Alex Kopilow
Issue date: 5/13/09
Andrew Armstrong lost his second game in a row in a miserable performance for the Ohio State baseball team. Eastern Michigan defeated the Buckeyes 9-5 Tuesday at Bill Davis Stadium.
Armstrong (2-3) lasted only three innings, giving up seven runs on four hits and walking five batters.
Armstrong let the game get out of hand in the second inning. With two outs and no runners on base, Armstrong walked four consecutive batters. One batter later, Gulliver hit a grand slam to left center field to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead.
OSU coach Bob Todd said Armstrong did not have good velocity or consistency.
Gulliver had five of the first six RBIs for the Eagles. The Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week is 10-for-17 (.588) in his last six games. He had five home runs, 11 runs scored, 12 RBIs and he stole two bases. He was 3-for-4 in game one, with two home runs, two runs scored and five RBIs.
Kendall Lewis (4-4) pitched five innings for Eastern Michigan. He gave up one run on seven hits and struck out one batter.
Lewis gave up his only run to the Buckeyes in the second inning. With one out, Ryan Dew doubled to right field and Justin Miller singled to left field. With runners on first and third bases, Michael Arp hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Dew.
EMU third baseman Zack Leonard singled with two outs in the third inning. Aaron Powell doubled to left-center field to score Leonard. It was the sixth run Armstrong gave up with two outs.
In his last three starts since returning from a tendonitis injury, Armstrong has a 20.77 ERA. In those starts he has given up 21 earned runs on 18 hits and he has walked 10 batters.
Jared Strayer relieved Armstrong in the fourth inning and allowed two runs in three innings pitched. Seven of the nine runs by Eastern Michigan were scored with runners on base because of a walk or being hit by a pitch.
"You are putting your hitters behind the eight ball and that's been our downfall all year in mid-week games," Todd said. "It's 60-feet-6-inches, [OSU pitchers] can throw strikes whether it's in the bullpen or on a mound in a game."
Tim Combs relieved Lewis in the seventh inning. Combs allowed four runs to narrow the EMU lead to 9-5.
The Buckeyes loaded the bases to start the seventh inning. Matt Streng singled to center field to score Miller. As a pinch hitter, Corey Kovanda singled to score Arp and Cory Rupert. Shawyne Forsythe pinch hit for Dan Burkhart and hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Streng.
Justin Miller was named Big Ten Player of the Week Tuesday for his performance in last weekend's series at Illinois. It was the eighth time a Buckeye has won the award, which marks a school record.
Eastern Michigan improved its record to 21-32 as OSU fell to 36-15.
The Buckeyes will finish the regular season with a 3-6 record in mid-week games.
Showing posts with label The Lantern. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Lantern. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Student Newspapers: The Lantern & The Daily Illini
The Lantern
Nathan Schlabach
Issue date: 5/8/09
The National Player of the Week and Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Week, Ohio State's Alex Wimmers will start the opening match of an important three-game series this weekend.
It's the start of a series that might ultimately decide the Big Ten champion as the OSU baseball team travels to Champaign, Ill., to take on Illinois.
Coming off his 14-strikeout, no-hit performance against Michigan last weekend, Wimmers (8-1, 2.79 ERA) will look to end the Buckeyes' three-game losing streak at 7 p.m. Friday. He will be going up against Illinois pitcher Phil Haig (6-2, 4.48 ERA).
This series will be a match-up featuring the No. 25 and No. 27 teams in the country, and the series winner will hold the edge in the race for the Big Ten title.
To gain the upper hand, the Buckeyes must play smart, fundamental baseball if they expect to win games this weekend. Illinois has been playing very well as of late, winning eight of its last 10 games.
"This team set out to win a Big Ten championship this year and this is our chance to really go out and get it," OSU outfielder Zach Hurley said. "They're going to bring everything they have, so it's going to be a good weekend match-up."
Coach Bob Todd also stressed the fact that this is an important weekend for OSU.
"We have to get ready to play Illinois and obviously that's another big huge series for us," Todd said. "Our objective and our goal is to win a Big Ten championship."
Illinois is in the Big Ten lead, with a one-game lead against the Bucks and a half-game lead over Minnesota, going into this weekend. Illinois (31-14, 14-4 Big Ten), Minnesota (31-13, 13-4) and OSU (34-13, 13-5 Big Ten) are all battling it out for the top spot in the Big Ten.
And with only two weeks left in the regular season and fewer conference games left, things are heating up.
"Every game is going to be critical from here on out," Todd said.
The Buckeyes must get a couple wins this weekend if they expect to win the Big Ten Championship. With one Big Ten series left after this, the Buckeyes know they control their own destiny.
Game two begins at 4 p.m. Saturday and will showcase OSU pitcher Dean Wolosiansky and Illinois pitcher Ben Reeser. The series will conclude with a 2 p.m. game Sunday, highlighting OSU pitcher Eric Best and Illinois pitcher Bryan Roberts.
The Daily Illini
Peter Zervakis
May 8th, 2009
The No. 25 Illini host No. 27 Ohio State this weekend in a three-game series that could decide the conference crown. Illinois (31-14, 14-4 Big Ten) is first in the Big Ten, but the Buckeyes (34-13, 13-5) can rise to the top of the standings with a series win in Champaign.
Illinois junior catcher Aaron Johnson is a man who likes to be in control of things — like the race for the Big Ten title.
"It's all in our hands now," Johnson said. "As long as we keep winning it's not like there's anything anybody else can do."
Illinois has not won a Big Ten regular-season title since 2005. Despite the magnitude of the series, Johnson said the Illini won't approach the weekend differently than usual.
"You've got to look at what got you here," Johnson said. "We're just going to keep doing the same things we've been all year ... we really don't care who we're playing."
Ohio State boasts an intimidating trio of starting pitchers with a combined record of 24-5. Sophomores Alex Wimmers and Dean Wolosiansky will take to the mound Friday and Saturday, while senior lefty Eric Best will be expected to close the show in Sunday's series finale.
Johnson, who has batted .345 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs this year, said the Illinois offense is more than capable of scoring against the OSU aces.
"(Hitters) one through nine, we've been confident all year," Johnson said. "It seems like we just always find ways to score runs."
The Buckeyes boast a powerful batting order of their own, led by sophomore catcher Dan Burkhart and junior outfielder Michael Stephens. Burkhart is batting .380 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs this season, while his teammate Stephens is batting .364 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs on the season.
Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb added that the Illini and the Buckeyes have mutual respect for one another.
"They're a very good team," Hartleb said. "They're going to be very similar to us. They can swing the bats, they've got solid pitching and defensively they're good."
