
Alfond Stadium; Winter Park, Fla.
Game 21: at No. 9 Miami (15-3 2009; 53-11 in 2008)
Tuesday, March 24 - 6 p.m.
Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Stadium; Coral Gables, Fla.
Scouting the Spring Break Opponents
• Indiana, 6-10 after a Tuesday loss to E. Illinois, is in central Florida all this week on spring break. The game with Ohio State will be IU’s second-to-the-last on its trip. The two teams do not meet for a Big Ten series this year. Led by Jerrud Sabourin (.475) and Josh Phegley (.412) the team is hitting .340 and has a 5.43 ERA.
• Army, 5-6, has won three consecutive games (Sacred Heart, No. Iowa and Central Florida). The Black Knights, who have scored as many as 17 runs in one game this season, have four players hitting over .365 led by Kyle Fleming (.429). The team has swiped 25 bases.
• Hartford is 1-7, including four losses at New Mexico State to open the season, and has had four games cancelled due to weather. The team runs a Big Ten test with games vs. Indiana, Illinois and Ohio State this week. Hartford is led by Mike Amendola’s .481 avg.
• Rollins, a Division II school in the Sunshine State Conf., has five wins over DI programs and is 16-9. The Tars (it means sailor) are hitting .342 as a team and two starters - Tim Griffin and Stephen Hiscock - have four wins each.
• Miami is 15-3 overall and 5-1 in the ACC. The ‘Canes play a three-game series at unbeaten Virginia this weekend and host Top 10 school Georgia Tech three days after the Ohio State game. Miami boasts a team ERA of 3.14 against a mighty schedule with 145 strikeouts vs. 55 walks. The team averages just under 10 runs per game.
LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
RANKINGS
Five consecutive wins and a 13-2 record has the Buckeyes climbing in the polls. The team moved from No. 30 to No. 22 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball poll and it made its debut in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll at No. 30.
Entire release including directions and a recap of last weekend
This Week in Ohio State Baseball
No. 22 Ohio State (13-2) on Spring Break in Winter Haven, Orlando and Miami...
Game 16: vs. Indiana (6-10 2009; 31-30 in 2008)
Friday, March 20 - 6 p.m. (Note: this is a new start time!)
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Games 17-18: vs. Army (5-7 2009; 25-25 in 2008)
Saturday, March 21 - 1 & 4 p.m.
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Game 19: vs. Hartford (1-7 2009; 18-31 in 2008)
Sunday, March 22 - 11 a.m.
Chain of Lakes Field; Winter Haven, Fla.
Game 20: at Rollins (17-9 2009; 29-24-1 in 2008)
Monday, March 23 - 1:30 p.m.
Alfond Stadium; Winter Park, Fla.
Game 21: at No. 9 Miami (15-3 2009; 53-11 in 2008)
Tuesday, March 24 - 6 p.m.
Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Stadium; Coral Gables, Fla.
Scouting the Spring Break Opponents
• Indiana, 6-10 after a Tuesday loss to E. Illinois, is in central Florida all this week on spring break. The game with Ohio State will be IU’s second-to-the-last on its trip. The two teams do not meet for a Big Ten series this year. Led by Jerrud Sabourin (.475) and Josh Phegley (.412) the team is hitting .340 and has a 5.43 ERA.
• Army, 5-6, has won three consecutive games (Sacred Heart, No. Iowa and Central Florida). The Black Knights, who have scored as many as 17 runs in one game this season, have four players hitting over .365 led by Kyle Fleming (.429). The team has swiped 25 bases.
• Hartford is 1-7, including four losses at New Mexico State to open the season, and has had four games cancelled due to weather. The team runs a Big Ten test with games vs. Indiana, Illinois and Ohio State this week. Hartford is led by Mike Amendola’s .481 avg.
• Rollins, a Division II school in the Sunshine State Conf., has five wins over DI programs and is 16-9. The Tars (it means sailor) are hitting .342 as a team and two starters - Tim Griffin and Stephen Hiscock - have four wins each.
• Miami is 15-3 overall and 5-1 in the ACC. The ‘Canes play a three-game series at unbeaten Virginia this weekend and host Top 10 school Georgia Tech three days after the Ohio State game. Miami boasts a team ERA of 3.14 against a mighty schedule with 145 strikeouts vs. 55 walks. The team averages just under 10 runs per game.
LIVE STATS
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
RANKINGS
Five consecutive wins and a 13-2 record has the Buckeyes climbing in the polls. The team moved from No. 30 to No. 22 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball poll and it made its debut in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll at No. 30.
Entire release including directions and a recap of last weekend
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Bakers Dozen: 13 Runs Lead to Buckeyes 13th Win
Buckeyes Improve to 13-2 riding triples, Home Runs, and pitching to 13-4 win over NDSU
Dan Burkhart and Michael Arp hit home runs while Cory Kovanda had two triples in support of a fine start by Dean Wolosiansky and Ohio State won its fifth consecutive game, 13-4 over North Dakota State Sunday at the Santaluces Sports Complex.
Ohio State, ranked 30th by Collegiate Baseball, improves to 13-2 on the season. North Dakota State drops to 1-8.
Burkhart and Arp each had three hits to lead the Buckeyes’ offense. Burkhart’s fourth home run of the season was a two-run shot in the first inning that gave Ohio State a 3-0 lead. Arp, who had three RBI and scored three times, hit a solo shot in the fourth for his second home run in as many games. Matt Streng had three RBI and Zach Hurley also had couple of hits and an RBI for the Buckeyes.
Wolosiansky, a sophomore, kept the Bison at bay. He pitched a career-high tying 7.0 innings to pick up the win and improve his record to 2-1 this season. Wolosiansky also tied his career high with eight strikeouts while scattering six hits, giving up three earned runs and walking three.
Jake Hale came in and pitched the final six outs of the game. The big senior struck out five and allowed just one hit in his two innings of work. He finished a game for Ohio State for the eighth consecutive time.
Dan Burkhart and Michael Arp hit home runs while Cory Kovanda had two triples in support of a fine start by Dean Wolosiansky and Ohio State won its fifth consecutive game, 13-4 over North Dakota State Sunday at the Santaluces Sports Complex.
Ohio State, ranked 30th by Collegiate Baseball, improves to 13-2 on the season. North Dakota State drops to 1-8.
Burkhart and Arp each had three hits to lead the Buckeyes’ offense. Burkhart’s fourth home run of the season was a two-run shot in the first inning that gave Ohio State a 3-0 lead. Arp, who had three RBI and scored three times, hit a solo shot in the fourth for his second home run in as many games. Matt Streng had three RBI and Zach Hurley also had couple of hits and an RBI for the Buckeyes.
Wolosiansky, a sophomore, kept the Bison at bay. He pitched a career-high tying 7.0 innings to pick up the win and improve his record to 2-1 this season. Wolosiansky also tied his career high with eight strikeouts while scattering six hits, giving up three earned runs and walking three.
Jake Hale came in and pitched the final six outs of the game. The big senior struck out five and allowed just one hit in his two innings of work. He finished a game for Ohio State for the eighth consecutive time.
Hits Keep on Coming, Bucks Get 37 Hits in DH Sweep
The Buckeyes hit five home runs in wins over SIUE and UMBC, win game 1 13-10, game 2 16-9.
