Nathan Schlabach
Issue date: 4/20/09
A combination of good pitching and big offensive innings helped propel the Ohio State baseball team to sweep Purdue this weekend.
"I was very proud of our team," coach Bob Todd said. "I thought we reacted very well and it just showed a great deal of mental toughness."
In the first game on Saturday, OSU (29-8, 9-3 Big Ten) rallied from a 2-1 deficit with four runs in the fifth inning to take the lead for good and defeat Purdue 7-4.
Five hits and one error helped push four Buckeye runs in the fifth inning to give the Bucks a 5-2 lead.
In the seventh inning Dan Burkhart hit a home run. The Buckeyes added an insurance run in the ninth when Cory Rupert singled, scoring Michael Arp.
Drew Rucinski (6-2) got the win and Jake Hale had the save. Hale had a great weekend with three appearances, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing zero runs and getting three saves.
"There was no doubt he was the reason we were able to have a successful weekend," Todd said. "He just sucked it up and gave us a great performance."
Because of weather the Buckeyes played two games Saturday, winning game two 11-10.
In the second game against Purdue, after falling behind 3-0 in two innings, OSU scored nine consecutive runs to build a 9-3 lead.
"I was very proud of our hitters; we made adjustments the second and third time through the order," coach Todd said. "We did a much better job of approaching how we wanted to hit."
It started in the third with a five-run inning. Dan Burkhart's single to right scored the go-ahead runs, which gave the Buckeyes the 5-3 lead.
The Buckeyes had a four-run fourth inning that increased the lead to 9-3. The big hit of the inning came from Michael Stephens' two-run triple.
Purdue cut it to 9-7 at one point but OSU came back to score more runs. Arp doubled and scored on Stephens' second triple of the day. Burkhart singled, which scored Stephens to make it an 11-7 game.
Stephens' triple was the 22nd for the Buckeyes this season, the fourth-highest single season total.
Purdue wasn't done yet, as they cut it to 11-10 in the eighth inning, but couldn't get the tying run home. In the ninth, Purdue had runners on second and third, but failed to score.
Friday night's game was a good old fashioned pitchers' duel, as the Bucks' two pitchers bested Purdue's one pitcher. The Buckeyes won the game 1-0.
It was a combined effort of Alex Wimmers and Jake Hale, who held Purdue to five hits and nine scoreless innings.
The only score of the game came from a leadoff home run in the eighth inning by Ryan Dew.
Next up for the Buckeyes is a battle with Bowling Green at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at Bill Davis Stadium.
Showing posts with label Purdue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Purdue. Show all posts
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Hale of a Weekend; Bucks Sweep DH, Sweep Series
Photo Courtesy The O-Zone
Senior secures sweep.
No. 26 Ohio State won both games of a doubleheader Saturday over Purdue, 7-4 and 11-10, and in the process won all three games of the series to move into no worse than a tie for first place in the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State is now 29-8 on the season and 9-3 in the Big Ten with six consecutive conference wins. Purdue is 16-18 and 5-6.
After falling behind, 3-0, after two innings in Game 2, Ohio State scored nine consecutive runs to build a 9-3 lead. Purdue closed to within 9-7 at one point and to 11-10 with a three-run eighth. In the ninth inning, Purdue had runners on second and third with two out, but Jake Hale got a groundout to end the game and end a sparkling weekend for the senior closer, who saved all three games and now has 10 for the season and 21 for his career.
“This was a great effort by the team,” said Ohio State coach Bob Todd, who moved to within 16 wins of career win No. 1,000. “The players displayed great mental toughness throughout this entire series and they did everything we asked of them in winning both games today.”
A five-run third inning, helped by an error, Purdue’s sixth of the two-game afternoon, gave the Buckeyes a 5-3 lead after their half of the third. Dan Burkhart’s two-out single to right scored the go-ahead runs for the Buckeyes.
A four-run fourth inning, helped by another error, increased the lead to 9-3. Michael Stephens’ two-run triple was the biggest hit of four for the Scarlet and Gray in the inning.
Purdue battled back to make a game of it, closing to within 9-7 on a three-run home run by Drew Madia, part of a four-run sixth inning.
But Ohio State came back to score some breathing room runs in the eighth. Michael Arp doubled with two out and scored on Stephens’ second triple of the day. The triple was also the 22nd for the Buckeyes this year, the fourth-highest single season total and closing to within three of the school mark of 25 triples in one season. Burkhart’s single then scored Stephens to make it an 11-7 game.
The Boilers’ came back with three runs in the eighth off three hits, including a two-run single by Barrett Serrato. Hale, the fifth Ohio State pitcher of the day, got a strikeout to end the eighth with runners on second and third.
Hale had to face the top of the Purdue order in the ninth. He got the first two outs, but a walk and a double by Madia had the tying and winning runs in singling distance. But Hale got Tyler Spillner to ground out to Cory Kovanda and the Buckeyes had a huge win to cap the day.