Sophomore lefty Phil Haig will start things off on the mound for Illinois Friday night. Senior Ben Reeser will throw Saturday, and freshman Bryan Roberts is slated to pitch Sunday. Roberts said he appreciates the trust Hartleb has shown in him this season.
"Coach has shown great confidence in me all year," Roberts said. "That's a big confidence booster for me."
Roberts also said the Illini pitching staff knows what it has to do to neutralize Burkhart, Stephens and company.
"If we're attacking hitters we know we can take care of business," Roberts said. "The problems for us start when we get behind in the count and start throwing pitches right down the middle. That's when we start getting hit."
Hartleb said pitching could determine which team is sitting atop the Big Ten standings come Monday morning.
"We need to be sharp, be down in the zone and use both sides of the plate," Hartleb said of his pitching staff.
The coach added, "Whoever pitches the best in each and every game will come out and win that given game."
Nathan Schlabach
Issue date: 5/8/09
The National Player of the Week and Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Week, Ohio State's Alex Wimmers will start the opening match of an important three-game series this weekend.
It's the start of a series that might ultimately decide the Big Ten champion as the OSU baseball team travels to Champaign, Ill., to take on Illinois.
Coming off his 14-strikeout, no-hit performance against Michigan last weekend, Wimmers (8-1, 2.79 ERA) will look to end the Buckeyes' three-game losing streak at 7 p.m. Friday. He will be going up against Illinois pitcher Phil Haig (6-2, 4.48 ERA).
This series will be a match-up featuring the No. 25 and No. 27 teams in the country, and the series winner will hold the edge in the race for the Big Ten title.
To gain the upper hand, the Buckeyes must play smart, fundamental baseball if they expect to win games this weekend. Illinois has been playing very well as of late, winning eight of its last 10 games.
"This team set out to win a Big Ten championship this year and this is our chance to really go out and get it," OSU outfielder Zach Hurley said. "They're going to bring everything they have, so it's going to be a good weekend match-up."
Coach Bob Todd also stressed the fact that this is an important weekend for OSU.
"We have to get ready to play Illinois and obviously that's another big huge series for us," Todd said. "Our objective and our goal is to win a Big Ten championship."
Illinois is in the Big Ten lead, with a one-game lead against the Bucks and a half-game lead over Minnesota, going into this weekend. Illinois (31-14, 14-4 Big Ten), Minnesota (31-13, 13-4) and OSU (34-13, 13-5 Big Ten) are all battling it out for the top spot in the Big Ten.
And with only two weeks left in the regular season and fewer conference games left, things are heating up.
"Every game is going to be critical from here on out," Todd said.
The Buckeyes must get a couple wins this weekend if they expect to win the Big Ten Championship. With one Big Ten series left after this, the Buckeyes know they control their own destiny.
Game two begins at 4 p.m. Saturday and will showcase OSU pitcher Dean Wolosiansky and Illinois pitcher Ben Reeser. The series will conclude with a 2 p.m. game Sunday, highlighting OSU pitcher Eric Best and Illinois pitcher Bryan Roberts.
The Daily Illini
Peter Zervakis
May 8th, 2009
The No. 25 Illini host No. 27 Ohio State this weekend in a three-game series that could decide the conference crown. Illinois (31-14, 14-4 Big Ten) is first in the Big Ten, but the Buckeyes (34-13, 13-5) can rise to the top of the standings with a series win in Champaign.
Illinois junior catcher Aaron Johnson is a man who likes to be in control of things — like the race for the Big Ten title.
"It's all in our hands now," Johnson said. "As long as we keep winning it's not like there's anything anybody else can do."
Illinois has not won a Big Ten regular-season title since 2005. Despite the magnitude of the series, Johnson said the Illini won't approach the weekend differently than usual.
"You've got to look at what got you here," Johnson said. "We're just going to keep doing the same things we've been all year ... we really don't care who we're playing."
Ohio State boasts an intimidating trio of starting pitchers with a combined record of 24-5. Sophomores Alex Wimmers and Dean Wolosiansky will take to the mound Friday and Saturday, while senior lefty Eric Best will be expected to close the show in Sunday's series finale.
Johnson, who has batted .345 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs this year, said the Illinois offense is more than capable of scoring against the OSU aces.
"(Hitters) one through nine, we've been confident all year," Johnson said. "It seems like we just always find ways to score runs."
The Buckeyes boast a powerful batting order of their own, led by sophomore catcher Dan Burkhart and junior outfielder Michael Stephens. Burkhart is batting .380 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs this season, while his teammate Stephens is batting .364 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs on the season.
Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb added that the Illini and the Buckeyes have mutual respect for one another.
"They're a very good team," Hartleb said. "They're going to be very similar to us. They can swing the bats, they've got solid pitching and defensively they're good."
Sophomore lefty Phil Haig will start things off on the mound for Illinois Friday night. Senior Ben Reeser will throw Saturday, and freshman Bryan Roberts is slated to pitch Sunday. Roberts said he appreciates the trust Hartleb has shown in him this season.
"Coach has shown great confidence in me all year," Roberts said. "That's a big confidence booster for me."
Roberts also said the Illini pitching staff knows what it has to do to neutralize Burkhart, Stephens and company.
"If we're attacking hitters we know we can take care of business," Roberts said. "The problems for us start when we get behind in the count and start throwing pitches right down the middle. That's when we start getting hit."
Hartleb said pitching could determine which team is sitting atop the Big Ten standings come Monday morning.
"We need to be sharp, be down in the zone and use both sides of the plate," Hartleb said of his pitching staff.
The coach added, "Whoever pitches the best in each and every game will come out and win that given game."
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Lantern: Michigan Series This Weekend
Nathan Schlabach
Issue date: 5/1/09
Ohio State's arch rival from the north comes to play this weekend, and this time it will take place on the baseball diamond.
No matter the sport, when the Buckeyes and the Wolverines get together, they always take things seriously and always want to win.
"It doesn't matter if you live in California or Florida, you mention Ohio State- Michigan and there are a lot of people aware of that happening," OSU coach Bob Todd said.
The OSU baseball team (32-10, 11-4 Big Ten) welcomes Michigan (23-19, 6-9 Big Ten) to Bill Davis Stadium to start another important three-game series tonight.
It will mark the 249th meeting between these two teams, a rivalry that was started in 1895, two years before the gridiron rivalry.
"This is a big series, obviously when Ohio State plays Michigan in anything you know it's going to be a big event," third baseman Justin Miller said. "We haven't played too well against them the last couple of years, so hopefully we can keep this run going and have a good weekend."
Coach Todd recognizes the importance of the rivalry, but wants his guys to focus on playing smart baseball and not forget what got them to 32 wins.
"Our players are aware of what's going on and I guarantee if you're in Ann Arbor, their players are aware of what's happening this weekend," Todd said.