The Ohio State baseball team defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 13-10, and Maryland Baltimore County, 16-9, Saturday at the Santaluces Sports Complex behind 37 combined hits in the two games and five home runs. The 30th-ranked Buckeyes have won four consecutive games and are 12-2 on the season.
The team’s starting outfield of left fielder Zach Hurley, center fielder Michael Stephens and right fielder Michael Arp did the most damage Saturday as the trio combined for 16 hits, 14 runs batted in and nine runs scored.
Justin Miller (three hits, three runs and three RBI vs. UMBC) and Dan Burkhart (hits in both games to extend his hitting streak to 17 consecutive games) also hit home runs – against UMBC – and Ohio State has now hit 24 home runs in 14 games after hitting 19 home runs all last season.
Game 1
In the first game of the day, Ohio State scored three unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 10-10 tie and defeat SIU Edwardsville, 13-10. Drew Rucinski picked up the win with 2.2 innings of effective relief work to improve to 5-1 on the year. Hale recorded the final out of the game with two men on base to record his third save of the season.
The Cougars, a pesky sort in their first season of Division I baseball as members of the Ohio Valley Conference, kept coming at the Buckeyes despite trailing by 6-1 and 9-5 margins. Three home runs hit into the nice breeze from home plate helped, as did the biggest hit of the game: a clear-the-bases double by Chase Thrasher that tied the score at 10-apiece in the sixth inning.
Rucinski, who replaced Jared Strayer who had replaced starter Andrew Armstrong (5.1 innings pitched), got out of a key two-on with no out situation in the bottom of the seventh with two strikeouts and a fly out to preserve the tie ball game.
In the ninth inning, Ohio State scored its runs off three hits and two errors. Burkhart scored the go-ahead run on Arp’s single. Ryan Dew, who also singled in the inning, and Arp scored insurance runs for the Scarlet and Gray.
Offensively, all nine Ohio State offensive starters had hits and scored runs in the SIUE game. Stephens hit a solo home run in the first inning and Hurley had a three run home run in the second inning, part of a three-hit game for the junior. Three more Buckeyes joined them with multi-hit games: Cory Rupert (3-4 with a run scored); Arp (two hits, two RBI and two runs scored); and Cory Kovanda (two hits and two runs scored).
Game 2
Eric Best pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just three earned runs, didn’t walk a batter and struck out six to get the win in the Maryland Baltimore County game. The junior, making his first start since the 2007 season, improved to 2-0 on the season.
A six-run fifth inning propelled the Buckeyes past UMBC. With the score tied at 3-apiece, Ohio State sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning with six of them getting hits, including three home runs in the inning by Stephens leading off, Burkhart with one man on board and a solo shot by Arp.
The Retrievers countered with two in their half of the fifth, but Ohio State, which has scored 49 runs in three games this weekend, plated seven more the rest of the way to win going away.
Jake Hale pitched the ninth inning and did not allow a run for his seventh consecutive appearance, and he finished a game for his Big Ten leading seventh time.
Ohio State caps its West Palm Beach weekend with a 12:30 p.m. game Sunday against North Dakota State. Sophomore Dean Wolosiansky (1-1) will be on the mound for the Buckeyes.
Recap and Game Notes
SIUE Box Score
UMBC Box Score
The Ohio State baseball team defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 13-10, and Maryland Baltimore County, 16-9, Saturday at the Santaluces Sports Complex behind 37 combined hits in the two games and five home runs. The 30th-ranked Buckeyes have won four consecutive games and are 12-2 on the season.
The team’s starting outfield of left fielder Zach Hurley, center fielder Michael Stephens and right fielder Michael Arp did the most damage Saturday as the trio combined for 16 hits, 14 runs batted in and nine runs scored.
Justin Miller (three hits, three runs and three RBI vs. UMBC) and Dan Burkhart (hits in both games to extend his hitting streak to 17 consecutive games) also hit home runs – against UMBC – and Ohio State has now hit 24 home runs in 14 games after hitting 19 home runs all last season.
Game 1
In the first game of the day, Ohio State scored three unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 10-10 tie and defeat SIU Edwardsville, 13-10. Drew Rucinski picked up the win with 2.2 innings of effective relief work to improve to 5-1 on the year. Hale recorded the final out of the game with two men on base to record his third save of the season.
The Cougars, a pesky sort in their first season of Division I baseball as members of the Ohio Valley Conference, kept coming at the Buckeyes despite trailing by 6-1 and 9-5 margins. Three home runs hit into the nice breeze from home plate helped, as did the biggest hit of the game: a clear-the-bases double by Chase Thrasher that tied the score at 10-apiece in the sixth inning.
Rucinski, who replaced Jared Strayer who had replaced starter Andrew Armstrong (5.1 innings pitched), got out of a key two-on with no out situation in the bottom of the seventh with two strikeouts and a fly out to preserve the tie ball game.
In the ninth inning, Ohio State scored its runs off three hits and two errors. Burkhart scored the go-ahead run on Arp’s single. Ryan Dew, who also singled in the inning, and Arp scored insurance runs for the Scarlet and Gray.
Offensively, all nine Ohio State offensive starters had hits and scored runs in the SIUE game. Stephens hit a solo home run in the first inning and Hurley had a three run home run in the second inning, part of a three-hit game for the junior. Three more Buckeyes joined them with multi-hit games: Cory Rupert (3-4 with a run scored); Arp (two hits, two RBI and two runs scored); and Cory Kovanda (two hits and two runs scored).
Game 2
Eric Best pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just three earned runs, didn’t walk a batter and struck out six to get the win in the Maryland Baltimore County game. The junior, making his first start since the 2007 season, improved to 2-0 on the season.
A six-run fifth inning propelled the Buckeyes past UMBC. With the score tied at 3-apiece, Ohio State sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning with six of them getting hits, including three home runs in the inning by Stephens leading off, Burkhart with one man on board and a solo shot by Arp.
The Retrievers countered with two in their half of the fifth, but Ohio State, which has scored 49 runs in three games this weekend, plated seven more the rest of the way to win going away.
Jake Hale pitched the ninth inning and did not allow a run for his seventh consecutive appearance, and he finished a game for his Big Ten leading seventh time.
Ohio State caps its West Palm Beach weekend with a 12:30 p.m. game Sunday against North Dakota State. Sophomore Dean Wolosiansky (1-1) will be on the mound for the Buckeyes.
Recap and Game Notes
SIUE Box Score
UMBC Box Score
Friday, March 13, 2009
Wimmers 15 K's Complete Game, Bats 20 Hit, 20 Runs in Victory
Wimmers CG, 3 ER, 1 BB, 15 K's vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
Sophomore Alex Wimmers struck out a career high, as well as Ohio State and Big Ten season high 15 batters, in his first career complete game, a 20-3 victory over the Pitt Panthers. Wimmers had plenty of support for the Buckeye bats, as for the second time this season, Ohio State collects 20 hits and scores 20 runs in a game. The Buckeyes are red hot at the plate, banging out 39 hits in the last 2 games, and currently are batting .338 on the season.
Leading the way at the plate where the 2-3-4 batters for the Bucks who had three hits each. Cory Kovanda went 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. Hitting behind Kovanda, Michael Stephens went went 3-for-4 as with with 2 more runs. Senior captain Justin Miller, the teams clean-up hitter, went 3-for-5 on the night with 5 RBI, 2 runs, and a home run.
More to come later when the official game release and box score is published. Ohio State is now 10-2 on the season and have two games tomorrow in West Palm Beach.