There were numerous Ohio State stars for the Saturday games, but Hale’s 3.1 innings pitched in the two games and two saves had to be the brightest. Offensively, Ohio State was led by four hits and six RBI from Dan Burkhart, including a Game 1 home run, and five runs, three hits and five RBI from Stephens.
In Game 1, Ohio State rallied from a 2-1 deficit with four runs in the fifth inning to grab the lead for good and defeat Purdue, 7-4.
Four consecutive one-out hits, followed by an error and another hit pushed four Buckeye runs across in the decisive fifth inning to give the Buckeyes a 5-2 lead. Kovanda’s single scored the tying run and Stephens’ single scored the go-ahead run. Another run scored on an error and the fourth run of the inning came across on a single by Ryan Dew.
Burkhart hit his team-high tying seventh home run in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 6-3. The home run was part of a two-hit, two-RBI game for Burkhart. Kovanda had three hits, an RBI and a run scored to provide additional offensive support. Cory Rupert had two hits, including a run-scoring, two-out single in the ninth inning to increase the Buckeyes’ lead to 7-4.
Purdue starter Matt Jansen lasted 4.2 innings and allowed eight hits, two walks and a strikeout. Three of the five runs he surrendered were earned. He is now 3-4 on the season.
Ohio State starter Eric Best went 4.1 innings, allowing six hits, three runs, four walks and two strikeouts. Drew Rucinski worked 3.0 innings and scattered three hits and one run to pick up his sixth victory of the season.
Hale relieved Rucinski in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out. The Big Ten’s top finisher struck out Dan Black on three pitches and then forced a ground out to end the inning and leave the bases loaded for Purdue for the second time in the game.
Hale worked a three-up-three-down ninth inning to secure his ninth save of the season and the 20th of his career...numbers that would grow by one about four hours later.
Game Notes & Recap Courtesy OSU Athletics
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Buckeyes to make Big Ten Network Debut, two games Saturday
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Ohio State and Purdue University will play two nine-inning games Saturday instead of one game Saturday and one game Sunday, as originally scheduled. The change to two games was prompted by the threat of inclement weather hitting West Lafayette Sunday. The decision was made prior to the start of the game Friday.
The Big Ten Network, scheduled to televise both weekend games, will televise the first game Saturday live beginning at 12 noon. The network will tape Game 2 Saturday and replay it at noon Sunday.
Anticipated pitching match-ups:
Game 1: RHP Dean Wolosiansky (7-1; 5.51) vs. LHP Matt Jansen (3-3; 6.96)
Game 2: LHP Eric Best (6-1; 4.89) vs. RHP Matt Morgan (3-2; 3.64)
The Big Ten Network, scheduled to televise both weekend games, will televise the first game Saturday live beginning at 12 noon. The network will tape Game 2 Saturday and replay it at noon Sunday.
Anticipated pitching match-ups:
Game 1: RHP Dean Wolosiansky (7-1; 5.51) vs. LHP Matt Jansen (3-3; 6.96)
Game 2: LHP Eric Best (6-1; 4.89) vs. RHP Matt Morgan (3-2; 3.64)
Wimmers & Hale Drown Out Boilermakers
In a good old fashioned pitchers’ duel, Ohio State’s two bested Purdue’s one and the Buckeyes’ won the first game of this three-game series, 1-0, Friday afternoon in front of 382 fans at Lambert Field.
The win for Ohio State, on the strength of a combined shutout from Alex Wimmers and Jake Hale and a leadoff, eighth-inning home run by Ryan Dew, improves Ohio State’s records to 27-8 overall and 7-3 in the Big Ten Conference. Purdue is 16-16 overall and 5-4 in the Big Ten.
“Good pitching wins ball games,” coach Bob Todd said. “Now we have to be able to do this again tomorrow.”
The Buckeyes will try to win not once but twice Saturday. That’s because the teams will play two nine-inning games instead of one game Saturday and one game Sunday, as originally scheduled. The change to a Saturday DH was prompted by the threat of inclement weather hitting West Lafayette Sunday. The decision was made prior to the start of the game Friday.
“We’ll be prepared to play two games in one day,” Todd said. “That’s why we played two games on so many Saturdays when we were in Florida. This team knows what to do to get ready to play two.”
The game Friday, on a sun-splashed afternoon, was all about starting pitchers Wimmers for Ohio State and Matt Bischoff for Purdue through the first seven scoreless innings. During that time both pitchers had given up just three hits and both were helped by line-out double plays. Wimmers also benefitted from longtime friend and catcher Dan Burkhart throwing out two Purdue runners trying to steal, in the third inning and to end the seventh.
Wimmers had to work out of trouble in the fourth and fifth innings. He balked and wild pitched a runner to third, but got a strikeout to end the fourth. He faced runners on first and second with one out in the fifth, but got a line-out double play – right fielder Michael Arp to Matt Streng at first – with the Purdue runners aggressively running on the play.
Wimmers wasn’t necessarily in trouble in the sixth with a runner on second and one down, but it wasn’t the best of situations he was looking at as Purdue’s next two batters were the .425-hitting Eric Charles and the .355-hitting (and .748 slugging) Dan Black, who hit two home runs and drove in eight RBI last year against Ohio State. Wimmers struck them both out to end the inning.