"[But] you also got to understand it's another game and we've got to go ahead and do the little things that have helped us in the past and stay focused on what we have to do."
OSU has struggled recently against Michigan, with the Wolverines winning 12 of the last 14 contests. The Buckeyes will look to correct that with three more tallies for the win column this weekend.
Catcher Dan Burkhart knows it will be tough.
"The Michigan rivalry is always intense; last year we went 1-3 against them and the last couple years we haven't been successful against Michigan," Burkhart said. "We need to come out this year and put it to them a little bit and really go out there and be ready to play, because they're going to be ready to play."
Michigan leads the series 157-90-2.
The Buckeyes will look to increase their lead in the Big Ten this weekend. They are currently sitting atop the Big Ten standings and are in a tie with Illinois for sole possession of first place.
Minnesota and Indiana are right behind, trying to gain the lead.
The Bucks know that this is no time to slow down if they expect to compete for the Big Ten title.
"If we want to win the Big Ten we got to go out there and win every game," Burkhart said.
The three-game series kicks off at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Bill Davis Stadium. Game two will take place at 1:05 p.m. Saturday and the series will wrap up starting at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
On the mound for the Buckeyes tonight will be sophomore ace Alex Wimmers (7-1). Saturday's game will start with Dean Wolosiansky and on Sunday Eric Best will take the mound.
Issue date: 5/1/09
Ohio State's arch rival from the north comes to play this weekend, and this time it will take place on the baseball diamond.
No matter the sport, when the Buckeyes and the Wolverines get together, they always take things seriously and always want to win.
"It doesn't matter if you live in California or Florida, you mention Ohio State- Michigan and there are a lot of people aware of that happening," OSU coach Bob Todd said.
The OSU baseball team (32-10, 11-4 Big Ten) welcomes Michigan (23-19, 6-9 Big Ten) to Bill Davis Stadium to start another important three-game series tonight.
It will mark the 249th meeting between these two teams, a rivalry that was started in 1895, two years before the gridiron rivalry.
"This is a big series, obviously when Ohio State plays Michigan in anything you know it's going to be a big event," third baseman Justin Miller said. "We haven't played too well against them the last couple of years, so hopefully we can keep this run going and have a good weekend."
Coach Todd recognizes the importance of the rivalry, but wants his guys to focus on playing smart baseball and not forget what got them to 32 wins.
"Our players are aware of what's going on and I guarantee if you're in Ann Arbor, their players are aware of what's happening this weekend," Todd said.
"[But] you also got to understand it's another game and we've got to go ahead and do the little things that have helped us in the past and stay focused on what we have to do."
OSU has struggled recently against Michigan, with the Wolverines winning 12 of the last 14 contests. The Buckeyes will look to correct that with three more tallies for the win column this weekend.
Catcher Dan Burkhart knows it will be tough.
"The Michigan rivalry is always intense; last year we went 1-3 against them and the last couple years we haven't been successful against Michigan," Burkhart said. "We need to come out this year and put it to them a little bit and really go out there and be ready to play, because they're going to be ready to play."
Michigan leads the series 157-90-2.
The Buckeyes will look to increase their lead in the Big Ten this weekend. They are currently sitting atop the Big Ten standings and are in a tie with Illinois for sole possession of first place.
Minnesota and Indiana are right behind, trying to gain the lead.
The Bucks know that this is no time to slow down if they expect to compete for the Big Ten title.
"If we want to win the Big Ten we got to go out there and win every game," Burkhart said.
The three-game series kicks off at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Bill Davis Stadium. Game two will take place at 1:05 p.m. Saturday and the series will wrap up starting at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
On the mound for the Buckeyes tonight will be sophomore ace Alex Wimmers (7-1). Saturday's game will start with Dean Wolosiansky and on Sunday Eric Best will take the mound.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Lantern: Burkhart blast Bucks past Zips
Nathan Schlabach
Issue date: 4/30/09
It took one inning for the Buckeyes to take a commanding 5-2 lead on Akron, a lead they would never relinquish.
The big inning of the game came in the bottom of the third inning when two men were out. The Buckeyes put five on the board on five hits.
The big hit came off the bat of catcher Dan Burkhart, who hit a three-run bomb to right center, which just cleared the outfield fence and the outstretched arm of the right fielder.
Burkhart had one hit and three RBIs Wednesday night.
He also had a stellar night behind the plate, blocking the plate and preventing runners from moving up bases all night.
The DH Michael Stephens also had a big day offensively with two hits and three RBIs in four at bats.
"I'm starting to click a little bit I mean I am starting to see pitches up and hammering them," Stephens said. "[I'm] just doing my job and trying to get the RBIs in."
Stephens and Burkhart accounted for six of the seven OSU runs.
The Bucks used a combination of five pitchers to hold Akron with three runs and nine hits.
Jake Hale came in for the ninth and the Stomper of the Year candidate secured the three outs.
Armstrong returns
OSU pitcher Andrew Armstrong returned from a month-long injury that he suffered on March 29 against Penn State.
He started the game and pitched three innings, allowing two runs and four hits. He is now 2-1 for the season with a 5.18 ERA.
"I felt a lot better than I have," Armstrong said. "I'm just working everyday to get back to where I need to be in order to help this team."
Defense
The Buckeye defense showed up on Wednesday with a couple diving catches and some good plays. It was a better performance than previous Wednesday games.
"It's one of the things we've worked on. We've emphasized the defense all season," coach Bob Todd said. "As long as were handling the baseball out there, it's taking a lot of pressure off our pitching staff."
The Buckeyes are ranked fifth in team fielding with a .965 fielding percentage.
Game notes
This marked the 30th matchup between these teams, a series that started in 1980. It was also a matchup of mentor against assistant, as Akron's coach Pat Bangtson was once an assistant under OSU coach Bob Todd.
Stats
The Buckeyes are now 2-3 on Wednesday games this season. They have been outscored 45-25 in four Wednesday games.
At Bill Davis Stadium the Bucks are now 216-100 all time with a .689 winning percentage. They are 8-4 at home in 2009.
OSU relief pitcher Jake Hale and starting pitcher Alex Wimmers have been named to the national Pitcher of the Year watch list.
Issue date: 4/30/09
It took one inning for the Buckeyes to take a commanding 5-2 lead on Akron, a lead they would never relinquish.
The big inning of the game came in the bottom of the third inning when two men were out. The Buckeyes put five on the board on five hits.
The big hit came off the bat of catcher Dan Burkhart, who hit a three-run bomb to right center, which just cleared the outfield fence and the outstretched arm of the right fielder.
Burkhart had one hit and three RBIs Wednesday night.
He also had a stellar night behind the plate, blocking the plate and preventing runners from moving up bases all night.
The DH Michael Stephens also had a big day offensively with two hits and three RBIs in four at bats.