Wimmers Big Game
Box Score
Sophomore Alex Wimmers struck out a career high, as well as Ohio State and Big Ten season high 15 batters, in his first career complete game, a 20-3 victory over the Pitt Panthers. Wimmers had plenty of support for the Buckeye bats, as for the second time this season, Ohio State collects 20 hits and scores 20 runs in a game. The Buckeyes are red hot at the plate, banging out 39 hits in the last 2 games, and currently are batting .338 on the season.
Leading the way at the plate where the 2-3-4 batters for the Bucks who had three hits each. Cory Kovanda went 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. Hitting behind Kovanda, Michael Stephens went went 3-for-4 as with with 2 more runs. Senior captain Justin Miller, the teams clean-up hitter, went 3-for-5 on the night with 5 RBI, 2 runs, and a home run.
More to come later when the official game release and box score is published. Ohio State is now 10-2 on the season and have two games tomorrow in West Palm Beach.
Wimmers Big Game
Box Score
Thursday, March 12, 2009
9-2 Buckeyes Travel to West Palm Beach for Four
Team faces Pitt and three first time opponents: SIUE, UMBC and NDSU
Ohio State, which survived through a 2-2 weekend last week to remain nationally ranked for a third consecutive week - No. 30 by Collegiate Baseball - will look to strengthen that ranking with four games this weekend as part of the Palm Beach Baseball Classic. All four games will be played at the Santaluces Sports Complex.
Opponents for the Buckeyes this week include regional rival Pittsburgh at 6 p.m. Friday followed by games against first-time opponents SIU Edwardsville, Maryland Baltimore County and North Dakota State.
Palm Beach Baseball Classic
Santaluces Sports Complex in
West Palm Beach, Fla.
Game 12: vs. Pittsburgh
(5-4 2009; 19-34 in 2008)
Friday, March 13 - 6 p.m.
Game 13: vs. SIU Edwardsville
(1-5 2009; 25-26 in 2008)
Saturday, March 14 - 12:30 p.m.
Game 14: vs. Maryland Baltimore Co.
(1-2 2009; 21-29 in 2008)
Saturday, March 14 - 3:30 p.m.
Game 15: vs. North Dakota State
(1-6 2009; 15-30 in 2008)
Sunday, March 15 - 12 noon
Ohio State probable rotation:
Fri. vs. Pitt - Alex Wimmers (2-0; 2.25 ERA)
Sat. vs. SIUE - Andrew Armstrong (1-0; 2.25)
Sat. vs. UMBC - Eric Best (1-0; 5.84)
Sun. vs. NDSU - D. Wolosiansky (1-1; 12.15)
THE OPPONENTS THIS WEEK (SO FAR)
Pittsburgh had its four-game winning streak end Wednesday with an 11-6 loss at No. 6 Miami. The 5-4 Panthers got a complete game win from David Kaye Tuesday in a 6-0 win over SIU Edwardsville. 3B Joe Leonard (.323 in 2009), SS Danny Lopez (.360 with 12 RBI) and 1B Chris Warrner (.200) each hit seven home runs in 2008. C Cory Brownsten (.389, 2 HR, 9 RBI) and INF Chris Sedon (.536, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 5 SBs) are also offensive threats. The team is hitting .303 and the staff has a 4.16 ERA.
SIU Edwardsville, 1-8 this season, is coming off a 22-12 loss to St. Joseph’s Wednesday. The Cougars play Long Island Friday. The Cougars are transitioning from the Great Lakes Valley Conference to the Ohio Valley Conference. Leading the way is senior INF Josh Street (10 RBI in 2009), who hit .407 in 2008 with 26 doubles and 54 RBI. OFs Adam Eggemeyer and Chase Thrasher are hitting .355 and .353, respectively. The team is hitting .289 and its team ERA is 7.01.
UMBC players hit five home runs Monday but lost to Yale, 17-11, to drop to 1-4 on the year. The Retrievers are coming off a 5-4 loss at Towson State Wednesday. 1B Shawn Retz has 3 HRs and is hitting .357. OF Bryan Russo is hitting .462 with two HRs. LHP Ed Bach (0-1, 6.75) pitched 79.1 innings in 2008 as a starter.
North Dakota State led powerful Wichita State, 3-2, in the seventh inning before losing 5-3 during its first series of the year. The Bison, from Fargo, N.D., are 1-6 on the season and play Pittsburgh Saturday. NDSU is led by Summit League player of the week Eric Nutzhorn (.478 avg., 10 RBI) and the Zach duo of Zach Heidmann (.444) and Zach Wentz (.423). John Straka and Josh Smith headline a rebuilt staff.
FOLLOW THE ACTION via LIVE STATS
Track the action through Live Stats, available on OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Click on the Live Stats link on the main home page in the upper right hand corner or through the baseball schedule page to access.
Full Ohio State Weekly Release
Ohio State, which survived through a 2-2 weekend last week to remain nationally ranked for a third consecutive week - No. 30 by Collegiate Baseball - will look to strengthen that ranking with four games this weekend as part of the Palm Beach Baseball Classic. All four games will be played at the Santaluces Sports Complex.
Opponents for the Buckeyes this week include regional rival Pittsburgh at 6 p.m. Friday followed by games against first-time opponents SIU Edwardsville, Maryland Baltimore County and North Dakota State.
Palm Beach Baseball Classic
Santaluces Sports Complex in
West Palm Beach, Fla.
Game 12: vs. Pittsburgh
(5-4 2009; 19-34 in 2008)
Friday, March 13 - 6 p.m.
Game 13: vs. SIU Edwardsville
(1-5 2009; 25-26 in 2008)
Saturday, March 14 - 12:30 p.m.
Game 14: vs. Maryland Baltimore Co.
(1-2 2009; 21-29 in 2008)
Saturday, March 14 - 3:30 p.m.
Game 15: vs. North Dakota State
(1-6 2009; 15-30 in 2008)
Sunday, March 15 - 12 noon
Ohio State probable rotation:
Fri. vs. Pitt - Alex Wimmers (2-0; 2.25 ERA)
Sat. vs. SIUE - Andrew Armstrong (1-0; 2.25)
Sat. vs. UMBC - Eric Best (1-0; 5.84)
Sun. vs. NDSU - D. Wolosiansky (1-1; 12.15)
THE OPPONENTS THIS WEEK (SO FAR)
Pittsburgh had its four-game winning streak end Wednesday with an 11-6 loss at No. 6 Miami. The 5-4 Panthers got a complete game win from David Kaye Tuesday in a 6-0 win over SIU Edwardsville. 3B Joe Leonard (.323 in 2009), SS Danny Lopez (.360 with 12 RBI) and 1B Chris Warrner (.200) each hit seven home runs in 2008. C Cory Brownsten (.389, 2 HR, 9 RBI) and INF Chris Sedon (.536, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 5 SBs) are also offensive threats. The team is hitting .303 and the staff has a 4.16 ERA.
SIU Edwardsville, 1-8 this season, is coming off a 22-12 loss to St. Joseph’s Wednesday. The Cougars play Long Island Friday. The Cougars are transitioning from the Great Lakes Valley Conference to the Ohio Valley Conference. Leading the way is senior INF Josh Street (10 RBI in 2009), who hit .407 in 2008 with 26 doubles and 54 RBI. OFs Adam Eggemeyer and Chase Thrasher are hitting .355 and .353, respectively. The team is hitting .289 and its team ERA is 7.01.
