The Florida State Seminoles advances to the 2009 NCAA Super Regionals, ending Ohio State's season by winning 37-6. The 37 runs is the most ever allowed in Ohio State history, and clearly an embarassment to every associated with Ohio State baseball in every possible way.
The Buckeyes season will end the year at 42-19 with a Big Ten Championship and NCAA Regional berth.
Sadly seniors Jake Hale, Michael Arp, and Justin Miller saw their careers as Buckeyes come to an end.
There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed. Now is not the time to do so. Thank you to Arp, Hale, and Miller for all they have done and contributed to the Buckeye baseball program. The season did start to right the ship and there are a few things to build upon. There are also a lot that needs corrected.
I will probably skip the recap and everything else associated with this weekend. If for whatever reason you have the urge to relive it, leave a comment, I'll provide links but that'll be the extent.
At Ohio State it is week 10 and finally the last week of the quarter, I have quite a bit of work to do, I've been a bit lax this quarter with basebal, and next week we have finals.
If any All-American honors or pressing news comes through I will post. I will eventually do a season recap or story, but that will take time.
The next major event is June 9th, the 2009 MLB draft and news will be surely added then. Good luck to those draft eligible.
Thanks again to all Buckeyes for their efforts this season and congrats on your 2009 Big Ten Championship.
*On a non-Ohio State note, I am working on and trying to establish a new site for Ohio baseball, covering everything from summer leagues, to the minors, MLB, and obviously collegiate. I'll let you know how that will turn out. I don't think this season will be the end for me and the Buckeye Nine, I cannot make any promises however with hopefully my graduation being this time next year. Thank you to all who come to the site, your comments, attention, and feedback are very much appreciated.
Showing posts with label Justin Miller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justin Miller. Show all posts
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Burkhart Big Ten Player of the Year, Wimmers Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, Todd Big Ten Coach of the Year
Longest title ever. I know, I apologize, but not really because its a sweet one.
Photo Courtesy The-Ozone.net
8 Buckeyes in total grab All-Conferens nods
Official Release Big Ten Release
INDIANA AND OHIO STATE EARN TOP BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
FOR 2009 BASEBALL SEASONOSU’s Burkhart and Todd named Player, Coach of the Year; Buckeyes’ Wimmers shares pitching honor with Indiana’s Arnett; Hoosiers’ Dickerson is top freshman
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On the night before the start of the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament, the Big Ten Conference announced the season’s All-Big Ten teams and individual honors, recognizing Ohio State catcher Dan Burkhart as the conference Player of the Year, Indiana’s Eric Arnett and OSU’s Alex Wimmers as Co-Pitchers of the Year, IU’s Alex Dickerson as Freshman of the Year and Buckeye mentor Bob Todd as Coach of the Year.
Burkhart becomes the fifth Buckeye to be named Big Ten Player of the Year and the first since Ronnie Bourquin in 2006. He is the second Ohio State catcher to earn the honor, joining Jonathan Sweet in 1994. The sophomore backstop led his team to its first conference championship since 2001 on the heels of an 18-6 Big Ten slate and a 39-15 mark headed into tournament play. The sophomore batted .362 on the season with a slugging percentage of .611, reaching base at a .435 clip. He also ranked in the conference’s top five with 57 RBI. Burkhart also handled a pitching staff that held opponents to a .282 batting average and struck out an average of 7.67 batters per game. Burkhart is a semifinalist for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate catcher.
A high school friend of Burkhart’s, Wimmers is the second Buckeye in the last three years to receive top conference pitching honors and is the fourth Ohio State player to earn the distinction. Wimmers finished the regular season on top of several Big Ten statistics, including ERA (2.58), opponents’ average (.197), innings pitched (94.1) and strikeouts (122). The sophomore was named Big Ten Player of the Week four times this year and threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in program history on May 2, recording 14 strikeouts in the process. Wimmers enters the tournament with a 9-1 record, including a 4-1 mark in Big Ten play. The righty is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year Award.
Co-Pitcher of the Year Arnett is the first Hoosier to earn the conference’s top pitching award. The junior enters the Big Ten Tournament among the conference’s elite in ERA (2.78), innings of work (94.0), strikeouts (93) and opponents’ batting average (.215), which drops to .203 in Big Ten play. The right-hander tied for the conference lead with 11 wins throughout the 2009 campaign and again tied for the Big Ten’s best with seven victories during the conference slate. Arnett is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year award.
Dickerson becomes the first Indiana player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The designated hitter earns the laurel after finishing among the conference’s top 10 in average (.367), hits (80), RBI (52) and home runs (14). The newcomer helped Indiana reach its highest seed in the Big Ten Tournament since 1996 and is a unanimous selection to the inaugural Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Selected unanimously by his peers as Big Ten Coach of the Year, Todd led the Buckeyes to their first conference title since 2001 on the strength of an 18-6 Big Ten slate with a conference-leading 39 victories heading into the tournament. The accolade is the fifth of Todd’s career as he last took home the honor following his squad’s most recent championship season in 2001. Under Todd’s guidance, eight Buckeyes took home All-Big Ten honors, including four first-team members and the conference’s Player and Co-Pitcher of the Year.