"I'm starting to click a little bit I mean I am starting to see pitches up and hammering them," Stephens said. "[I'm] just doing my job and trying to get the RBIs in."
Stephens and Burkhart accounted for six of the seven OSU runs.
The Bucks used a combination of five pitchers to hold Akron with three runs and nine hits.
Jake Hale came in for the ninth and the Stomper of the Year candidate secured the three outs.
Armstrong returns
OSU pitcher Andrew Armstrong returned from a month-long injury that he suffered on March 29 against Penn State.
He started the game and pitched three innings, allowing two runs and four hits. He is now 2-1 for the season with a 5.18 ERA.
"I felt a lot better than I have," Armstrong said. "I'm just working everyday to get back to where I need to be in order to help this team."
Defense
The Buckeye defense showed up on Wednesday with a couple diving catches and some good plays. It was a better performance than previous Wednesday games.
"It's one of the things we've worked on. We've emphasized the defense all season," coach Bob Todd said. "As long as were handling the baseball out there, it's taking a lot of pressure off our pitching staff."
The Buckeyes are ranked fifth in team fielding with a .965 fielding percentage.
Game notes
This marked the 30th matchup between these teams, a series that started in 1980. It was also a matchup of mentor against assistant, as Akron's coach Pat Bangtson was once an assistant under OSU coach Bob Todd.
Stats
The Buckeyes are now 2-3 on Wednesday games this season. They have been outscored 45-25 in four Wednesday games.
At Bill Davis Stadium the Bucks are now 216-100 all time with a .689 winning percentage. They are 8-4 at home in 2009.
OSU relief pitcher Jake Hale and starting pitcher Alex Wimmers have been named to the national Pitcher of the Year watch list.
The Lantern: Bullpen back in gear
Alex Kopilow
Issue date: 4/30/09
Ohio State baseball coach Bob Todd was pleased to see his bullpen hold Akron batters to one run in the Buckeyes' 7-3 win Wednesday. It serves as a sign that the bullpen has recovered after last week's gaffe against Ball State, where the Buckeyes gave up 20 runs in four innings.
Five pitchers for the OSU relief corps gave up zero earned runs on five hits and struck out six batters in seven innings pitched.
The key was we pitched ahead [of the count] and we didn't walk people," Todd said.
Armstrong gave up back-to-back singles to Nick Solitario and Kevin Haas. Solitario advanced to third on Haas' single and scored when Zips designated hitter Jake Plata singled to center field. With a 1-0 lead and runners on first and third base, Armstrong threw a wild pitch, allowing Zach Roberts to score from third base.
OSU loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning on a single, double and a walk. Michael Stephens hit a two-RBI single to left field to tie the game at two. OSU catcher Dan Burkhart hit a three-run home run to right center field to give the Buckeyes a 5-2 lead.
"Those are the kinds of things we need to have a successful season, big two out hits," Todd said.
OSU starting pitcher Andrew Armstrong earned the win in his first start in two weeks after suffering from tendonitis in his left arm. He improved his record to 2-1 in a start that coach Todd described as decent. Armstrong gave up two runs on four hits and struck out three batters in three innings pitched.
OSU second baseman Corey Kovanda singled left field to lead off the fifth inning. Michael Stephens doubled to left center field and earned his third RBI of the game. The Buckeyes extended their lead to 7-2 when Ryan Dew singled to right field to score Stephens from second base.
Starting pitcher Scott Foster took the loss for the Zips. The redshirt freshman gave up seven runs on seven hits in four and two-thirds innings pitched.
Akron added its third run in the eighth inning. Jake Platta reached first base on a catcher's interference call on OSU backup catcher Shawn Forsythe. Akron catcher John Turk singled to advance Platta to third base. Pinch hitter Kyle Hallett doubled to leftfield to score Platta.
The No. 27 Buckeyes improved their record to 32-10, while the Zips fell to 14-28 for the year.
Ohio State is 1-3 in Wednesday games this season at Bill Davis Stadium. This season, OSU has lost to Marshall, Kent State and Ball State, and earned a win over Morehead State.
The baseball team will begin its nine-game home stand in a weekend series against the Michigan Wolverines at 7 p.m. Friday at Bill Davis Stadium.
Issue date: 4/30/09
Ohio State baseball coach Bob Todd was pleased to see his bullpen hold Akron batters to one run in the Buckeyes' 7-3 win Wednesday. It serves as a sign that the bullpen has recovered after last week's gaffe against Ball State, where the Buckeyes gave up 20 runs in four innings.
Five pitchers for the OSU relief corps gave up zero earned runs on five hits and struck out six batters in seven innings pitched.
The key was we pitched ahead [of the count] and we didn't walk people," Todd said.
Armstrong gave up back-to-back singles to Nick Solitario and Kevin Haas. Solitario advanced to third on Haas' single and scored when Zips designated hitter Jake Plata singled to center field. With a 1-0 lead and runners on first and third base, Armstrong threw a wild pitch, allowing Zach Roberts to score from third base.
OSU loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning on a single, double and a walk. Michael Stephens hit a two-RBI single to left field to tie the game at two. OSU catcher Dan Burkhart hit a three-run home run to right center field to give the Buckeyes a 5-2 lead.
"Those are the kinds of things we need to have a successful season, big two out hits," Todd said.
OSU starting pitcher Andrew Armstrong earned the win in his first start in two weeks after suffering from tendonitis in his left arm. He improved his record to 2-1 in a start that coach Todd described as decent. Armstrong gave up two runs on four hits and struck out three batters in three innings pitched.
OSU second baseman Corey Kovanda singled left field to lead off the fifth inning. Michael Stephens doubled to left center field and earned his third RBI of the game. The Buckeyes extended their lead to 7-2 when Ryan Dew singled to right field to score Stephens from second base.
Starting pitcher Scott Foster took the loss for the Zips. The redshirt freshman gave up seven runs on seven hits in four and two-thirds innings pitched.
Akron added its third run in the eighth inning. Jake Platta reached first base on a catcher's interference call on OSU backup catcher Shawn Forsythe. Akron catcher John Turk singled to advance Platta to third base. Pinch hitter Kyle Hallett doubled to leftfield to score Platta.
The No. 27 Buckeyes improved their record to 32-10, while the Zips fell to 14-28 for the year.
Ohio State is 1-3 in Wednesday games this season at Bill Davis Stadium. This season, OSU has lost to Marshall, Kent State and Ball State, and earned a win over Morehead State.
The baseball team will begin its nine-game home stand in a weekend series against the Michigan Wolverines at 7 p.m. Friday at Bill Davis Stadium.