UMBC players hit five home runs Monday but lost to Yale, 17-11, to drop to 1-4 on the year. The Retrievers are coming off a 5-4 loss at Towson State Wednesday. 1B Shawn Retz has 3 HRs and is hitting .357. OF Bryan Russo is hitting .462 with two HRs. LHP Ed Bach (0-1, 6.75) pitched 79.1 innings in 2008 as a starter.
North Dakota State led powerful Wichita State, 3-2, in the seventh inning before losing 5-3 during its first series of the year. The Bison, from Fargo, N.D., are 1-6 on the season and play Pittsburgh Saturday. NDSU is led by Summit League player of the week Eric Nutzhorn (.478 avg., 10 RBI) and the Zach duo of Zach Heidmann (.444) and Zach Wentz (.423). John Straka and Josh Smith headline a rebuilt staff.
FOLLOW THE ACTION via LIVE STATS
Track the action through Live Stats, available on OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Click on the Live Stats link on the main home page in the upper right hand corner or through the baseball schedule page to access.
Full Ohio State Weekly Release
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Buckeyes Pound Out 19 Hits in 16-7 Win
No. 25 Ohio State pounded 19 hits, including two more home runs, and defeated Central Michigan, 16-7, Sunday at Chain of Lakes Field. The win improved Ohio State’s record to 9-2 while Central Michigan drops to 3-7.
Cory Kovanda led the Ohio State offense with a career-high tying four hits while red-hot Dan Burkhart – 11-game hitting streak and 19 RBI on the season – and Michael Arp had three hits apiece. Arp also scored three times. All nine Ohio State offensive starters had hits and all nine scored runs.
Pitcher Drew Rucinski pitched 3.1 innings in relief to improve his record to 4-1 on the season. He leads the Big Ten Conference in wins. Jake Hale finished his Big Ten-leading fifth game of the season. Dan Taylor (1-2) took the loss for CMU.
Ohio State built an early 3-0 lead against Taylor with a five-hit second inning. Cory Rupert got things started with a one-out double and freshman Brad Hallberg drove him home with a single to left followed by aggressive base running and coaching from third-base mentor Pete Jenkins. Hallberg advanced to second on the throw to the plate and he scored on Arp’s double to right center. Zach Hurley’s single to right center scored Arp. Kovanda followed with a perfect bunt single up the third base line, but Taylor got out of the inning with the help of a called third strike.
Back-to-back Central Michigan errors in the third inning put the Chippewas in bind and the Buckeyes capitalized by scoring five runs off three hits. Matt Streng’s three-run home run – his team-leading third of the season – over the 380-foot mark in left center field was a crushing blow that extended Ohio State’s lead to 8-0.
Central Michigan rallied a bit with three runs in each of the fifth and eighth innings plus one in the seventh, but the Buckeyes, in no way willing to let this lead slip away as they did in two earlier losses this weekend, put up four more runs in each of the seventh and ninth innings to put the game away.
Michael Stephens joined Streng when he hit his third home run of the season in the seventh, a three-run shot, and the team’s ninth inning included five singles and a CMU error, it’s seventh of the game.
Alex Wimmers started and pitched 4.1 innings before leaving in the fifth with the bases loaded and one out. Rucinski replaced Wimmers and gave up two run-scoring hits before retiring the side with the Buckeyes’ lead now at 8-3. Wimmers was credited with the three runs, all of them earned. He scattered five hits, struck out four and walked five.
Rucinski, throwing strikes with Ohio State maintaining a significant lead, allowed seven hits, four runs (three of them earned) and he struck out four and walked only one. Hale pitched the final four outs of the game, including throwing to sophomore catcher D.J. Hanlin in the ninth inning. Hanlin, giving Burkhart a much deserved inning off, was seeing his first collegiate action.
Central Michigan threatened in the first. Two, two-out walks after a leadoff single loaded the bases with Chippewas, but Wimmers battled through an eight-pitch, full-count at-bat to strike out Sam Russell looking to end the inning. Wimmers was in control form that point until the fifth.
Recap and Game Notes
Box Score
Cory Kovanda led the Ohio State offense with a career-high tying four hits while red-hot Dan Burkhart – 11-game hitting streak and 19 RBI on the season – and Michael Arp had three hits apiece. Arp also scored three times. All nine Ohio State offensive starters had hits and all nine scored runs.
Pitcher Drew Rucinski pitched 3.1 innings in relief to improve his record to 4-1 on the season. He leads the Big Ten Conference in wins. Jake Hale finished his Big Ten-leading fifth game of the season. Dan Taylor (1-2) took the loss for CMU.
Ohio State built an early 3-0 lead against Taylor with a five-hit second inning. Cory Rupert got things started with a one-out double and freshman Brad Hallberg drove him home with a single to left followed by aggressive base running and coaching from third-base mentor Pete Jenkins. Hallberg advanced to second on the throw to the plate and he scored on Arp’s double to right center. Zach Hurley’s single to right center scored Arp. Kovanda followed with a perfect bunt single up the third base line, but Taylor got out of the inning with the help of a called third strike.
Back-to-back Central Michigan errors in the third inning put the Chippewas in bind and the Buckeyes capitalized by scoring five runs off three hits. Matt Streng’s three-run home run – his team-leading third of the season – over the 380-foot mark in left center field was a crushing blow that extended Ohio State’s lead to 8-0.
Central Michigan rallied a bit with three runs in each of the fifth and eighth innings plus one in the seventh, but the Buckeyes, in no way willing to let this lead slip away as they did in two earlier losses this weekend, put up four more runs in each of the seventh and ninth innings to put the game away.
Michael Stephens joined Streng when he hit his third home run of the season in the seventh, a three-run shot, and the team’s ninth inning included five singles and a CMU error, it’s seventh of the game.
Alex Wimmers started and pitched 4.1 innings before leaving in the fifth with the bases loaded and one out. Rucinski replaced Wimmers and gave up two run-scoring hits before retiring the side with the Buckeyes’ lead now at 8-3. Wimmers was credited with the three runs, all of them earned. He scattered five hits, struck out four and walked five.
Rucinski, throwing strikes with Ohio State maintaining a significant lead, allowed seven hits, four runs (three of them earned) and he struck out four and walked only one. Hale pitched the final four outs of the game, including throwing to sophomore catcher D.J. Hanlin in the ninth inning. Hanlin, giving Burkhart a much deserved inning off, was seeing his first collegiate action.
Central Michigan threatened in the first. Two, two-out walks after a leadoff single loaded the bases with Chippewas, but Wimmers battled through an eight-pitch, full-count at-bat to strike out Sam Russell looking to end the inning. Wimmers was in control form that point until the fifth.
Recap and Game Notes
Box Score
Buckeyes Split DH, Now 8-2
Ohio State lost its second game of the season, 10-7, to Maine Saturday in Winter Haven, Fla. Coupled with a win earlier in the day over Northeastern, Ohio State is now 8-2 on the season. Maine evened its record at 5-5.
Against the Black Bears, Ohio State built a 4-1 lead behind a four-run third inning. Matt Streng had an RBI triple, Zach Hurley followed with an RBI double and Justin Miller contributed an RBI double for the big hits of the inning.
Another run in the fourth, on a Ryan Dew run-scoring single, extended the lead to 5-1.