The Big Ten also released the All-Big Ten teams and inaugural All-Freshman team. Ohio State led all teams with four first-team selections in Burkhart, Wimmers, designated hitter Ryan Dew and closer Jake Hale. Wimmers was a unanimous selection to the squad, as was Minnesota second baseman Derek McCallum, Purdue outfielder Brandon Haveman and Indiana’s Arnett. Rounding out the first team are Illinois third baseman Dominic Altobelli and shortstop Brandon Wikoff, Indiana outfielder Kipp Schutz and catcher Josh Phegley, Iowa outfielder Ryan Durant and Michigan first baseman Mike Dufek and starter Chris Fetter.
For the first time, the Big Ten coaches also selected an All-Freshman Team, which consisted of seven unanimous selections in Illinois’ Willie Argo, Indiana’s Dickerson and Blake Monar, Iowa’s Dallas Burke, Minnesota’s AJ Pettersen and Justin Gominsky and Penn State’s Jordan Steranka.
The conference office also announced honorees from each of the 10 baseball squads for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Honorees for baseball are Illinois’ Altobelli, Indiana’s Jerrud Sabourin, Iowa’s Justin Toole, Michigan’s Kenny Fellows, Michigan State’s Nolan Moody, Minnesota’s Matt Nohelty, Northwestern’s Jake Wilson, Ohio State’s Cory Kovanda, Penn State’s Ryan Boonie and Purdue’s John Cummins.
The complete All-Big Ten teams and award winners can be found below.
FIRST TEAM
1B – Mike Dufek, MICH
2B – Derek McCallum, MINN#
SS – Brandon Wikoff, ILL
3B – Dominic Altobelli, ILL
OF – Kipp Schutz, IND
OF – Ryan Durant, IOWA
OF – Brandon Haveman, PUR#
C – Josh Phegley, IND*
C – Dan Burkhart, OSU*
DH – Ryan Dew, OSU
SP – Eric Arnett, IND#
SP – Chris Fetter, MICH
SP – Alex Wimmers, OSU#
RP – Jake Hale, OSU
SECOND TEAM**
1B – Jerrud Sabourin, IND
2B – Cory Kovanda, OSU
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN
3B – Justin Miller, OSU
OF – Pete Cappetta, ILL
OF – Ryan LaMarre, MICH
OF – Michael Stephens, OSU
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND
SP – Matt Bashore, IND
SP – Seth Rosin, MINN
SP – Dean Wolosiansky, OSU
RP – Scott Matyas, MINN
THIRD TEAM
1B – John Cummins, PUR
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – Justin Toole, IOWA
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU
OF – Willie Argo, ILL
OF – Mike Kvasnicka, MINN
OF – Alex Jaffee, PUR
C – Aaron Johnson, ILL
DH – Matt Nohelty, MINN
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Tom Buske, MINN
SP – Matt Bischoff, PUR
RP – Chris Squires, IND*
RP – Ryan Ignas, PSU*
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
1B – Nick O’Shea, MINN
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN#
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU#
OF – Willie Argo, ILL#
OF – Justin Gominsky, MINN#
OF – Tyler Spillner, PUR
C – Dallas Burke, IOWA#
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND#
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Blake Monar, IND#
SP – Tony Bucciferro, MSU
RP – Austin Lubinsky, MINN
BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dan Burkhart, OSU
CO-PITCHERS OF THE YEAR
Eric Arnett, IND
Alex Wimmers, OSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YER
Alex Dickerson, IND
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Todd, OSU#
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Dominic Altobelli, ILL
Jerrud Sabourin, IND
Justin Toole, IOWA
Kenny Fellows, MICH
Nolan Moody, MSU
Matt Nohelty, MINN
Jake Wilson, NU
Cory Kovanda, OSU
Ryan Boonie, PSU
John Cummins, PUR
Photo Courtesy The-Ozone.net
8 Buckeyes in total grab All-Conferens nods
Official Release Big Ten Release
INDIANA AND OHIO STATE EARN TOP BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
FOR 2009 BASEBALL SEASONOSU’s Burkhart and Todd named Player, Coach of the Year; Buckeyes’ Wimmers shares pitching honor with Indiana’s Arnett; Hoosiers’ Dickerson is top freshman
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On the night before the start of the 2009 Big Ten Baseball Tournament, the Big Ten Conference announced the season’s All-Big Ten teams and individual honors, recognizing Ohio State catcher Dan Burkhart as the conference Player of the Year, Indiana’s Eric Arnett and OSU’s Alex Wimmers as Co-Pitchers of the Year, IU’s Alex Dickerson as Freshman of the Year and Buckeye mentor Bob Todd as Coach of the Year.