Friday, April 24, 2009
The Lantern: OSU looks to gain 30th win of season
Alex Kopilow
Issue date: 4/24/09
The Ohio State baseball team will play the Northwestern Wildcats in a weekend series with hopes of bouncing back from a miserable performance against Ball State Wednesday.
The Buckeyes have a 29-9 overall record and are first place in the Big Ten (9-3). They have won their last six Big Ten games, two three-game sweeps against Michigan State and Purdue, in consecutive weekends.
The Buckeyes have not lost a weekend game at home.
The Northwestern Wildcats are in last place in the Big Ten (2-8). They have lost eight of their last 10 games, earning an overall record of 11-24.
OSU had its worst loss of the season Wednesday against the Ball State Cardinals. The Buckeye bullpen allowed 20 runs in four innings in the 20-8 loss. Twelve of the Cardinals' 16 hits were for extra bases. The Buckeyes have lost consecutive mid-week non-conference games.
"The most important thing for us is to be competitive in the league," coach Bob Todd said. "We're in first place and that's how we have to approach it."
In Wednesday's loss, the Buckeyes had 15 hits but were unable to capitalize on many run-scoring opportunities.
Cardinal center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker saved a run in the second inning when he made a leaping catch at the wall to take away what would have been a home run for Michael Arp.
"I thought to myself, 'Where's the karma?' " Todd said.
But there is still a light at the end of the tunnel for OSU.
Northwestern ranks last in five out of the six major hitting categories in the Big Ten. The Wildcats are last in the Big Ten in batting average, on base percentage, runs scored, hits and runs batted in.
The Buckeyes split last year's series in Evanston, Ill. Pitchers Jake Hale and Dean Wolosiansky earned wins in the series.
Friday's game will start at 6:35 p.m., with the Saturday and Sunday games beginning at 1:05 p.m.
Issue date: 4/24/09
The Ohio State baseball team will play the Northwestern Wildcats in a weekend series with hopes of bouncing back from a miserable performance against Ball State Wednesday.
The Buckeyes have a 29-9 overall record and are first place in the Big Ten (9-3). They have won their last six Big Ten games, two three-game sweeps against Michigan State and Purdue, in consecutive weekends.
The Buckeyes have not lost a weekend game at home.
The Northwestern Wildcats are in last place in the Big Ten (2-8). They have lost eight of their last 10 games, earning an overall record of 11-24.
OSU had its worst loss of the season Wednesday against the Ball State Cardinals. The Buckeye bullpen allowed 20 runs in four innings in the 20-8 loss. Twelve of the Cardinals' 16 hits were for extra bases. The Buckeyes have lost consecutive mid-week non-conference games.
"The most important thing for us is to be competitive in the league," coach Bob Todd said. "We're in first place and that's how we have to approach it."
In Wednesday's loss, the Buckeyes had 15 hits but were unable to capitalize on many run-scoring opportunities.
Cardinal center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker saved a run in the second inning when he made a leaping catch at the wall to take away what would have been a home run for Michael Arp.
"I thought to myself, 'Where's the karma?' " Todd said.
But there is still a light at the end of the tunnel for OSU.
Northwestern ranks last in five out of the six major hitting categories in the Big Ten. The Wildcats are last in the Big Ten in batting average, on base percentage, runs scored, hits and runs batted in.
The Buckeyes split last year's series in Evanston, Ill. Pitchers Jake Hale and Dean Wolosiansky earned wins in the series.
Friday's game will start at 6:35 p.m., with the Saturday and Sunday games beginning at 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Lantern: Big Ten-best OSU hosts BG, Ball State in midweek games
Nathan Schlabach
Issue date: 4/21/09
The Big Ten leading Ohio State Buckeyes baseball team will host two mid-week games this week as they face Bowling Green on Tuesday night and Ball State Wednesday night.
The Buckeyes first mid-week game will be against Bowling Green at Bill Davis Stadium. The first pitch is set for Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m.
Bowling Green (17-16, 8-6 MAC) comes in to Bill Davis Stadium on a two game losing skid, losing two out of three to Kent State this past weekend. They will be looking to rebound before they return to MAC play this weekend against Miami of Ohio.
"There a solid ball club," coach Bob Todd said. He also noted the importance of these mid-week games and how it's a jump starter for their Big Ten series this weekend.
If the Buckeyes play well for these mid-week games it acts as a tune up for their Big Ten games.
"Weekday games are huge," pitcher Alex Wimmers said. "If we are able to win those games it gives us confidence [for the weekend]."
The Buckeyes will finish off their two game mid-week slate on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. as the Bucks will take on Ball State at Bill Davis Stadium.
Ball State (16-17, 6-7 MAC) comes in to the game with a one game winning streak after defeating Central Michigan 12-4 on Saturday.
Ball State's pitching coach Mike Stafford is a 1998 graduate of Ohio State is now helping the Ball State baseball team.
"Mike Stafford is doing an outstanding job over there" coach Todd said. "We talked to him in the winter time and he said they were going to have an outstanding ball club."
Hopefully the Buckeyes can come out for both games and get good pitching, timely hitting and get the two wins heading into this weekend games against Northwestern
OSU leads the all time series against Bowling Green 29-18-4 and they also lead the series against Ball State 11-4.
Pitcher Jake Hale has been named Big Ten player of the week he comes in to Tuesday's game with 10 saves and a 1.12 ERA. It is the sixth time this season a Buckeye player has been player of the week.
Hale has also been added to the midseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year Award.
Issue date: 4/21/09
The Big Ten leading Ohio State Buckeyes baseball team will host two mid-week games this week as they face Bowling Green on Tuesday night and Ball State Wednesday night.
The Buckeyes first mid-week game will be against Bowling Green at Bill Davis Stadium. The first pitch is set for Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m.
Bowling Green (17-16, 8-6 MAC) comes in to Bill Davis Stadium on a two game losing skid, losing two out of three to Kent State this past weekend. They will be looking to rebound before they return to MAC play this weekend against Miami of Ohio.
"There a solid ball club," coach Bob Todd said. He also noted the importance of these mid-week games and how it's a jump starter for their Big Ten series this weekend.
If the Buckeyes play well for these mid-week games it acts as a tune up for their Big Ten games.
"Weekday games are huge," pitcher Alex Wimmers said. "If we are able to win those games it gives us confidence [for the weekend]."
The Buckeyes will finish off their two game mid-week slate on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. as the Bucks will take on Ball State at Bill Davis Stadium.
Ball State (16-17, 6-7 MAC) comes in to the game with a one game winning streak after defeating Central Michigan 12-4 on Saturday.
Ball State's pitching coach Mike Stafford is a 1998 graduate of Ohio State is now helping the Ball State baseball team.
"Mike Stafford is doing an outstanding job over there" coach Todd said. "We talked to him in the winter time and he said they were going to have an outstanding ball club."