But like its loss to Rhode Island on Friday, Ohio State could not hold onto the lead, or make enough a comeback later on to reclaim the lead. Maine took advantage of a walk and two hit batters to open its half of the fourth inning and when the damage was done, the Black Bears had scored seven runs – an one-inning season-high against Ohio State this year – off four hits to open up an 8-5 lead.
The Buckeyes could only manage a run in the fifth and another in the eighth, and Maine added two of its own in the eighth to make a winner out of starter Joe Miller (1-2), who went 6.0 innings. Alejandro Balsinde came on in the seventh inning and pitched 3.2 innings of effective relief to record his first save of the year.
Dean Wolosiansky (1-1) took the loss after giving up seven runs in 3.1 innings of work. Junior Theron Minium came on for “Wolo” in the fourth inning and pitched an effective 3.2 innings for his longest stint since the 2007 season (Theron red-shirted the 2008 campaign). He allowed only two runs while scattering five hits but, unfortunately on this day, Ohio State couldn’t come up with enough runs to support his effort. Jared Strayer came on and pitched the eighth.
Offensively, Michael Arp and Matt Streng had two hits and scored two runs while Justin Miller and Michael Stephens had a pair of hits each and an RBI apiece.
Stephens, who had five hits and five RBI in the two games Saturday, sparked the Buckeyes’ 11-8 win over Northeastern with three hits and four RBI. Arp also had three hits and two RBI and freshman Brad Hallberg had a couple of hits and two RBI as well.
Reliever Eric Best pitched 5.1 innings in relief against Northeastern to pick up his first win of the season against no defeats.
Recap and Game Notes
Northeastern Box Score
Maine Box Score
Against the Black Bears, Ohio State built a 4-1 lead behind a four-run third inning. Matt Streng had an RBI triple, Zach Hurley followed with an RBI double and Justin Miller contributed an RBI double for the big hits of the inning.
Another run in the fourth, on a Ryan Dew run-scoring single, extended the lead to 5-1.
But like its loss to Rhode Island on Friday, Ohio State could not hold onto the lead, or make enough a comeback later on to reclaim the lead. Maine took advantage of a walk and two hit batters to open its half of the fourth inning and when the damage was done, the Black Bears had scored seven runs – an one-inning season-high against Ohio State this year – off four hits to open up an 8-5 lead.
The Buckeyes could only manage a run in the fifth and another in the eighth, and Maine added two of its own in the eighth to make a winner out of starter Joe Miller (1-2), who went 6.0 innings. Alejandro Balsinde came on in the seventh inning and pitched 3.2 innings of effective relief to record his first save of the year.
Dean Wolosiansky (1-1) took the loss after giving up seven runs in 3.1 innings of work. Junior Theron Minium came on for “Wolo” in the fourth inning and pitched an effective 3.2 innings for his longest stint since the 2007 season (Theron red-shirted the 2008 campaign). He allowed only two runs while scattering five hits but, unfortunately on this day, Ohio State couldn’t come up with enough runs to support his effort. Jared Strayer came on and pitched the eighth.
Offensively, Michael Arp and Matt Streng had two hits and scored two runs while Justin Miller and Michael Stephens had a pair of hits each and an RBI apiece.
Stephens, who had five hits and five RBI in the two games Saturday, sparked the Buckeyes’ 11-8 win over Northeastern with three hits and four RBI. Arp also had three hits and two RBI and freshman Brad Hallberg had a couple of hits and two RBI as well.
Reliever Eric Best pitched 5.1 innings in relief against Northeastern to pick up his first win of the season against no defeats.
Recap and Game Notes
Northeastern Box Score
Maine Box Score
Saturday, March 7, 2009
7 Unearned Runs Doom Bucks, Fall 8-6 to Rhode Island
Bucks winning streak snapped at 7.
Ohio State lost the lead in the seventh inning and ultimately the game as Rhode Island relief pitching was flawless in the Rams’ 8-6 win over Ohio State Friday at Chain of Lakes Field. The loss was Ohio State’s first of the season and dropped the team’s record to 7-1. Rhode Island won its sixth consecutive game and improved to 7-2.
Five Ohio State errors, a catcher’s interference and three hit batters helped Rhode Island score seven unearned runs and, coupled with fine pitching from starter-turned reliever Nick Greenwood, the miscues were too much for the Buckeyes to overcome.
Greenwood gave up a double to Cory Kovanda upon entering the game, and then retired 18 of the next 19 batters, including the final 17 consecutively, to pick up the win and improve to 2-1 on the season. Greenwood pitched 5.0 innings and struck out nine Buckeyes.
Drew Rucinski pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowed two runs off five hits, and took the loss to drop to 3-1 this season. Dan Burkhart had two hits, three RBI and a run scored to lead the Ohio State offense.
The two teams traded leads in each of the first three half innings with Rhode Island leading 1-0, Ohio State taking a 2-1 lead on run-scoring hits by Burkhart and Justin Miller in its half of the first, and “Rhody” regaining the lead at 3-2 after its half of the second.
Ohio State regained the lead in the third inning, albeit helped along by two RIU errors at short. Something the Rams couldn’t control was the hot hitting of Burkhart, whose second hit of the game was a screaming, two-run triple down the right field line for the big blow of the inning. Burkhart scored after Cory Rupert reached on an error and Ohio State had a 5-3 lead.
Alert play by Ohio State kept RIU from a big fourth inning. After starter Andrew Armstrong put himself in some hot water by the loading the bases with three one-out walks, the next batter lined out to left fielder Zach Hurley, but the runner left third early and, on appeal, was called out by the umpire and thus keeping score 5-3.
After Ohio State scored another unearned run in the fourth to increase the lead to 6-3 – Cory Kovanda doubled to lead off against Greenwood and scored on a two-base error, the Rams opened the sixth with back-to-back singles to chase Armstrong, who finished with 5.0 innings pitched, six hits, three walks and three runs scored although none were earned. Jared Strayer came in and got a pop-out double play at first and a groundout to end the threat.
The gritty Rams scored four times in the seventh inning off three hits, a hit batsmen, catcher’s interference and an error to reclaim the lead at 7-6. Mike Label’s two-single was the big hit.
The Rams added an insurance run in the eighth and Greenwood continued to set the Buckeyes down in order and the Rams had their second big win of the week after defeating No. 8 Miami on Tuesday.
Perfect no more
Box Score
Ohio State lost the lead in the seventh inning and ultimately the game as Rhode Island relief pitching was flawless in the Rams’ 8-6 win over Ohio State Friday at Chain of Lakes Field. The loss was Ohio State’s first of the season and dropped the team’s record to 7-1. Rhode Island won its sixth consecutive game and improved to 7-2.
Five Ohio State errors, a catcher’s interference and three hit batters helped Rhode Island score seven unearned runs and, coupled with fine pitching from starter-turned reliever Nick Greenwood, the miscues were too much for the Buckeyes to overcome.
Greenwood gave up a double to Cory Kovanda upon entering the game, and then retired 18 of the next 19 batters, including the final 17 consecutively, to pick up the win and improve to 2-1 on the season. Greenwood pitched 5.0 innings and struck out nine Buckeyes.
Drew Rucinski pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowed two runs off five hits, and took the loss to drop to 3-1 this season. Dan Burkhart had two hits, three RBI and a run scored to lead the Ohio State offense.