Burkhart becomes the fifth Buckeye to be named Big Ten Player of the Year and the first since Ronnie Bourquin in 2006. He is the second Ohio State catcher to earn the honor, joining Jonathan Sweet in 1994. The sophomore backstop led his team to its first conference championship since 2001 on the heels of an 18-6 Big Ten slate and a 39-15 mark headed into tournament play. The sophomore batted .362 on the season with a slugging percentage of .611, reaching base at a .435 clip. He also ranked in the conference’s top five with 57 RBI. Burkhart also handled a pitching staff that held opponents to a .282 batting average and struck out an average of 7.67 batters per game. Burkhart is a semifinalist for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate catcher.
A high school friend of Burkhart’s, Wimmers is the second Buckeye in the last three years to receive top conference pitching honors and is the fourth Ohio State player to earn the distinction. Wimmers finished the regular season on top of several Big Ten statistics, including ERA (2.58), opponents’ average (.197), innings pitched (94.1) and strikeouts (122). The sophomore was named Big Ten Player of the Week four times this year and threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in program history on May 2, recording 14 strikeouts in the process. Wimmers enters the tournament with a 9-1 record, including a 4-1 mark in Big Ten play. The righty is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year Award.
Co-Pitcher of the Year Arnett is the first Hoosier to earn the conference’s top pitching award. The junior enters the Big Ten Tournament among the conference’s elite in ERA (2.78), innings of work (94.0), strikeouts (93) and opponents’ batting average (.215), which drops to .203 in Big Ten play. The right-hander tied for the conference lead with 11 wins throughout the 2009 campaign and again tied for the Big Ten’s best with seven victories during the conference slate. Arnett is a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s Pitcher of the Year award.
Dickerson becomes the first Indiana player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The designated hitter earns the laurel after finishing among the conference’s top 10 in average (.367), hits (80), RBI (52) and home runs (14). The newcomer helped Indiana reach its highest seed in the Big Ten Tournament since 1996 and is a unanimous selection to the inaugural Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Selected unanimously by his peers as Big Ten Coach of the Year, Todd led the Buckeyes to their first conference title since 2001 on the strength of an 18-6 Big Ten slate with a conference-leading 39 victories heading into the tournament. The accolade is the fifth of Todd’s career as he last took home the honor following his squad’s most recent championship season in 2001. Under Todd’s guidance, eight Buckeyes took home All-Big Ten honors, including four first-team members and the conference’s Player and Co-Pitcher of the Year.
The Big Ten also released the All-Big Ten teams and inaugural All-Freshman team. Ohio State led all teams with four first-team selections in Burkhart, Wimmers, designated hitter Ryan Dew and closer Jake Hale. Wimmers was a unanimous selection to the squad, as was Minnesota second baseman Derek McCallum, Purdue outfielder Brandon Haveman and Indiana’s Arnett. Rounding out the first team are Illinois third baseman Dominic Altobelli and shortstop Brandon Wikoff, Indiana outfielder Kipp Schutz and catcher Josh Phegley, Iowa outfielder Ryan Durant and Michigan first baseman Mike Dufek and starter Chris Fetter.
For the first time, the Big Ten coaches also selected an All-Freshman Team, which consisted of seven unanimous selections in Illinois’ Willie Argo, Indiana’s Dickerson and Blake Monar, Iowa’s Dallas Burke, Minnesota’s AJ Pettersen and Justin Gominsky and Penn State’s Jordan Steranka.
The conference office also announced honorees from each of the 10 baseball squads for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Honorees for baseball are Illinois’ Altobelli, Indiana’s Jerrud Sabourin, Iowa’s Justin Toole, Michigan’s Kenny Fellows, Michigan State’s Nolan Moody, Minnesota’s Matt Nohelty, Northwestern’s Jake Wilson, Ohio State’s Cory Kovanda, Penn State’s Ryan Boonie and Purdue’s John Cummins.
The complete All-Big Ten teams and award winners can be found below.