Hopefully the Buckeyes can come out for both games and get good pitching, timely hitting and get the two wins heading into this weekend games against Northwestern
OSU leads the all time series against Bowling Green 29-18-4 and they also lead the series against Ball State 11-4.
Pitcher Jake Hale has been named Big Ten player of the week he comes in to Tuesday's game with 10 saves and a 1.12 ERA. It is the sixth time this season a Buckeye player has been player of the week.
Hale has also been added to the midseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year Award.
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Lantern: Buckeyes Sweep Boilers
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Lanter: Hurley takes the lead
Alex Kopilow
Issue date: 4/15/09
Junior leftfielder Zach Hurley has been the leadoff hitter for the Ohio State baseball team since the beginning of the year, but he's taken the word "lead" to a whole new level.
Hurley needed surgery on a torn left labrum (shoulder) late last summer, which kept him out of fall practices. Since the season started in late February he has shown no signs that the surgery has hurt his performance.
Hurley is the team leader in runs, hits and stolen bases, which are all typical statistics of a great leadoff hitter. Hurley also leads in categories typical of a cleanup hitter. He leads the team with a .590 slugging percentage, a .436 on-base percentage, and he even leads the team in runs batted in with 39. Hurley also has 15 extra base hits (5 doubles, 5 triples, 5 home runs), which is tied for second on team with outfielder Michael Stephens.
"I think it's more of a tribute to the entire team an how well we're playing," Hurley said. "It really says a lot about our lineup and how loaded we are throughout the entire lineup.
"You can put anyone in the order anywhere you want and they'll come through."
Hurley became an everyday player in 2008, playing in 49 games and making 35 starts in the outfield. He hit over .302, with five stolen bases and had a .410 slugging percentage.
Hurley has spent the last three summers as an outfielder for the Cincinnati Steam in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.
Last summer, Hurley led the GLSCL in batting with a .433 average and was named the league's Player of the Year and its No. 1 pro prospect.
"I thought him playing last summer was a big help for him," coach Bob Todd said. "He slowly keeps working hard and slowly keeps getting better."
Hurley was 5-for-10 with four runs, four runs batted in, four walks and a home run against Michigan State last weekend.
Zach Hurley and the No. 26 Buckeyes finish their five-game home stand today against No. 24 Kent State Golden Flashes at 6:35 p.m. at Bill Davis Stadium.
The Buckeyes are 4-1 at home this season and lead the all-time series against Kent State 34-13. In their last meeting, the Buckeyes defeated the Golden Flashes with a 5-3 win in 2004 at Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Dean Wolosiansky will get the start for OSU. Wolosiansky (7-1, 5.59 ERA) earned the win in his last start against Michigan State on Saturday. He pitched six and one-thirds innings and allowed nine hits, three earned runs, no walks and had one strikeout.
Issue date: 4/15/09
Junior leftfielder Zach Hurley has been the leadoff hitter for the Ohio State baseball team since the beginning of the year, but he's taken the word "lead" to a whole new level.
Hurley needed surgery on a torn left labrum (shoulder) late last summer, which kept him out of fall practices. Since the season started in late February he has shown no signs that the surgery has hurt his performance.
Hurley is the team leader in runs, hits and stolen bases, which are all typical statistics of a great leadoff hitter. Hurley also leads in categories typical of a cleanup hitter. He leads the team with a .590 slugging percentage, a .436 on-base percentage, and he even leads the team in runs batted in with 39. Hurley also has 15 extra base hits (5 doubles, 5 triples, 5 home runs), which is tied for second on team with outfielder Michael Stephens.
"I think it's more of a tribute to the entire team an how well we're playing," Hurley said. "It really says a lot about our lineup and how loaded we are throughout the entire lineup.
"You can put anyone in the order anywhere you want and they'll come through."
Hurley became an everyday player in 2008, playing in 49 games and making 35 starts in the outfield. He hit over .302, with five stolen bases and had a .410 slugging percentage.
Hurley has spent the last three summers as an outfielder for the Cincinnati Steam in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.
Last summer, Hurley led the GLSCL in batting with a .433 average and was named the league's Player of the Year and its No. 1 pro prospect.
"I thought him playing last summer was a big help for him," coach Bob Todd said. "He slowly keeps working hard and slowly keeps getting better."
Hurley was 5-for-10 with four runs, four runs batted in, four walks and a home run against Michigan State last weekend.
Zach Hurley and the No. 26 Buckeyes finish their five-game home stand today against No. 24 Kent State Golden Flashes at 6:35 p.m. at Bill Davis Stadium.
The Buckeyes are 4-1 at home this season and lead the all-time series against Kent State 34-13. In their last meeting, the Buckeyes defeated the Golden Flashes with a 5-3 win in 2004 at Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Dean Wolosiansky will get the start for OSU. Wolosiansky (7-1, 5.59 ERA) earned the win in his last start against Michigan State on Saturday. He pitched six and one-thirds innings and allowed nine hits, three earned runs, no walks and had one strikeout.
The Lantern: Hale goes in and out of bullpen
Zack Meisel
Issue date: 4/14/09
One simple question has mystified Ohio State baseball coach Bob Todd for the past four years: Is 6-feet-6-inch flamethrower Jake Hale better suited as a starting pitcher or a closer?
"If I had my choice, I'd be a starter," the senior pitcher said. "I like to be in the game a lot. But as a closer, I'm getting a lot of opportunities to have a lot of appearances and be able to throw every day, so I really can't complain about that either."
Hale launched his Buckeye career atop the mound as a starter, coming out of the bullpen in just three of his 14 appearances during his freshman campaign.
Todd needed Hale's durable arm in relief the following year, and the towering righty pitched in 22 of his 26 games out of the 'pen.
Hale returned to his starting role as a junior, opening games in all but one of his 12 appearances.
Now a senior, the lanky hurler might have uncovered a permanent position as a closer. Serving as the pitching staff's last line of defense, Hale leads the Big Ten with seven saves, 20 appearances, an earned run average of 1.48 and an opposing batting average of .178. Each statistic is indicative of his dominance during the closing innings.
As a reliever, Hale benefits from the ability to use all of his pitches, knowing he likely won't face a hitter more than once.
"Moving me into the closer role, I get to show all my pitches the very first time around, because I'm probably not going to see that guy ever again. As a starter, you get to use all of your pitches, but you spread it out. You'll throw your fastball and changeup for the first two or three innings until someone catches on."
Alternating between starting and relieving hasn't been a simple transition. A pitcher must alter mental and physical training regimens, Hale said.
"As a starter, you have to stretch out your bullpens and do a lot more endurance training," he said. "As a closer, you just go out there and give it your all for an inning or two. You just have to train yourself to rebound as fast as you can to be able to throw the next day as well."