Bischoff, meanwhile, had faced just two men over the minimum and had allowed just three harmless singles through seven innings. He retired the first 12 batters he faced and then after scattering the singles in three separate innings, he appeared to be getting stronger as the game wore on. His one-two-three seventh inning included striking out two Buckeyes looking.
The game changed in the eighth inning. Dew, who was do to hit a home run, having not hit one in 30 games, rudely greeted Bischoff to open the eighth inning by crushing his first pitch for a line drive home run over the right field wall for a 1-0 Ohio State lead. It was Dew’s third home run of the season but first since a game five win over George Mason.
“A lot of times a pitcher will lead off the inning with a first-pitch fastball,” Dew said, “and that’s what he threw. I was looking for it and it came middle in, just how I like it.”
A walk to open the eighth inning signaled the end of the day for Wimmers, who exited having allowed just three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Jake Hale entered the game and got two quick outs on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. Brandon Haveman reached on an infield single up the first base line, but Hale held the lead and got the Buckeyes out of the inning by getting Eric Charles to line out to Arp in right.
Things got interesting in the Purdue half of the ninth, but only for a moment. Tyler Spillner hit a two-out double to bring the winning run to the plate, but Hale got Nick Overmeyer to ground out to shortstop Tyler Engle and the Buckeyes had their 27th win of the season.
Wimmers is now 7-1 with the win. Hale added to his Big Ten leading totals with his eighth save, his 22nd relief appearance and his 21st consecutive game finished. Bischoff dropped to 3-3 with the loss.
Courtesy Ohio State Athletics
Box Score
The win for Ohio State, on the strength of a combined shutout from Alex Wimmers and Jake Hale and a leadoff, eighth-inning home run by Ryan Dew, improves Ohio State’s records to 27-8 overall and 7-3 in the Big Ten Conference. Purdue is 16-16 overall and 5-4 in the Big Ten.
“Good pitching wins ball games,” coach Bob Todd said. “Now we have to be able to do this again tomorrow.”
The Buckeyes will try to win not once but twice Saturday. That’s because the teams will play two nine-inning games instead of one game Saturday and one game Sunday, as originally scheduled. The change to a Saturday DH was prompted by the threat of inclement weather hitting West Lafayette Sunday. The decision was made prior to the start of the game Friday.
“We’ll be prepared to play two games in one day,” Todd said. “That’s why we played two games on so many Saturdays when we were in Florida. This team knows what to do to get ready to play two.”
The game Friday, on a sun-splashed afternoon, was all about starting pitchers Wimmers for Ohio State and Matt Bischoff for Purdue through the first seven scoreless innings. During that time both pitchers had given up just three hits and both were helped by line-out double plays. Wimmers also benefitted from longtime friend and catcher Dan Burkhart throwing out two Purdue runners trying to steal, in the third inning and to end the seventh.
Wimmers had to work out of trouble in the fourth and fifth innings. He balked and wild pitched a runner to third, but got a strikeout to end the fourth. He faced runners on first and second with one out in the fifth, but got a line-out double play – right fielder Michael Arp to Matt Streng at first – with the Purdue runners aggressively running on the play.
Wimmers wasn’t necessarily in trouble in the sixth with a runner on second and one down, but it wasn’t the best of situations he was looking at as Purdue’s next two batters were the .425-hitting Eric Charles and the .355-hitting (and .748 slugging) Dan Black, who hit two home runs and drove in eight RBI last year against Ohio State. Wimmers struck them both out to end the inning.
Bischoff, meanwhile, had faced just two men over the minimum and had allowed just three harmless singles through seven innings. He retired the first 12 batters he faced and then after scattering the singles in three separate innings, he appeared to be getting stronger as the game wore on. His one-two-three seventh inning included striking out two Buckeyes looking.
The game changed in the eighth inning. Dew, who was do to hit a home run, having not hit one in 30 games, rudely greeted Bischoff to open the eighth inning by crushing his first pitch for a line drive home run over the right field wall for a 1-0 Ohio State lead. It was Dew’s third home run of the season but first since a game five win over George Mason.
“A lot of times a pitcher will lead off the inning with a first-pitch fastball,” Dew said, “and that’s what he threw. I was looking for it and it came middle in, just how I like it.”
A walk to open the eighth inning signaled the end of the day for Wimmers, who exited having allowed just three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Jake Hale entered the game and got two quick outs on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. Brandon Haveman reached on an infield single up the first base line, but Hale held the lead and got the Buckeyes out of the inning by getting Eric Charles to line out to Arp in right.
Things got interesting in the Purdue half of the ninth, but only for a moment. Tyler Spillner hit a two-out double to bring the winning run to the plate, but Hale got Nick Overmeyer to ground out to shortstop Tyler Engle and the Buckeyes had their 27th win of the season.