FIRST TEAM
1B – Mike Dufek, MICH
2B – Derek McCallum, MINN#
SS – Brandon Wikoff, ILL
3B – Dominic Altobelli, ILL
OF – Kipp Schutz, IND
OF – Ryan Durant, IOWA
OF – Brandon Haveman, PUR#
C – Josh Phegley, IND*
C – Dan Burkhart, OSU*
DH – Ryan Dew, OSU
SP – Eric Arnett, IND#
SP – Chris Fetter, MICH
SP – Alex Wimmers, OSU#
RP – Jake Hale, OSU
SECOND TEAM**
1B – Jerrud Sabourin, IND
2B – Cory Kovanda, OSU
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN
3B – Justin Miller, OSU
OF – Pete Cappetta, ILL
OF – Ryan LaMarre, MICH
OF – Michael Stephens, OSU
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND
SP – Matt Bashore, IND
SP – Seth Rosin, MINN
SP – Dean Wolosiansky, OSU
RP – Scott Matyas, MINN
THIRD TEAM
1B – John Cummins, PUR
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – Justin Toole, IOWA
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU
OF – Willie Argo, ILL
OF – Mike Kvasnicka, MINN
OF – Alex Jaffee, PUR
C – Aaron Johnson, ILL
DH – Matt Nohelty, MINN
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Tom Buske, MINN
SP – Matt Bischoff, PUR
RP – Chris Squires, IND*
RP – Ryan Ignas, PSU*
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
1B – Nick O’Shea, MINN
2B – Eric Charles, PUR
SS – AJ Pettersen, MINN#
3B – Jordan Steranka, PSU#
OF – Willie Argo, ILL#
OF – Justin Gominsky, MINN#
OF – Tyler Spillner, PUR
C – Dallas Burke, IOWA#
DH – Alex Dickerson, IND#
SP – Will Strack, ILL
SP – Blake Monar, IND#
SP – Tony Bucciferro, MSU
RP – Austin Lubinsky, MINN
BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL HONORS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dan Burkhart, OSU
CO-PITCHERS OF THE YEAR
Eric Arnett, IND
Alex Wimmers, OSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YER
Alex Dickerson, IND
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Todd, OSU#
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES
Dominic Altobelli, ILL
Jerrud Sabourin, IND
Justin Toole, IOWA
Kenny Fellows, MICH
Nolan Moody, MSU
Matt Nohelty, MINN
Jake Wilson, NU
Cory Kovanda, OSU
Ryan Boonie, PSU
John Cummins, PUR
Monday, May 18, 2009
Justin Miller Second Consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week
Photo Courtesy the-ozone.net
BIG TEN BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Justin Miller, Ohio State
Sr., 3B, Dayton, Va./Turner Ashby
Miller led Ohio State to a sweep over Iowa last weekend, helping the Buckeyes earn their first Big Ten title since 2001. The senior hit .583 with a slugging average of 1.000 and an on-base percentage of .615 for a combined OPS of 1.615. He also drove in six runs and scored four over the weekend, recording multiple hits in every game. In Game 1 of the series, Miller went 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored as Ohio State earned the 13-4 win. In Friday’s Game 2, he was 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a double as the Buckeyes edged the Hawkeyes, 5-4, to remain in contention for the conference championship. In the series finale on Sunday, needing a win to have a shot at the Big Ten crown, Miller was a perfect 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored on a double and his 10th home run of the year, propelling OSU to an 8-6 win. The senior takes home his second consecutive Player of the Week award and the third of his career. The Dayton, Va., native is the only hitter to take home Big Ten accolades on back-to-back weeks this season.
Last Ohio State Player of the Week: Justin Miller (May 12, 2009)
The honor is Ohio State's 9th Big Ten weekly award. A new conference record.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Columbus Dispatch: OSU clinches first Big Ten title since '01
Sunday, May 17, 2009 3:19 AM
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
At approximately 3:30 p.m. yesterday, Ohio State baseball players headed to a picnic with parents and friends just beyond the right-field wall of Bill Davis Stadium.
The meal went down hard.
The Buckeyes had come from behind twice to defeat Iowa 8-6 and sweep a three-game series, but it looked as if their reward would be a second-place finish in the Big Ten and a first-round bye in the conference tournament, which starts Wednesday in Huntington Park.
What Ohio State needed to win the regular-season championship was a Minnesota loss to Penn State, and the Gophers were leading 8-5 in the fifth inning.
Shortly before sundown, however, Penn State pulled off a 10-8 upset and Ohio State (39-15, 18-6) was celebrating its first Big Ten title since 2001. Its first-round conference tournament game will start at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.
"We're going crazy -- absolutely crazy," designated hitter Ryan Dew said. "I can't explain how happy we are. We tried to focus on Iowa, and we took care of our business. But we were so depressed when our game was over and we saw that Penn State was down. I'm going to get on Facebook and message a lot of those Penn State guys for what they did for us."
Ohio State didn't back in. It won five of its last six Big Ten games and seven of its last nine.
The Hawkeyes led 4-0 and 6-5 yesterday, but the Buckeyes refused to fold. Third baseman Justin Miller capped a five-run sixth inning with a two-run homer to provide a 5-4 lead, and Tyler Engle drove in the deciding two runs with a bases-loaded single in the eighth.
Jake Hale pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his 15th save, an Ohio State season record.
"I had to get the win for my team," he said. "When I hopped the fence (to come into the game), it was a total blackout. I was focused."
Ohio State's portfolio is so impressive that it might have sealed a bid into the NCAA Tournament and jumped to the forefront among those teams seeking to play host to a first-round regional.
The Buckeyes have an RPI of 30, have been ranked much of the season and have a signature victory over the University of Miami.
"Now we have to win the conference tournament to take doubt out of anyone's mind about Ohio State deserving to host a first-round regional," Miller said. "We set a goal early to get that ring, and we've got one. We've crossed off the first goal."
Coach Bob Todd reminds incoming freshmen that players from the Big Ten regular-season championship team, not the conference tournament champion, get rings.