At first, Hale wasn't thrilled with the idea of moving into the bullpen.
"I wasn't too keen on it when I was first brought into it," he said. "But now I look back on it and think it was a good idea."
Todd said Hale's adverse attitude toward the initial switch played a factor in him moving back into a starting role as a junior.
"We tried to turn him into a closer two years ago and it made his [draft] stock go higher," he said. "But he didn't really have the right attitude. He did it, but he really wasn't sold on it. Now he's realized that the quickest way to get the attention of the pro people and to help himself is to go back and be the closer. So he's really taken a different attitude."
The Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians have each drafted Hale in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, but Hale has elected to remain a Buckeye and finish his collegiate career.
While Hale has entered each season amid uncertainty about his role on the staff, the versatility garnered from his diverse responsibilities has added an important facet to his game that professional teams covet.
"The versatility makes a huge difference," he said. "To be able to look at a guy and say, 'Well, there's a couple of spots we need to be filled, and having him in our organization, he could either fill one spot or another. He's been in both situations.' That's a great thing to have."
Hale also favors the mental approach that relievers must take, as it suits his easy-going personality.
"As a starter, you're thinking about the game way before it starts, and preparing for it," he said. "The game's on you - you start it off. As a closer, I'm one of those guys who turns it on right when I need to. I'll be goofing around before the game and keeping everybody loose, but whenever it's my turn to go in, I flip the switch."
Through his first three seasons, Hale totaled 52 appearances, split evenly among starting and relieving. Now, as OSU's owner of the ninth inning, Hale has found a stable spot among the pitching staff, finally providing the answer that has for so long evaded him and his coach.
Issue date: 4/14/09
One simple question has mystified Ohio State baseball coach Bob Todd for the past four years: Is 6-feet-6-inch flamethrower Jake Hale better suited as a starting pitcher or a closer?
"If I had my choice, I'd be a starter," the senior pitcher said. "I like to be in the game a lot. But as a closer, I'm getting a lot of opportunities to have a lot of appearances and be able to throw every day, so I really can't complain about that either."
Hale launched his Buckeye career atop the mound as a starter, coming out of the bullpen in just three of his 14 appearances during his freshman campaign.
Todd needed Hale's durable arm in relief the following year, and the towering righty pitched in 22 of his 26 games out of the 'pen.
Hale returned to his starting role as a junior, opening games in all but one of his 12 appearances.
Now a senior, the lanky hurler might have uncovered a permanent position as a closer. Serving as the pitching staff's last line of defense, Hale leads the Big Ten with seven saves, 20 appearances, an earned run average of 1.48 and an opposing batting average of .178. Each statistic is indicative of his dominance during the closing innings.
As a reliever, Hale benefits from the ability to use all of his pitches, knowing he likely won't face a hitter more than once.
"Moving me into the closer role, I get to show all my pitches the very first time around, because I'm probably not going to see that guy ever again. As a starter, you get to use all of your pitches, but you spread it out. You'll throw your fastball and changeup for the first two or three innings until someone catches on."
Alternating between starting and relieving hasn't been a simple transition. A pitcher must alter mental and physical training regimens, Hale said.
"As a starter, you have to stretch out your bullpens and do a lot more endurance training," he said. "As a closer, you just go out there and give it your all for an inning or two. You just have to train yourself to rebound as fast as you can to be able to throw the next day as well."
At first, Hale wasn't thrilled with the idea of moving into the bullpen.
"I wasn't too keen on it when I was first brought into it," he said. "But now I look back on it and think it was a good idea."
Todd said Hale's adverse attitude toward the initial switch played a factor in him moving back into a starting role as a junior.
"We tried to turn him into a closer two years ago and it made his [draft] stock go higher," he said. "But he didn't really have the right attitude. He did it, but he really wasn't sold on it. Now he's realized that the quickest way to get the attention of the pro people and to help himself is to go back and be the closer. So he's really taken a different attitude."
The Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians have each drafted Hale in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, but Hale has elected to remain a Buckeye and finish his collegiate career.
While Hale has entered each season amid uncertainty about his role on the staff, the versatility garnered from his diverse responsibilities has added an important facet to his game that professional teams covet.
"The versatility makes a huge difference," he said. "To be able to look at a guy and say, 'Well, there's a couple of spots we need to be filled, and having him in our organization, he could either fill one spot or another. He's been in both situations.' That's a great thing to have."
Hale also favors the mental approach that relievers must take, as it suits his easy-going personality.
"As a starter, you're thinking about the game way before it starts, and preparing for it," he said. "The game's on you - you start it off. As a closer, I'm one of those guys who turns it on right when I need to. I'll be goofing around before the game and keeping everybody loose, but whenever it's my turn to go in, I flip the switch."
Through his first three seasons, Hale totaled 52 appearances, split evenly among starting and relieving. Now, as OSU's owner of the ninth inning, Hale has found a stable spot among the pitching staff, finally providing the answer that has for so long evaded him and his coach.
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Lantern: Todd, OSU host Spartans after 12-0 win against Morehead
Nathan Schlabach
Issue date: 4/10/09
The Ohio State baseball team will start a very important Big Ten series this weekend as they look to keep pace with other top teams in the conference.
The No. 28 Buckeyes (22-7, 3-3 in the Big Ten) will face the Michigan State Spartans (11-17, 3-3 in the Big Ten) in a three-game series this weekend at Bill Davis Stadium.
"Michigan State is playing very good baseball right now," coach Bob Todd said. "We know that this weekend is going to be a big big weekend for us. It's going to be a huge test."
It will be an important three-game series if the Buckeyes want a shot at winning the Big Ten title. OSU is sitting in a tie for fifth place with three other teams (Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State) in the Big Ten Conference.
But as coach Todd explains, "we're only one game out of first place on the loss side. There is no reason to panic, we still got a lot of baseball to play in the conference. You just got to take it one game at a time."
After zero wins in 2008 as a freshman, sophomore Alex Wimmers has improved his game and has become a reliable option for the Buckeyes pitching staff. "I'm just going out there doing my thing, I just have all my pitches working," Wimmers said.
The right-handed Wimmers will get the call tonight against the Spartans.
"This is such a big weekend," Wimmers said. "We need to do really well this weekend in order to climb back in the [Big Ten] race."
He comes in with 48 innings pitched on the year, a 5-1 record and an ERA of 3.75. He also leads the Big Ten in strikeouts with 61 for the season.
Dean Wolosiansky will make his start Saturday afternoon. He comes in the game with a 6-1 record and a 5.80 ERA. The Sunday starter is unknown at this time.
The Spartans come into Friday's game winning four out of their last five games, including a three-game sweep against Northwestern. The Buckeyes come into Friday's game with a one-game win streak, winning their last game 12-0.