Wimmers is now 7-1 with the win. Hale added to his Big Ten leading totals with his eighth save, his 22nd relief appearance and his 21st consecutive game finished. Bischoff dropped to 3-3 with the loss.
Courtesy Ohio State Athletics
Box Score
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
From OSU Athletics: Bob Todd, Zach Hurley Audio
Ohio State junior outfielder Zach Hurley and head coach Bob Todd talked about the upcoming week and more in the audio double play this week.
Todd is in his 22nd year with Ohio State and his 26th year overall as a head coach. In his time with the Buckeyes, Todd has won 14 Big Ten titles and has an up-to-date record of 857-442-2 for his Ohio State career. Todd won his 850th game in the 8-3 victory over Penn State March 27th.
Hurley, from Springboro, Ohio, is having an excellent season for the Buckeyes. He has started all 33 games this season and leads the team with 39 RBI. The leftfielder is second on the squad in batting, averaging .382 and has a team-high nine stolen bases
Zach Hurley speaks bout this week's games
Coach Bob Todd on his teams play, Kent State, and Purdue
Todd is in his 22nd year with Ohio State and his 26th year overall as a head coach. In his time with the Buckeyes, Todd has won 14 Big Ten titles and has an up-to-date record of 857-442-2 for his Ohio State career. Todd won his 850th game in the 8-3 victory over Penn State March 27th.
Hurley, from Springboro, Ohio, is having an excellent season for the Buckeyes. He has started all 33 games this season and leads the team with 39 RBI. The leftfielder is second on the squad in batting, averaging .382 and has a team-high nine stolen bases
Zach Hurley speaks bout this week's games
Coach Bob Todd on his teams play, Kent State, and Purdue
Monday, May 26, 2008
NCAA Field Announced
Only one Big Ten team got in the NCAA tournament as expected. Michigan is in and will be the No. 2 regional seed and will welcome Arizona as the top seed as well as Kentucky and Eastern Michigan to Ray Fisher Stadium this weekend. The Wovlerines will play Kentucky in their first game on Saturday. Arizona meets Eastern Michigan. The winner of the four-team, double-elimination regional will face the winner of the Coral Gables Regional (Miami/Fla., Missouri, Mississippi and Bethune Cookman).
NCAA Tournament Bracket
I know there was a lot of discussion by Purdue fans thinking they would get in, but you need a much better resume to make it in. The program has been making great strides the last few seasons but is not quite there yet. It would have been great to have seen them surprise Michigan this past weekend so the Big Ten could have gotten two teams in. Instead they go from three teams in last season to just one.
Michigan is the first Big Ten team to play host to a regional since Ohio State hosted in 2001. I wonder if they can get past Arizona and likely Miami. That is a tall order.
I was disappointed that two-time defending champion Oregon State did not get in. Of course a 28-24 overall record won't help much, but the still managed some impressive wins. It is the first champion to in the tournament since Georgia did not make the 1991 field. I was upset to see Arkansas get the nod. Ohio State had them on the ropes in College Station and I wasn't overly impressed with them. I have always said you should have to play in your conference tournament to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Arkansas did not qualify for the SEC tournament.
I am always glad to see Rice make the field. I spent the early part of my career in sports information working with the Owls and have great respect for their coach Wayne Graham. They go in as the No. 6 national seed. I am glad their 2-and-out effort in the Conference USA tournament didn't cost them a national seed. Clemson, another one of my former schools, did not get in this year for the first time in a very long time.
Eight teams from Texas qualified for the tournament. Rice and Texas A&M will play host to regionals. Hopefully I can make it out to see a few college games this weekend.
I'd love to hear what you have to say about the NCAA tournament selections, how you think Michigan will do and which team you think will win the championship.
NCAA Tournament Bracket
I know there was a lot of discussion by Purdue fans thinking they would get in, but you need a much better resume to make it in. The program has been making great strides the last few seasons but is not quite there yet. It would have been great to have seen them surprise Michigan this past weekend so the Big Ten could have gotten two teams in. Instead they go from three teams in last season to just one.
Michigan is the first Big Ten team to play host to a regional since Ohio State hosted in 2001. I wonder if they can get past Arizona and likely Miami. That is a tall order.
I was disappointed that two-time defending champion Oregon State did not get in. Of course a 28-24 overall record won't help much, but the still managed some impressive wins. It is the first champion to in the tournament since Georgia did not make the 1991 field. I was upset to see Arkansas get the nod. Ohio State had them on the ropes in College Station and I wasn't overly impressed with them. I have always said you should have to play in your conference tournament to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Arkansas did not qualify for the SEC tournament.
I am always glad to see Rice make the field. I spent the early part of my career in sports information working with the Owls and have great respect for their coach Wayne Graham. They go in as the No. 6 national seed. I am glad their 2-and-out effort in the Conference USA tournament didn't cost them a national seed. Clemson, another one of my former schools, did not get in this year for the first time in a very long time.
Eight teams from Texas qualified for the tournament. Rice and Texas A&M will play host to regionals. Hopefully I can make it out to see a few college games this weekend.