"We're all speechless," second baseman Cory Kovanda said. "That ring is going to be special. It's something to cherish. It's a year's worth of memories on your hand. We've worked so hard to do this since coming to Ohio State."
By Mark Znidar
The Columbus Dispatch
At approximately 3:30 p.m. yesterday, Ohio State baseball players headed to a picnic with parents and friends just beyond the right-field wall of Bill Davis Stadium.
The meal went down hard.
The Buckeyes had come from behind twice to defeat Iowa 8-6 and sweep a three-game series, but it looked as if their reward would be a second-place finish in the Big Ten and a first-round bye in the conference tournament, which starts Wednesday in Huntington Park.
What Ohio State needed to win the regular-season championship was a Minnesota loss to Penn State, and the Gophers were leading 8-5 in the fifth inning.
Shortly before sundown, however, Penn State pulled off a 10-8 upset and Ohio State (39-15, 18-6) was celebrating its first Big Ten title since 2001. Its first-round conference tournament game will start at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.
"We're going crazy -- absolutely crazy," designated hitter Ryan Dew said. "I can't explain how happy we are. We tried to focus on Iowa, and we took care of our business. But we were so depressed when our game was over and we saw that Penn State was down. I'm going to get on Facebook and message a lot of those Penn State guys for what they did for us."
Ohio State didn't back in. It won five of its last six Big Ten games and seven of its last nine.
The Hawkeyes led 4-0 and 6-5 yesterday, but the Buckeyes refused to fold. Third baseman Justin Miller capped a five-run sixth inning with a two-run homer to provide a 5-4 lead, and Tyler Engle drove in the deciding two runs with a bases-loaded single in the eighth.
Jake Hale pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his 15th save, an Ohio State season record.
"I had to get the win for my team," he said. "When I hopped the fence (to come into the game), it was a total blackout. I was focused."
Ohio State's portfolio is so impressive that it might have sealed a bid into the NCAA Tournament and jumped to the forefront among those teams seeking to play host to a first-round regional.
The Buckeyes have an RPI of 30, have been ranked much of the season and have a signature victory over the University of Miami.
"Now we have to win the conference tournament to take doubt out of anyone's mind about Ohio State deserving to host a first-round regional," Miller said. "We set a goal early to get that ring, and we've got one. We've crossed off the first goal."
Coach Bob Todd reminds incoming freshmen that players from the Big Ten regular-season championship team, not the conference tournament champion, get rings.
"We're all speechless," second baseman Cory Kovanda said. "That ring is going to be special. It's something to cherish. It's a year's worth of memories on your hand. We've worked so hard to do this since coming to Ohio State."
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Seniors Set Tone for 2009 Big Ten Championship
Photo Courtesy OhioStateBuckeyes.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The players on the 2009 Ohio State baseball team will agree to a man the success the Buckeyes are enjoying this season, including making a run for a Big Ten Conference championship, was the result of great team chemistry, camaraderie, a willingness to work hard every day and the accepting of roles. Thank the seniors on this team for laying the foundation for what has turned out to be a winning formula.
Saturday, prior to the 1:05 p.m. regular season-ending game against Iowa, two-time team captain Justin Miller, fifth-year senior Michael Arp and Jake Hale were honored for their dedication, perseverance and sacrifice, not to mention their huge hits, defensive stops, strikeouts and winning efforts on behalf of the team over the last four years. Their work, albeit not done, has helped Ohio State to:
•A record of 144-86 the past four years;
•A Big Ten tournament championship and NCAA berth in 2007; and
•A terrific, 39-win, Big Ten Conference championship 2009 season so far with more games to play.
Each of these players has contributed in huge ways to the success of this team.
No. 2 – Michael Arp – Right Fielder; Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Michael Arp is having a career year for the Buckeyes. And that’s because this young man has dedicated himself to improving as a student, ball player and person every day he’s been a Buckeye. It’s a mentality that Michael has lived on the playing fields as well as away from the field with his study habits, workout regime and mentality for healthy living. And it’s an ethic that has produced results. Consider:
•Michael has started every game this season in right field.
•He has not gone hitless in back-to-back games.
•He has hit above .300 all season; and
•He has doubled his 2008 stats with 35 runs scored, 64 hits, 12 doubles, four home runs and 28 RBI.
Michael has also been a terrific defensive outfielder for the Buckeyes.
•He is fielding at a .991 rate and has just one error in the past two years.
•He has made at least nine diving, spectacular catches so far this season.
•And he leads all outfielders with six outfield assists.
Michael, who started his 100th career game Thursday against Iowa, is the son of Chris and Jill Arp. He will graduate this June with a degree in sport and leisure studies. After some time off, Michael will start his career with Wells Fargo Financial later this summer, in Toledo.
No 3 – Willie Paul Jacob “Jake” Hale – Closer, Stopper, Finisher; Albany, Ohio
Jake Hale is having one of the finest seasons ever for an Ohio State relief pitcher, which is remarkable to consider because last season Jake was the team’s Friday night starter. But he listened to his coaches, he understood the potential successes of his coming out of the bullpen and he willingly accepted his role as the team’s closer. Ohio State and Jake have benefitted in a huge way with the move.