The two teams traded leads in each of the first three half innings with Rhode Island leading 1-0, Ohio State taking a 2-1 lead on run-scoring hits by Burkhart and Justin Miller in its half of the first, and “Rhody” regaining the lead at 3-2 after its half of the second.
Ohio State regained the lead in the third inning, albeit helped along by two RIU errors at short. Something the Rams couldn’t control was the hot hitting of Burkhart, whose second hit of the game was a screaming, two-run triple down the right field line for the big blow of the inning. Burkhart scored after Cory Rupert reached on an error and Ohio State had a 5-3 lead.
Alert play by Ohio State kept RIU from a big fourth inning. After starter Andrew Armstrong put himself in some hot water by the loading the bases with three one-out walks, the next batter lined out to left fielder Zach Hurley, but the runner left third early and, on appeal, was called out by the umpire and thus keeping score 5-3.
After Ohio State scored another unearned run in the fourth to increase the lead to 6-3 – Cory Kovanda doubled to lead off against Greenwood and scored on a two-base error, the Rams opened the sixth with back-to-back singles to chase Armstrong, who finished with 5.0 innings pitched, six hits, three walks and three runs scored although none were earned. Jared Strayer came in and got a pop-out double play at first and a groundout to end the threat.
The gritty Rams scored four times in the seventh inning off three hits, a hit batsmen, catcher’s interference and an error to reclaim the lead at 7-6. Mike Label’s two-single was the big hit.
The Rams added an insurance run in the eighth and Greenwood continued to set the Buckeyes down in order and the Rams had their second big win of the week after defeating No. 8 Miami on Tuesday.
Perfect no more
Box Score
Friday, March 6, 2009
Winter Haven up next on Buckeyes' Spring Swing
Nationally ranked and unbeaten Ohio State, 7-0 on the season and riding a wave of confidence and karma, travels to Winter Haven, Fla., this week for four single games against Rhode Island, Northeastern, Maine and Central Michigan.
The games are part of the RussMatt Baseball Central Florida Invitational and all four will be played at Chain of Lakes Field, the former spring training home of the Cleveland Indians, who have relocated their spring training to Phoenix this year.
For more information on the games, visit the RussMatt Baseball web site at www.russmattbaseball.com
THE SCHEDULE
Ohio State will play Rhode Island and Northeastern for the first time in baseball, at 3 p.m. Friday and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, respectively before renewing series’ with Maine at 4 p.m. Saturday and Central Michigan at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
The team will depart Thursday afternoon via commercial airline and return home Sunday evening.
Ohio State probable weekend rotation:
Fri. vs. Rhode Island - LHP Andrew Armstrong (1-0; 3.27)
Sat. vs. Northeastern - RHP Ross Oltorik (0-0; 9.00)
Sat. vs. Maine - RHP Dean Wolosiansky (1-0; 9.90)
Sun. vs. Central Michigan - RHP Alex Wimmers (2-0; 0.77)
NEWS ON THE OPPONENTS
Rhode Island will be one “ram tough” opponent. The team is coming off the biggest win in program history: a 3-0 win at No. 8 Miami Tuesday night as Jr. Eric Smith threw eight shutout innings. The 5-2 Rams also have a win at NC State this year. Team BA is .339 and the ERA is 4.21. Four regulars are hitting over .400: Zoey Angulo is hitting .571 and is followed by Milan Adams (.500), Dan Rhault (.464) and Jeff Cammans (.429). The team has some power, too, with 10 home runs. RHP Tim Boyce (1-0 with a 6.30 ERA and 10 IP with two starts) is expected to go against the Buckeyes.
Northeastern, which lost to Ohio State, 8-3, in 1991 in the only meeting between the two schools, is off to a 4-1 start, including 6-4 and 4-3 wins over Northwestern earlier this week in Winter Haven, Fla. Huskies RF Matt Miller is CAA Rookie of the Week after going 7-14 over the week with a .650 on-base percentage. LHP Ryan Quiqley (0-0; 2.08 ERA; 4.1 IP) is the scheduled starter. Matt Miller (.526) and Mike Tamson (.450) have combined for 19 of the team's 47 hits. Northeastern is hitting .272 as a team with a team ERA of 2.80. The staff has 49 strikeouts and only 17 walks in 45.0 IP.
Maine and Ohio State have also met just once: an 8-7 Black Bear win last year in West Palm Beach. Maine is 3-4 heading into two games against Fairfield before the Ohio State game. The Black Bears have not indicated a starter against Ohio State, but the staff has a 5.82 ERA. Myckie Lugbauer (.448 with 10 RBI) and Danny Menendez (.409 and 5-6 in SBs) lead the team's offense.
Central Michigan, which owns a 3-2 series edge over Ohio State, is 3-4 this season and owns a win over nationally-ranked Wichita State already. Matt Faiman, Scott PHillion and Casey Ingle are all hitting better than .400 to lead the Chippewas. CMU has also not declared a starter for the Ohio State game.
CLIMBING IN THE RANKINGS
On the strength of its 7-0 start, Ohio State is ranked in two of the four major polls with the highest ranking No. 25 by Collegiate Baseball. Ohio State is also ranked No. 27 this week by PingBaseball.
FOLLOW THE ACTION via LIVE STATS
Track the action through Live Stats, available on OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Click on the Live Stats link on the main home page in the upper right hand corner or through the baseball schedule page to access.
Full weekend release courtesy Ohiostatebuckeyes.com
The games are part of the RussMatt Baseball Central Florida Invitational and all four will be played at Chain of Lakes Field, the former spring training home of the Cleveland Indians, who have relocated their spring training to Phoenix this year.
For more information on the games, visit the RussMatt Baseball web site at www.russmattbaseball.com
THE SCHEDULE
Ohio State will play Rhode Island and Northeastern for the first time in baseball, at 3 p.m. Friday and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, respectively before renewing series’ with Maine at 4 p.m. Saturday and Central Michigan at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
The team will depart Thursday afternoon via commercial airline and return home Sunday evening.
Ohio State probable weekend rotation:
Fri. vs. Rhode Island - LHP Andrew Armstrong (1-0; 3.27)
Sat. vs. Northeastern - RHP Ross Oltorik (0-0; 9.00)
Sat. vs. Maine - RHP Dean Wolosiansky (1-0; 9.90)
Sun. vs. Central Michigan - RHP Alex Wimmers (2-0; 0.77)
NEWS ON THE OPPONENTS
Rhode Island will be one “ram tough” opponent. The team is coming off the biggest win in program history: a 3-0 win at No. 8 Miami Tuesday night as Jr. Eric Smith threw eight shutout innings. The 5-2 Rams also have a win at NC State this year. Team BA is .339 and the ERA is 4.21. Four regulars are hitting over .400: Zoey Angulo is hitting .571 and is followed by Milan Adams (.500), Dan Rhault (.464) and Jeff Cammans (.429). The team has some power, too, with 10 home runs. RHP Tim Boyce (1-0 with a 6.30 ERA and 10 IP with two starts) is expected to go against the Buckeyes.
Northeastern, which lost to Ohio State, 8-3, in 1991 in the only meeting between the two schools, is off to a 4-1 start, including 6-4 and 4-3 wins over Northwestern earlier this week in Winter Haven, Fla. Huskies RF Matt Miller is CAA Rookie of the Week after going 7-14 over the week with a .650 on-base percentage. LHP Ryan Quiqley (0-0; 2.08 ERA; 4.1 IP) is the scheduled starter. Matt Miller (.526) and Mike Tamson (.450) have combined for 19 of the team's 47 hits. Northeastern is hitting .272 as a team with a team ERA of 2.80. The staff has 49 strikeouts and only 17 walks in 45.0 IP.