I'd love to hear what you have to say about the NCAA tournament selections, how you think Michigan will do and which team you think will win the championship.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Kovanda on All-Tourney Team
Ohio State second baseman Cory Kovanda has been named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team. Kovanda was 3-for-7 in the Buckeyes' two games in Ann Arbor. He was 1-for-3 in the opener against Illinois and then was 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored vs. Indiana. His sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth tied the game, 8-8. Ohio State ended up losing 10-8 in 10 innings. A loss that ended the season.
The Big Ten is likely a one-bid league this season. Michigan won both the regular season and tournament titles after coming back from a 2-0 hole to beat Purdue 3-2 Saturday night.
We'll find out for sure Monday at 12:30 p.m., ET, when the 64-team NCAA tournament field is announced on ESPN.
The Big Ten is likely a one-bid league this season. Michigan won both the regular season and tournament titles after coming back from a 2-0 hole to beat Purdue 3-2 Saturday night.
We'll find out for sure Monday at 12:30 p.m., ET, when the 64-team NCAA tournament field is announced on ESPN.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Going for Record Ninth Tourney Win
The Buckeyes celebrate after winning the Big Ten Tournament Championship last year in Ann Arbor. Photo by Chris Webb.Ohio State begins its quest for a ninth Big Ten title Wednesday in Ann Arbor. The fifth-seeded Buckeyes will play fourth-seeded Illinois in the first game of the Big Ten Tournament. First pitch will be at 12:05 p.m., ET. Michigan is the top seed followed by Purdue as the No. 2. Penn State moved into the No. 3 slot for the second consecutive season and will face No. 6 seed Indiana in Wednesday's second game at 3:35 p.m.
A complete tournament bracket is available at BigTen.com.
A complete tournament bracket is available at BigTen.com.
If the Buckeyes can win the Big Ten tournament next week it would be a record ninth title for the program. Ohio State and Minnesota each have eight tournament wins though Ohio State owns the best winning percentage in its previous 21 appearances. The Buckeyes have won 48 and lost 29 for a .623 winning percentage in conference postseason play.
The tournament winner gets the league's automatic berth into the NCAA touranment. This is a one-bid league if Michigan wins. Ohio State became the first No. 6 seed to win the tournament last year and has won four of the last six tournaments. I'm not ruling out the Buckeyes chances in 2008, but I think they have their work cut out for them.
Ohio State vs. Big Ten Field
No. 1 Seed Michigan
In 2008: Michigan won 3-1
In Big Ten Tourney: OSU leads 10-7
No. 2 Purdue
In 2008: Purdue won 3-1
In Big Ten Tourney: OSU leads 6-1
No. 3 Penn State
In 2008: Series split 2-2
In Big Ten Tourney: Series tied 2-2
In 2008: Series split 2-2
In Big Ten Tourney: Series tied 2-2
No. 4 Illinois
In 2008: OSU won 2-1
In Big Ten Tourney: Illinois leads 4-2
No. 6 Indiana
In 2008: DNP
In Big Ten Tourney: OSU leads 3-0
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Bucks Split Doubleheader, but Boilers Win Series
Ohio State clearly had to be feeling good. After losing the first two games of the series to Purdue, the Buckeyes took the opening game of a Sunday twinbill by an 8-4 count. In game two, they had led 5-1 through seven and appeared to be cruising to a series split, but then the bottom fell out and they ended up losing 7-5.
Ohio State recap
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
The Buckeyes led 5-1 late in the first game and allowed three runs in the sixth before coming back with three of their own for a four-run victory. In the second game, they led by the same margin heading to the eighth, but Purdue scored three runs to make it a one-run game. Ohio State got nothing in the bottom of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth Buckeye killer Ryne White hit a three-run bomb to right. White hit two home runs Friday nearly single-handedly win the opener. Sunday he won the finale. There were two on and one out when he came to the plate so there was clearly a spot open for him on base. I’m fairly certain I would have taken my chances on Jordan Comadena and Dan Black who followed White’s heroics. Comadena ended up grounding out and Black struck out, though clearly they were up in non-pressure situations and a two-run lead rather than trying to make something happen.
Shuck, the starting pitcher in game two, went 7.0 innings and allowed just one run on four hits. He struck out seven and walked two. Alex Wimmers gave up the homer to White. Those were the only runs he allowed on two hits in 2.0 innings. The loss was his first collegiate decision.
After three RBI in the first game, Miller went a perfect 4-for-4 and drove in another run in game two. The Cories each added two hits. Cory Kovanda was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Cory Rupert was 2-for-4. Purdue scored its seven runs on eight hits and committed an error while Ohio State scored five runs on 11 hits and committed two errors.
In game one, he Buckeyes built a 5-1 lead through the first three innings of game one and survived a three-run sixth by the Boilermakers that pulled them within a 5-4 score. The Buckeye Nine scored three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to reclaim a four-run lead. Tyler Engle and Shuck delivered singles with one out. Then after another out the runners both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Engle scored on a single by pinch hitter Michael Arp and Miller plated two more with a single to left.