•Jake is seeking to hold all the Ohio State saves records.
•He has set the Ohio State single season record of 15 saves this year.
•He is one save away from the career mark of 27 saves.
•With a Big Ten leading 15 saves this season, he is the only Ohio State pitcher with two seasons of 10 or more saves.
And as much as Jake would like to be known as Willie, he is actually going to be remembered as “The Finisher!”
•That’s because Jake has finished 33 consecutive games he has appeared in, to lead the Big Ten in that category as well.
•He’s a major reason why Ohio State is 33-1 this season when leading after the eighth inning.
•And that’s why he is a candidate for the National Stopper of the Year Award.
Majoring in sport and leisure studies, Jake has appeared in a school record 35 games this season and 87 for his career, tied for third among all Buckeyes. The son of Marvin and Paula Hale, Jake would like to continue his baseball career, travel to faraway places like Japan and Australia, and then get into coaching.
No. 28 – Justin Miller – 3B/1B; Dayton, Va.
Justin Miller is a two-time team captain and he is one of only 14 Buckeyes in 126 years of Ohio State baseball to be named captain more than once.
That’s because Justin is a leader. And he doesn’t have to say much to lead because his actions over the last four years speak volumes.
•Justin has the second-most hits in Ohio State history with 268.
•He ranks third all-time at Ohio State with 49 doubles and with 792 at-bats.
•He is fourth in RBI with 176..
•He has a career average of .335.
Twice honored as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week, Justin is leading the Buckeyes into postseason play again by finishing this regular season on a tear:
•He is batting .680 the last week (17-for-25) with nine runs scored and 11 RBI.
•Those stats have boosted Justin’s season totals to 71 hits,52 RBI and 33 runs.
•And they have pushed him over the 70-hit and 50-RBI mark for the third consecutive season.
•That’s leadership. And that’s Justin.
Majoring in criminology, Justin is the son of Debbie and Brent Miller (and the grandson of Donnie and Louise Miller, who have seen Justin play as much as much as anyone, travelling to Florida for each spring break and making the trip from Virginia to Columbus virtually every home weekend). A career in criminology will have to wait, though. Justin has to get baseball out of his system and it isn’t yet. He’ll be a student-assistant coach somewhere next season. Hopefully right here at Ohio State.
Nice going, senior Buckeyes. Congratulations on your Big Ten Championship.
B9: Taking a look back to the October interview The Buckeye Nine had with Michael Arp... Q&A with Arp it is obvious he and the team knew all along they were capable of a special season and its great to see it come true. Congrats senions, and thank you.
Game 3 Buckeyes win 8-6, Sweep Iowa, Big Ten Champs?
Iowa had been in control throughout the game knocking starter Eric Best around a bit. Through 6 Best had allowed 7 hits, 4 runs all earned, walking 1, striking out 6.
The gray skies appeared to be a foreshadow of the Buckeyes game and title hopes through 5.5.
However these Buckeyes have shown they know no quit and the bottom of the 6th showed that.
Matt Streng started the inning with a single, moved to second as Hurley reached via error. Cory Kovanda stepped to the plate and sent a towering shot off the right field wall for a 2-RBI double. Dan Burkhart singled Kovanda home two batters later.
Following Burkhart was Ryan Dew who beat out a inning ending double play, Dew's hustle proved to be huge. Captain Justin Miller in his final game at Bill Davis Stadium sent a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall for 10th home run of the season giving the Bucks a 5-4 lead. Miller is 3-for-3 on the day, and showing he is the team leader, using a hot bat the last 10 games to carry the Buckeyes offense.
Best's day ends after the 6 innings he pitched. Rucinski relieve Best in the 7th, a leadoff single followed by a walk put two on with no outs. Iowa was able to get a run out of the situation to tie it at 5.
In the bottom of the 7th the Bucks had the bases loaded with Michael Stephens up, a GIDP ended the threat and kept the game tied at 5.
The top of the 8th started with a thud as the Hawkeyes leadoff hitter sent a solo shot out to rightcenter to give Iowa a 6-5 lead.
We're in the bottom of the 8th, Bucks trail 6-5.
In the 8th, a Dew single, Miller walk, Arp infield single again saw the bases loaded for the Buckeyes with 1 out. With Big Ten Championship hopes on the line, the Bucks would not be denied this time. Tyler Engle sends a 2-rbi double down the right field line pushing the Buckeyes out in front 7-6 in the bottom of the 8th. Bucks pick up an insurance run on an E6.
Top 9 Jake Hale in to close the game. Rucinski's line 2 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 K.
Hale pitches a perfect 9th, with 1 K. The save for Hale sets a single season Ohio State record with 15.
The gray skies appeared to be a foreshadow of the Buckeyes game and title hopes through 5.5.
However these Buckeyes have shown they know no quit and the bottom of the 6th showed that.