Maine and Ohio State have also met just once: an 8-7 Black Bear win last year in West Palm Beach. Maine is 3-4 heading into two games against Fairfield before the Ohio State game. The Black Bears have not indicated a starter against Ohio State, but the staff has a 5.82 ERA. Myckie Lugbauer (.448 with 10 RBI) and Danny Menendez (.409 and 5-6 in SBs) lead the team's offense.
Central Michigan, which owns a 3-2 series edge over Ohio State, is 3-4 this season and owns a win over nationally-ranked Wichita State already. Matt Faiman, Scott PHillion and Casey Ingle are all hitting better than .400 to lead the Chippewas. CMU has also not declared a starter for the Ohio State game.
CLIMBING IN THE RANKINGS
On the strength of its 7-0 start, Ohio State is ranked in two of the four major polls with the highest ranking No. 25 by Collegiate Baseball. Ohio State is also ranked No. 27 this week by PingBaseball.
FOLLOW THE ACTION via LIVE STATS
Track the action through Live Stats, available on OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Click on the Live Stats link on the main home page in the upper right hand corner or through the baseball schedule page to access.
Full weekend release courtesy Ohiostatebuckeyes.com
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Over His Head? Big Ten feature on Captain Justin Miller
By Larry Watts
Contributor, BigTen.org
Justin Miller was told he was getting in over his head -- by his grandfather no less.
Coming out of Turner Ashby High School, which has an enrollment of 1,100 students in Bridgewater, Va., Miller was examining his baseball opportunities. The standout catcher had an offer from St. Joseph's University, a small Division I school in Philadelphia, and several offers from Division III schools. He was also in talks with Virginia Tech, but no scholarship had formally been given.
Then along came Ohio State at the last minute. He took a visit, fell in love with the school and signed up to become a Buckeye.
"Our pitching coach, Eric Parker, was going into his first season at Ohio State and he was from Harrisonburg, Va., so I guess that's how they heard about me," Miller says. "He told (head) coach (Bob) Todd and they followed up on it. There is nothing wrong with playing Division III ball, but I really wanted a shot at Division I."
Full Miller Article
Contributor, BigTen.org
Justin Miller was told he was getting in over his head -- by his grandfather no less.
Coming out of Turner Ashby High School, which has an enrollment of 1,100 students in Bridgewater, Va., Miller was examining his baseball opportunities. The standout catcher had an offer from St. Joseph's University, a small Division I school in Philadelphia, and several offers from Division III schools. He was also in talks with Virginia Tech, but no scholarship had formally been given.
Then along came Ohio State at the last minute. He took a visit, fell in love with the school and signed up to become a Buckeye.
"Our pitching coach, Eric Parker, was going into his first season at Ohio State and he was from Harrisonburg, Va., so I guess that's how they heard about me," Miller says. "He told (head) coach (Bob) Todd and they followed up on it. There is nothing wrong with playing Division III ball, but I really wanted a shot at Division I."
Full Miller Article
Catcher Dan Burkhart named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week
Second weekly honor for Buckeyes in two weeks.
Burkhart led Ohio State to a 4-0 record at the Kennel Club Classic in Jacksonville, Fla., improving the Buckeyes record to a flawless 7-0 on the season. The sophomore batted .474, reaching base at a .574 clip while slugging .895 and spending all four games behind the plate. At North Florida on Friday, the sophomore tallied his fourth career four-hit game, going 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, four RBI and two runs scored to lead the Buckeyes to an 11-6 win. On Saturday against George Mason, the backstop recorded one hit with a run and an RBI in an 11-5 Ohio State victory. In the second game of the day, again against North Florida, he tallied a pair of hits, including a home run for three RBI and two runs scored as the Buckeyes outlasted the Ospreys, 10-8. In the final game of the weekend, against Connecticut on Sunday, Parr was 2-for-4 with a double, three runs and two RBI in a 21-14 slugfest. During the four-game weekend, the Cincinnati, Ohio, native tallied three games with multiple hits, runs and RBI.
Big Ten Release
Burkhart led Ohio State to a 4-0 record at the Kennel Club Classic in Jacksonville, Fla., improving the Buckeyes record to a flawless 7-0 on the season. The sophomore batted .474, reaching base at a .574 clip while slugging .895 and spending all four games behind the plate. At North Florida on Friday, the sophomore tallied his fourth career four-hit game, going 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, four RBI and two runs scored to lead the Buckeyes to an 11-6 win. On Saturday against George Mason, the backstop recorded one hit with a run and an RBI in an 11-5 Ohio State victory. In the second game of the day, again against North Florida, he tallied a pair of hits, including a home run for three RBI and two runs scored as the Buckeyes outlasted the Ospreys, 10-8. In the final game of the weekend, against Connecticut on Sunday, Parr was 2-for-4 with a double, three runs and two RBI in a 21-14 slugfest. During the four-game weekend, the Cincinnati, Ohio, native tallied three games with multiple hits, runs and RBI.
Big Ten Release
Monday, March 2, 2009
Lucky 7's. Bucks Move to 7-0 on the Strength of 7 HR's.
Power Surge Leads to 21-14 Win and 7-0 Start
Every starter scored a run and nearly every starter hit a home run as Ohio State defeated Connecticut, 21-14, Saturday at Harmon Field to improve to 7-0 on the season. The 7-0 record ties for the third-best start ever for an Ohio State team with only two teams – the 1917 team opened 10-0 and the 1991 won its first eight games – opening the season with a better record.
The Buckeyes pounded 21 hits against five UConn pitchers. Seven of those hits were home runs, including five in the third inning that enable the Buckeyes to come back from a 4-2 deficit and take a 10-4 lead. The seven home runs increased the team’s total to 15 in 2009 after hitting only 19 the entire 2008 season.
In that third inning and with one out, Justin Miller hit a solo shot, Dan Burkhart walked and Cory Rupert homered. Then with two out, Michael Arp singled, Matt Streng homered over the scoreboard in left field, Zach Hurley singled, Cory Kovanda homered and then Michael Stephens homered. Single inning home run records are not tracked in the Ohio State media guide, so it is unsure whether a record was set.
Hurley added a two-run shot in the fourth inning and Streng, a sophomore from Upper Arlington in the starting lineup for only the second time, hit another towering blast in the seventh inning that made the score 21-13. Streng’s home runs were not only the first two of his career, but they came from both sides of the plate. No idea when – if ever – that’s been accomplished by a Buckeye.
Ohio State added five runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to maintain a goal-line-stand advantage over a Huskie team, now 3-3 on the year, that would not quit. Despite trailing by scores of 10-4 and 15-6, the Huskies kept swinging the bats against an array of Ohio State pitchers – freshman Ross Oltorik made his first collegiate start and he was followed by Theron Minium, Jared Strayer and Drew Rucinski – and closed the gap to 15-12 through six innings. The Huskies totaled 18 hits for the game with five players having two or more.
Minium, who entered the game in the bottom of the third with Ohio State trailing 4-2, picked up the win. He and Strayer joined Oltorik in seeing their first action of the 2009 season. Minium was pitching for the first time since the 2007 season as he red-shirted last year.