Shuck was 2-for-3 and Kovanda was 2-for-4 though it was Miller’s three RBI that propelled Ohio State, which finished the game with 12 hits and two errors. Every Buckeye with a plate appearance had a hit. Purdue collected nine hits, including eight off OSU starter Dean Wolosiansky, who pitched 5.2 innings to get the win. He is now 5-2. Eric Best pitched the final 1.1 innings.
The-Ozone.net recap The-Ozone.net Photo Galleries: Game 3 and Game 4
Ohio State is now 19-15 on the season and 8-7 in conference play while Purdue, by virtue of taking three of four games in Columbus, is now 20-17 and 12-4 in the Big Ten. This was the first series win by Purdue against a Bob Todd-led Ohio State team. The Buckeyes welcome Akron Wednesday for a double dip beginning at 4:05 p.m.
Ohio State recap
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
The Buckeyes led 5-1 late in the first game and allowed three runs in the sixth before coming back with three of their own for a four-run victory. In the second game, they led by the same margin heading to the eighth, but Purdue scored three runs to make it a one-run game. Ohio State got nothing in the bottom of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth Buckeye killer Ryne White hit a three-run bomb to right. White hit two home runs Friday nearly single-handedly win the opener. Sunday he won the finale. There were two on and one out when he came to the plate so there was clearly a spot open for him on base. I’m fairly certain I would have taken my chances on Jordan Comadena and Dan Black who followed White’s heroics. Comadena ended up grounding out and Black struck out, though clearly they were up in non-pressure situations and a two-run lead rather than trying to make something happen.
Shuck, the starting pitcher in game two, went 7.0 innings and allowed just one run on four hits. He struck out seven and walked two. Alex Wimmers gave up the homer to White. Those were the only runs he allowed on two hits in 2.0 innings. The loss was his first collegiate decision.
After three RBI in the first game, Miller went a perfect 4-for-4 and drove in another run in game two. The Cories each added two hits. Cory Kovanda was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Cory Rupert was 2-for-4. Purdue scored its seven runs on eight hits and committed an error while Ohio State scored five runs on 11 hits and committed two errors.
In game one, he Buckeyes built a 5-1 lead through the first three innings of game one and survived a three-run sixth by the Boilermakers that pulled them within a 5-4 score. The Buckeye Nine scored three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to reclaim a four-run lead. Tyler Engle and Shuck delivered singles with one out. Then after another out the runners both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Engle scored on a single by pinch hitter Michael Arp and Miller plated two more with a single to left.
Shuck was 2-for-3 and Kovanda was 2-for-4 though it was Miller’s three RBI that propelled Ohio State, which finished the game with 12 hits and two errors. Every Buckeye with a plate appearance had a hit. Purdue collected nine hits, including eight off OSU starter Dean Wolosiansky, who pitched 5.2 innings to get the win. He is now 5-2. Eric Best pitched the final 1.1 innings.
The-Ozone.net recap The-Ozone.net Photo Galleries: Game 3 and Game 4
Ohio State is now 19-15 on the season and 8-7 in conference play while Purdue, by virtue of taking three of four games in Columbus, is now 20-17 and 12-4 in the Big Ten. This was the first series win by Purdue against a Bob Todd-led Ohio State team. The Buckeyes welcome Akron Wednesday for a double dip beginning at 4:05 p.m.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Buckeyes Shutout, Will Play Two Sunday
The Buckeyes got rocked by Purdue 8-0 Saturday thanks to a five-run third inning by the Boilermakers (box score). The victory ensures no worse than a series split with the Buckeyes, who were hoping to close the gap with second-place Purdue this weekend and stay within striking distance of first-place Michigan. Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor in two weeks after visiting Northwestern next weekend.
With one on and one out in the top of the third, Brandon Haveman drove in the first run with a single. Another single and a walk by OSU starter Dan DeLucia loaded the bases for Dan Black who connected and sent a ball over the fence in right-center field. Two more crossed in the fifth. All seven of those runs were against DeLucia who dropped to 1-2 in his sixth start of the season. Purdue touched him for seven hits, including a double and two home runs, and he walked two against four strikeouts.
Jared Strayer allowed the final Purdue run in the sixth on two hits. Rory Meister pitched a solid seventh, getting the Boilers in order.
Ohio State did not get a hit until J.B. Shuck doubled in the fourth. Justin Miller followed with a single but Purdue leftfielder Jordan Comadena fired home where he nabbed Shuck to keep the shutout intact.
The Buckeyes had runners at second and third with two out in the fifth inning but could not score. In the sixth they had two on and one out, but an untimely double-play ended any potential rally. Ohio State finished the game with six hits but had nothing to show for it.
Dispatch Recap
The second game of the scheduled doubleheader Saturday was pushed back until Sunday. The teams will now play two games -- first a seven-inning game and then a nine-inning game -- beginning at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
With one on and one out in the top of the third, Brandon Haveman drove in the first run with a single. Another single and a walk by OSU starter Dan DeLucia loaded the bases for Dan Black who connected and sent a ball over the fence in right-center field. Two more crossed in the fifth. All seven of those runs were against DeLucia who dropped to 1-2 in his sixth start of the season. Purdue touched him for seven hits, including a double and two home runs, and he walked two against four strikeouts.