Matt Streng started the inning with a single, moved to second as Hurley reached via error. Cory Kovanda stepped to the plate and sent a towering shot off the right field wall for a 2-RBI double. Dan Burkhart singled Kovanda home two batters later.
Following Burkhart was Ryan Dew who beat out a inning ending double play, Dew's hustle proved to be huge. Captain Justin Miller in his final game at Bill Davis Stadium sent a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall for 10th home run of the season giving the Bucks a 5-4 lead. Miller is 3-for-3 on the day, and showing he is the team leader, using a hot bat the last 10 games to carry the Buckeyes offense.
Best's day ends after the 6 innings he pitched. Rucinski relieve Best in the 7th, a leadoff single followed by a walk put two on with no outs. Iowa was able to get a run out of the situation to tie it at 5.
In the bottom of the 7th the Bucks had the bases loaded with Michael Stephens up, a GIDP ended the threat and kept the game tied at 5.
The top of the 8th started with a thud as the Hawkeyes leadoff hitter sent a solo shot out to rightcenter to give Iowa a 6-5 lead.
We're in the bottom of the 8th, Bucks trail 6-5.
In the 8th, a Dew single, Miller walk, Arp infield single again saw the bases loaded for the Buckeyes with 1 out. With Big Ten Championship hopes on the line, the Bucks would not be denied this time. Tyler Engle sends a 2-rbi double down the right field line pushing the Buckeyes out in front 7-6 in the bottom of the 8th. Bucks pick up an insurance run on an E6.
Top 9 Jake Hale in to close the game. Rucinski's line 2 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 K.
Hale pitches a perfect 9th, with 1 K. The save for Hale sets a single season Ohio State record with 15.
Senior Day at Bill Davis Stadium
Seniors Michael Arp, Jake Hale and two-time team captain Miller will be honored before the game Saturday. The trio has helped Ohio State to a 143-86 record the last four years, a Big Ten tournament championship and NCAA berth in 2007 and this terrific 38-win, Big Ten title-contending season in 2009.
The Buckeyes still have Big Ten Championship hopes. A win over the Hawkeyes with a Penn State victory over Minnesota would give the Buckeyes their first regular season conference championship since 2001.
Game 3 versus Iowa is set for 1:05 pm.
The Buckeyes still have Big Ten Championship hopes. A win over the Hawkeyes with a Penn State victory over Minnesota would give the Buckeyes their first regular season conference championship since 2001.
Game 3 versus Iowa is set for 1:05 pm.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Buckeyes win a nailbiter 5-4, Championship hopes still alive
Sitting here at Bill Davis Stadium, weather is incredible, fans have came out in droves.
Just Miller has continued his hot hitting going 2-for-4. Dew went 2-for-5, Burkhart also had 2 hits in his 4 AB's
Wolosiansky took the mound allowed 6 hits, 3 runs, in 7 IP, 5 Ks. Made his way out of a bases loaded jam in the first allowing just 1 run after 3 singles started the game.
Burkhart leads off the 7th with a double, advances to 3rd on a balk, Dew singles him in.
Iowa scored a run in the bottom of the 8th to pull within 1 5-4, in the 9th Iowa led off with a double, a bunt single to have runners on the corners no outs. Jake Hale proved he is the Big Ten's best closer, with help from catcher Burkhart who made a diving catch on a bunt attempt. Hale struck out the next batter, with Iowa down to their last out, Hale induced a groundout to Engle at shortstop. Hale's save was his Big Ten leading 14th, the 14th save also ties Ohio State's single single season record.
Tomorrows game is at 1:05, before the game the three seniors, Hale, Miller and Michael Arp will be honored.
Just Miller has continued his hot hitting going 2-for-4. Dew went 2-for-5, Burkhart also had 2 hits in his 4 AB's
Wolosiansky took the mound allowed 6 hits, 3 runs, in 7 IP, 5 Ks. Made his way out of a bases loaded jam in the first allowing just 1 run after 3 singles started the game.
Burkhart leads off the 7th with a double, advances to 3rd on a balk, Dew singles him in.
Iowa scored a run in the bottom of the 8th to pull within 1 5-4, in the 9th Iowa led off with a double, a bunt single to have runners on the corners no outs. Jake Hale proved he is the Big Ten's best closer, with help from catcher Burkhart who made a diving catch on a bunt attempt. Hale struck out the next batter, with Iowa down to their last out, Hale induced a groundout to Engle at shortstop. Hale's save was his Big Ten leading 14th, the 14th save also ties Ohio State's single single season record.
Tomorrows game is at 1:05, before the game the three seniors, Hale, Miller and Michael Arp will be honored.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Ohio State Rolls Past Iowa 13-4
Photo courtesy the-ozone.net
Wimmers has eight consecutive Ks at one point, 12 total and improves to 9-1
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State hitters supported the 12-strikeout, no-run performance of Alex Wimmers with a nine-run second inning and the Buckeyes cruised to a 13-4 win over Iowa in the first game of a three-game, regular season-closing set at Bill Davis Stadium. Game 2 will be Friday at 6:35 p.m.