Jake Hale came in and finished his fifth game of the season by pitching a scoreless ninth inning. UConn starter Greg Nappo gave up eight runs off eight hits in 2.2 innings and dropped to 1-1 with the loss.
Game Notes and Recap courtsey Ohiostatebuckeyes.com
Box Score
Every starter scored a run and nearly every starter hit a home run as Ohio State defeated Connecticut, 21-14, Saturday at Harmon Field to improve to 7-0 on the season. The 7-0 record ties for the third-best start ever for an Ohio State team with only two teams – the 1917 team opened 10-0 and the 1991 won its first eight games – opening the season with a better record.
The Buckeyes pounded 21 hits against five UConn pitchers. Seven of those hits were home runs, including five in the third inning that enable the Buckeyes to come back from a 4-2 deficit and take a 10-4 lead. The seven home runs increased the team’s total to 15 in 2009 after hitting only 19 the entire 2008 season.
In that third inning and with one out, Justin Miller hit a solo shot, Dan Burkhart walked and Cory Rupert homered. Then with two out, Michael Arp singled, Matt Streng homered over the scoreboard in left field, Zach Hurley singled, Cory Kovanda homered and then Michael Stephens homered. Single inning home run records are not tracked in the Ohio State media guide, so it is unsure whether a record was set.
Hurley added a two-run shot in the fourth inning and Streng, a sophomore from Upper Arlington in the starting lineup for only the second time, hit another towering blast in the seventh inning that made the score 21-13. Streng’s home runs were not only the first two of his career, but they came from both sides of the plate. No idea when – if ever – that’s been accomplished by a Buckeye.
Ohio State added five runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to maintain a goal-line-stand advantage over a Huskie team, now 3-3 on the year, that would not quit. Despite trailing by scores of 10-4 and 15-6, the Huskies kept swinging the bats against an array of Ohio State pitchers – freshman Ross Oltorik made his first collegiate start and he was followed by Theron Minium, Jared Strayer and Drew Rucinski – and closed the gap to 15-12 through six innings. The Huskies totaled 18 hits for the game with five players having two or more.
Minium, who entered the game in the bottom of the third with Ohio State trailing 4-2, picked up the win. He and Strayer joined Oltorik in seeing their first action of the 2009 season. Minium was pitching for the first time since the 2007 season as he red-shirted last year.
Jake Hale came in and finished his fifth game of the season by pitching a scoreless ninth inning. UConn starter Greg Nappo gave up eight runs off eight hits in 2.2 innings and dropped to 1-1 with the loss.
Game Notes and Recap courtsey Ohiostatebuckeyes.com
Box Score
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Final: Long ball carrying Bucks past Huskies 21-14, Bucks hit 7 HR's.
With the Bucks trailing 4-2 headed into the bottom of the 3rd, Coach Todd must have passed around the Spinach as the Buckeyes have put on quite the power display erupted for 3 home runs in the inning to currently lead 7-4.
After Stephens fle wout to his centerfield counterpart, senior captain Justin Miller hit a solo shot to right-center. Gus already with a 2-RBI double today, appears to be shaking the rust off and getting out of his slow start.
It didn't take long for another ball to jump off a Buckeye bat and land over the fence. After catch Dan Burkhart received a base-on-balls, shortstop Cory Rupert bangs him in with a home to right field.
Dew followed that with a ground out to second.
Mike Arp singles to right field.
First baseman Matt Streng continues the onslaught with is first career homer driving in Arp with a shot to right field.
UPDATE
After Hurley singles Cory Kovanda gets in on the home run derby with 2-run home run of his own. Bucks 9-4.
UPDATE #2
Michael Stephens doesn't want to get left out of the fun. He follows Kovanda's home run with a solo home run. Bucks have now hit 5 home runs in the bottom of the 3rd, lead 10-4.
The Buckeyes sent 11 batters to the plate in the 3rd, scored 8 runs.
UPDATE #3
Soph. Theron Minium makes his first apperance on the mound for the Bucks this seasn. Minium is coming off of a red-shirt 2008 where he was out for the year with an injury. Minium allowed 2 runs, and struck out 2 in the top of the 4th.
With the Huskies creeping close with the score 10-6, the Bucks once again have answere and stretched their lead. With a Burkhart single to start the inning, back-to-back walks to Rupert and Dew loaded the bases. Arp struck out but Streng delivered with a 2-run single to right.
Then the Bucks continue their game of home run derby. With Dew and Streng still on the bases, Hurley brought them home with a three-run home to right. Kovanda singled to right but Stephens hit into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play. After 4, Bucks 15-6.
UPDATE #4
The Huskies mounted a bit of a comeback, scoring 3 runs each in the 5th and 6th innings to make it 15-12. OSU responded with 5 more runs in the bottom of the 6th, 2 runs scoring on passed balls, 2 more on a Burkhart double. 20-12 after 6. Connecticut put one more on the scoreboard in the top of the 7th, once again the Bucks respond, Matt Streng hits his 2nd HR of the game, the teams 7th to make the score 21-13.
Streng making the start at 1st, moving Miller to 3rd with DeLucia out indefinitely with a broken finger, is 4-for-5 on the day, with 2 HR's, a double, and 5 RBI.
After Stephens fle wout to his centerfield counterpart, senior captain Justin Miller hit a solo shot to right-center. Gus already with a 2-RBI double today, appears to be shaking the rust off and getting out of his slow start.
It didn't take long for another ball to jump off a Buckeye bat and land over the fence. After catch Dan Burkhart received a base-on-balls, shortstop Cory Rupert bangs him in with a home to right field.
Dew followed that with a ground out to second.
Mike Arp singles to right field.
First baseman Matt Streng continues the onslaught with is first career homer driving in Arp with a shot to right field.
UPDATE
After Hurley singles Cory Kovanda gets in on the home run derby with 2-run home run of his own. Bucks 9-4.
UPDATE #2
Michael Stephens doesn't want to get left out of the fun. He follows Kovanda's home run with a solo home run. Bucks have now hit 5 home runs in the bottom of the 3rd, lead 10-4.
The Buckeyes sent 11 batters to the plate in the 3rd, scored 8 runs.
UPDATE #3
Soph. Theron Minium makes his first apperance on the mound for the Bucks this seasn. Minium is coming off of a red-shirt 2008 where he was out for the year with an injury. Minium allowed 2 runs, and struck out 2 in the top of the 4th.
With the Huskies creeping close with the score 10-6, the Bucks once again have answere and stretched their lead. With a Burkhart single to start the inning, back-to-back walks to Rupert and Dew loaded the bases. Arp struck out but Streng delivered with a 2-run single to right.
Then the Bucks continue their game of home run derby. With Dew and Streng still on the bases, Hurley brought them home with a three-run home to right. Kovanda singled to right but Stephens hit into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play. After 4, Bucks 15-6.
UPDATE #4
The Huskies mounted a bit of a comeback, scoring 3 runs each in the 5th and 6th innings to make it 15-12. OSU responded with 5 more runs in the bottom of the 6th, 2 runs scoring on passed balls, 2 more on a Burkhart double. 20-12 after 6. Connecticut put one more on the scoreboard in the top of the 7th, once again the Bucks respond, Matt Streng hits his 2nd HR of the game, the teams 7th to make the score 21-13.
Streng making the start at 1st, moving Miller to 3rd with DeLucia out indefinitely with a broken finger, is 4-for-5 on the day, with 2 HR's, a double, and 5 RBI.
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