Jared Strayer allowed the final Purdue run in the sixth on two hits. Rory Meister pitched a solid seventh, getting the Boilers in order.
Ohio State did not get a hit until J.B. Shuck doubled in the fourth. Justin Miller followed with a single but Purdue leftfielder Jordan Comadena fired home where he nabbed Shuck to keep the shutout intact.
The Buckeyes had runners at second and third with two out in the fifth inning but could not score. In the sixth they had two on and one out, but an untimely double-play ended any potential rally. Ohio State finished the game with six hits but had nothing to show for it.
Dispatch Recap
The second game of the scheduled doubleheader Saturday was pushed back until Sunday. The teams will now play two games -- first a seven-inning game and then a nine-inning game -- beginning at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Buckeyes Lose, Fail at Attendance Record
Photo by Jim Davidson for the-Ozone.net | The-Ozone.net Photo Gallery
Ohio State lost twice Friday night, though only once officially. Purdue claimed a 7-4 victory (box score) and the Buckeyes drew just 3,093 fans, far short of the 5,360 fans that set the stadium record in 2002. The game was the first of four games targeted by the OSU athletics department to set school or national attendance records.
While that was a blow to the campaign, the baseball team slipped even further behind in its chase toward a regular season Big Ten title. Michigan beat Michigan State to improve to 12-1 in league play, while Purdue increased its second-place lead over the Buckeyes, improving to 10-3. Ohio State is now 7-5 in league play.
Ryne White gave Purdue a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the first and the Boilermakers added two more in the fifth before Ohio State got a home run from Zach Hurley in the bottom of the inning. The Buckeyes added another in the sixth to pull within a 3-2 score, but the Boilers responded with three runs in the seventh. Two more OSU runs crossed in the bottom of the seventh before allowing a second home run to White in the top of the ninth.
White finished the game 4-for-4 with 3 RBI and three runs scored. Brandon Haveman was 3-for-4 and Jordan "Funky" Comadena added a pair of hits.
OSU starter Jake Hale was touched six runs on 11 hits in 6.1 innings. He struck out four and walked two in dropping his first decision of the season (4-1). Andrew Armstrong and Alex Wimmers each allowed two hits in their 1.1 innings as Buckeye pitching allowed 15 hits.
Ohio State managed just five hits and stranded baserunners. Dan Burkhart was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Purdue left 11 runners on base so the outcome could have been much worse for the Buckeyes.
The loss was the first in a conference opener for Ohio State this season. It also was the first time this season the top four in the batting order went hitless. Purdue's top four accounted for 10 hits.
The-Ozone.net recap | Columbus Dispatch Story | Purdue recap
Better luck to the men's lacrosse and football teams as they go for national attendance marks Saturday in Ohio Stadium. Men's LaX plays Denver at 11 a.m. and the football Buckeyes play their annual spring game with kickoff slated for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, the softball team will try to set a school attendance mark against Penn State.
Of course, the Buckeyes and Boilermakers continue the four-game Big Ten series Saturday with a doubleheader at 1:05 p.m.
Big, Big Ten Series This Weekend at 'The Bill'
Purdue Boilermakers
(17-16, 9-3 Big Ten)
at
Ohio State Buckeyes
(18-12, 7-4 Big Ten)
Weekend Schedule:
Friday, 6:35 p.m.
Saturday (DH), 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
AM 920 WMNI will broadcast games one, two and four. Audio from all for games will be available online at ohiostatebuckeyes.com, which also has Buckeye Vision. Both audio and video is available for subscription. Gamewatcher, the live stats program, is free of charge.
Probable Starters from ohiostatebuckeyes.com
G1: RHP Jake Hale (4-0, 4.46 ERA) vs.
RHP Matt Bischoff (1-2, 4.24)
G2: LHP Dan DeLucia (1-1, 3.75) vs.
LHP Kyle Cook (2-1, 3.68)
G3: RHP Dean Wolosiansky (4-2, 3.08) vs.
RHP Allan Donato (2-3, 3.07)
G4: LHP J.B. Shuck (4-2, 3.12) vs.
LHP Connor Sestak (1-2, 5.50)
or LHP Matt Jansen (2-1, 7.67)
More from the Ohio State game notes:
• The Buckeyes snapped out of a minor hitting lull (they had less than 10 hits in five of their previous six games) with 18 hits against Louisville.
• The team has had 18 or more hits five times this season.
• Ohio State has scored more runs than its opponent in every inning except the seventh. The 22-run advantage (35-13) for the opposition is the largest difference of any inning.
• The team has been involved in four consecutive one-run games with losses in each of the last two games (1-0 to Michigan State and 13-12 to Louisville).
• Eric Best has now pitched 10.2 innings without allowing an earned run.