The Buckeyes will look to continue their heavy offensive numbers against Michigan State. Entering the game, the Buckeyes have 114 extra base hits on the season with a batting average of .332 for the team.
The Buckeyes went 2-1 in the series with Michigan State last season and are 126-82-1 all-time in the series.
The Lantern
Issue date: 4/10/09
The Ohio State baseball team will start a very important Big Ten series this weekend as they look to keep pace with other top teams in the conference.
The No. 28 Buckeyes (22-7, 3-3 in the Big Ten) will face the Michigan State Spartans (11-17, 3-3 in the Big Ten) in a three-game series this weekend at Bill Davis Stadium.
"Michigan State is playing very good baseball right now," coach Bob Todd said. "We know that this weekend is going to be a big big weekend for us. It's going to be a huge test."
It will be an important three-game series if the Buckeyes want a shot at winning the Big Ten title. OSU is sitting in a tie for fifth place with three other teams (Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State) in the Big Ten Conference.
But as coach Todd explains, "we're only one game out of first place on the loss side. There is no reason to panic, we still got a lot of baseball to play in the conference. You just got to take it one game at a time."
After zero wins in 2008 as a freshman, sophomore Alex Wimmers has improved his game and has become a reliable option for the Buckeyes pitching staff. "I'm just going out there doing my thing, I just have all my pitches working," Wimmers said.
The right-handed Wimmers will get the call tonight against the Spartans.
"This is such a big weekend," Wimmers said. "We need to do really well this weekend in order to climb back in the [Big Ten] race."
He comes in with 48 innings pitched on the year, a 5-1 record and an ERA of 3.75. He also leads the Big Ten in strikeouts with 61 for the season.
Dean Wolosiansky will make his start Saturday afternoon. He comes in the game with a 6-1 record and a 5.80 ERA. The Sunday starter is unknown at this time.
The Spartans come into Friday's game winning four out of their last five games, including a three-game sweep against Northwestern. The Buckeyes come into Friday's game with a one-game win streak, winning their last game 12-0.
The Buckeyes will look to continue their heavy offensive numbers against Michigan State. Entering the game, the Buckeyes have 114 extra base hits on the season with a batting average of .332 for the team.
The Buckeyes went 2-1 in the series with Michigan State last season and are 126-82-1 all-time in the series.
The Lantern
Friday, April 3, 2009
The Lantern: Baseball takes on Gophers
Alex Kopilow April 3rd, 2009
The No. 18 Buckeyes (21-5, 2-1 in the Big Ten) will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers (14-8, 1-1 in the Big Ten) in a three game series this weekend in Minneapolis. The Gophers fell to Northern Iowa on Wednesday 9-7 and are looking to prove themselves in a series they had little success in last year.
The Buckeyes were 3-1 against Minnesota in 2008 and outscored them 29-14.
The teams will play Friday at 7:35 p.m., Saturday at 3:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:15 p.m. at the Metrodome, home of the Minnesota Twins.
"We need to be able to adjust," Todd said. "It's really easy to lose sight of a ball."
The Buckeyes have not lost two consecutive games this season, and the sophomore right-hander Alex Wimmers will get the start to try to keep it that way. The two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Week managed just 2.1 innings in his last outing against Penn State (4 hits, 6 earned runs, 5 walks, and 2 strikeouts).
The Buckeyes started the season with 24 consecutive road games, in which they went 20-4, and the team is back on the road after two home games.
"It's a fact of life," Todd said. "There's no question we'd like to play at Bill Davis Stadium, and there's no question we would like to play in front of a great fan base. Twenty-seven of 29 of our first games are on the road and sooner or later we'll be able to play at home and the weather will be warmer, and our fans will be more enthusiastic."
OSU leads the Big Ten in runs (9.56 per game) and hitting (.342 average and 12.8 hits per game).
"We had some younger players [last year], about six or seven freshman in the lineup and they have matured," Todd said. "That maturity is starting to show what I consider more quality at-bats which are huge for us."
The team has 101 extra base hits this season (51 doubles, 17 triples and 33 home runs), which is the best since the 2006 team achieved 78 extra base hits.
Sophomore right-hander Dean Wolosiansky will pitch on Saturday. In seven appearances, he is 5-1 with a 6.49 ERA. He is coming off his first relief appearance of the year against Xavier on Tuesday. He pitched three innings, giving up one earned run on three hits.
Junior left-hander Eric Best is projected to pitch in the final game of the series on Sunday, but he has the flu so he will be a game-time decision. In seven appearances, Best is 7-0 with a 5.08 ERA.
The Lantern's midweek recap, weekend preview
The No. 18 Buckeyes (21-5, 2-1 in the Big Ten) will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers (14-8, 1-1 in the Big Ten) in a three game series this weekend in Minneapolis. The Gophers fell to Northern Iowa on Wednesday 9-7 and are looking to prove themselves in a series they had little success in last year.
The Buckeyes were 3-1 against Minnesota in 2008 and outscored them 29-14.
The teams will play Friday at 7:35 p.m., Saturday at 3:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:15 p.m. at the Metrodome, home of the Minnesota Twins.
"We need to be able to adjust," Todd said. "It's really easy to lose sight of a ball."
The Buckeyes have not lost two consecutive games this season, and the sophomore right-hander Alex Wimmers will get the start to try to keep it that way. The two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Week managed just 2.1 innings in his last outing against Penn State (4 hits, 6 earned runs, 5 walks, and 2 strikeouts).
The Buckeyes started the season with 24 consecutive road games, in which they went 20-4, and the team is back on the road after two home games.
"It's a fact of life," Todd said. "There's no question we'd like to play at Bill Davis Stadium, and there's no question we would like to play in front of a great fan base. Twenty-seven of 29 of our first games are on the road and sooner or later we'll be able to play at home and the weather will be warmer, and our fans will be more enthusiastic."
OSU leads the Big Ten in runs (9.56 per game) and hitting (.342 average and 12.8 hits per game).
"We had some younger players [last year], about six or seven freshman in the lineup and they have matured," Todd said. "That maturity is starting to show what I consider more quality at-bats which are huge for us."
The team has 101 extra base hits this season (51 doubles, 17 triples and 33 home runs), which is the best since the 2006 team achieved 78 extra base hits.
Sophomore right-hander Dean Wolosiansky will pitch on Saturday. In seven appearances, he is 5-1 with a 6.49 ERA. He is coming off his first relief appearance of the year against Xavier on Tuesday. He pitched three innings, giving up one earned run on three hits.
Junior left-hander Eric Best is projected to pitch in the final game of the series on Sunday, but he has the flu so he will be a game-time decision. In seven appearances, Best is 7-0 with a 5.08 ERA.
The Lantern's midweek recap, weekend preview
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