• Ryan Dew is riding a six-game hitting streak that has raised his average 36 percentage points to .258. He leads the Buckeye hitters in Big Ten games with a .391 average and eight RBI.
• J.B. Shuck, who scored a career high four runs vs. Louisville, has topped 200 career innings pitched. He has 201.2.
• Alex Wimmers averages 1.5 strikeouts per inning pitched.
• Ohio State has been involved in seven shutouts this season, winning four and losing three.
• The Buckeyes are pretty good at holding leads: the team is 13-3 when leading after the fourth inning, 14-1 after the sixth and 15-0 after the eighth.
Weekend Promotional Schedule:
Friday
• Break the Record Night
• RHAC/Explore Columbus Night for Ohio State students
• 80's Flashback Friday - Music/Entertainment
• See the sky over Bill Davis Stadium light up with post game fireworks
Sunday
• Columbus Zoo - Come see your favorite animals from the Zoo
• Four Pack Day-for only $26 receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas, and four popcorns
• Post game autographs and kids can run the bases
• Youth baseball Day
Big Ten Standings
Games This Weekend in the Big Ten:
Purdue (9-3) at Ohio State (7-4), Michigan State (4-7) vs. Michigan (11-1); Illinois (6-6) at Minnesota (5-7); Indiana (4-8) at Penn State (4-8); and, Northwestern (5-7) at Iowa (4-8).
(17-16, 9-3 Big Ten)
at
Ohio State Buckeyes
(18-12, 7-4 Big Ten)
Weekend Schedule:
Friday, 6:35 p.m.
Saturday (DH), 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
AM 920 WMNI will broadcast games one, two and four. Audio from all for games will be available online at ohiostatebuckeyes.com, which also has Buckeye Vision. Both audio and video is available for subscription. Gamewatcher, the live stats program, is free of charge.
Probable Starters from ohiostatebuckeyes.com
G1: RHP Jake Hale (4-0, 4.46 ERA) vs.
RHP Matt Bischoff (1-2, 4.24)
G2: LHP Dan DeLucia (1-1, 3.75) vs.
LHP Kyle Cook (2-1, 3.68)
G3: RHP Dean Wolosiansky (4-2, 3.08) vs.
RHP Allan Donato (2-3, 3.07)
G4: LHP J.B. Shuck (4-2, 3.12) vs.
LHP Connor Sestak (1-2, 5.50)
or LHP Matt Jansen (2-1, 7.67)
More from the Ohio State game notes:
• The Buckeyes snapped out of a minor hitting lull (they had less than 10 hits in five of their previous six games) with 18 hits against Louisville.
• The team has had 18 or more hits five times this season.
• Ohio State has scored more runs than its opponent in every inning except the seventh. The 22-run advantage (35-13) for the opposition is the largest difference of any inning.
• The team has been involved in four consecutive one-run games with losses in each of the last two games (1-0 to Michigan State and 13-12 to Louisville).
• Eric Best has now pitched 10.2 innings without allowing an earned run.
• Ryan Dew is riding a six-game hitting streak that has raised his average 36 percentage points to .258. He leads the Buckeye hitters in Big Ten games with a .391 average and eight RBI.
• J.B. Shuck, who scored a career high four runs vs. Louisville, has topped 200 career innings pitched. He has 201.2.
• Alex Wimmers averages 1.5 strikeouts per inning pitched.
• Ohio State has been involved in seven shutouts this season, winning four and losing three.
• The Buckeyes are pretty good at holding leads: the team is 13-3 when leading after the fourth inning, 14-1 after the sixth and 15-0 after the eighth.
Weekend Promotional Schedule:
Friday
• Break the Record Night
• RHAC/Explore Columbus Night for Ohio State students
• 80's Flashback Friday - Music/Entertainment
• See the sky over Bill Davis Stadium light up with post game fireworks
Sunday
• Columbus Zoo - Come see your favorite animals from the Zoo
• Four Pack Day-for only $26 receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas, and four popcorns
• Post game autographs and kids can run the bases
• Youth baseball Day
Big Ten Standings
Games This Weekend in the Big Ten:
Purdue (9-3) at Ohio State (7-4), Michigan State (4-7) vs. Michigan (11-1); Illinois (6-6) at Minnesota (5-7); Indiana (4-8) at Penn State (4-8); and, Northwestern (5-7) at Iowa (4-8).
Dispatch Story on J.B. Shuck
Mark Znidar wrote a nice story about J.B. Shuck in this morning's Columbus Dispatch. At least the paper sees value in covering home Big Ten series. I still argue it should be covering all baseball games, certainly all Big Ten games.
This is a huge series this weekend pitting No. 2 Purdue and No. 3 Ohio State. The winner of the series will stay within striking distance of top-ranked Michigan, while the loser will be even further back of the Wolverines, which have lost just once in 12 Big Ten games.
This is a huge series this weekend pitting No. 2 Purdue and No. 3 Ohio State. The winner of the series will stay within striking distance of top-ranked Michigan, while the loser will be even further back of the Wolverines, which have lost just once in 12 Big Ten games.
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