The win was the 400th Big Ten win for 22nd–year Ohio State coach Bob Todd, and it improved the team’s records to 37-15 overall and to 16-6 in the Big Ten Conference. Iowa is now 16-33 and 4-17.
The Buckeyes, who have scored 10, 12 and 13 runs in their current three-game Big Ten winning streak, sent 13 batters to the plate in the second and scored its nine runs off six hits and one error. Tyler Engle opened the inning with a triple, Michael Stephens had a three-run home run, his team-high 11th of the season, and Justin Miller continued his tear with a two-run single to spark the Buckeyes.
Three more runs in the third inning, two of them on leading hitter Ryan Dew’s second double of the game, increased the lead to 13-0 and at this point, with Wimmers on the mound, there was no doubt about the outcome of this game.
That’s because Wimmers was good, again. He fought through stiffness from the long inning and pitched 6.0 innings, gave up just five hits, walked two and struck out 12 Hawkeyes to increase his Big Ten-leading total to 122 on the season. He struck out the side in the first inning and he struck out eight consecutive batters between the fourth and sixth innings. He improved to 9-1 on the year and lowered his ERA to a Big Ten-best 2.58.
Josh Barrera came into the game in the seventh and struck out the side. He followed with a scoreless eighth inning as well in his best outing of the season.
Kurtis Muller hit a two-out, ninth inning grand slam home run for Iowa’s runs. It was the second consecutive year Muller has hit a grand slam against Ohio State.
Zach Hurley led four Buckeyes with multiple hits with three hits and two RBI. Stephens had two hits, two runs and three RBI.
Miller, the team captain and Big Ten player of the week who is on a six-game hitting streak, had two hits and three RBI. In the process, he moved into sole possession of second-place in career hits with 263, passing Mark Carek (1995-98).
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Eagles Continue Buckeyes Midweek Slump
Eastern Michigan, coming off a series win over Mid American Conference-leading Toledo, continued its momentum toward the MAC tournament by knocking off Ohio State, 9-5, Tuesday afternoon at Bill Davis Stadium. Ohio State, ranked 29th, is now 36-15 overall. Eastern Michigan improved to 21-32.
MAC Player of the Week Jim Gulliver – three home runs, nine runs scored last week – put his bid in for a second consecutive honor with three hits, two home runs and six RBI to lead the Eagles.
Gulliver put EMU on the board with a first inning home run to right, his 11th of the year. In the second inning and after four two-out walks upped the Eagles’ lead to 2-0, Gulliver traveled around the bases again in his second at-bat, hitting a grand slam home run to right field to give his team a 6-0 lead. It was Gulliver’s fifth home run in the last four games.
After Ohio State scored in the second – Ryan Dew doubled and touched home on Justin Miller’s single – Eastern Michigan added solo runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to build a 9-1 lead.
The Buckeyes tried to come back. In the seventh inning they loaded the bases with nobody out against EMU reliever Tim Combs. Matt Streng singled to right to score one run, then with one out, Cory Kovanda singled in a pair of runs to make the score 9-4 and end Combs’ day.
Pinch hitter Ben Toussant drew a walk to re-load the bases against the third Eagle pitcher of the day, Jordan Goldschmidt. Shawn Forsythe followed with a hard-hit ball, but right at the left fielder for a sacrifice fly and the Buckeyes’ fifth run of the game.
“I thought at the end of the ball game our hitters were still trying to get us into the game,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. “They did a good job of competing.”
Andrew Armstrong started, pitched 3.0 innings and saw his record fall to 2-3 with the loss. He allowed four hits and five walks. Jared Strayer followed with three innings of work before giving way to Theron Minium in the seventh. Minium pitched 2.0 innings and did not allow a run while scattering three hits and walking one. Drew Rucinski worked a scoreless ninth inning.
Kendall Lewis pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just one run on seven hits with one strikeout. He evened his record at 4-4.
Ohio State can now put all its focus on its series with Iowa, Thursday through Saturday at Bill Davis Stadium. Ohio State enters the series in a tie for second place in the Big Ten Conference with Illinois, but the Buckeyes hold the first tie-breaker over the Illini by winning the series in Champaign last weekend. Both teams are one-half game behind Minnesota. One Penn State win over Minnesota will potentially turn the Ohio State/Iowa series into one with Big Ten championship implications... provided Ohio
OSU Athletics Recap
Box Score
MAC Player of the Week Jim Gulliver – three home runs, nine runs scored last week – put his bid in for a second consecutive honor with three hits, two home runs and six RBI to lead the Eagles.
Gulliver put EMU on the board with a first inning home run to right, his 11th of the year. In the second inning and after four two-out walks upped the Eagles’ lead to 2-0, Gulliver traveled around the bases again in his second at-bat, hitting a grand slam home run to right field to give his team a 6-0 lead. It was Gulliver’s fifth home run in the last four games.
After Ohio State scored in the second – Ryan Dew doubled and touched home on Justin Miller’s single – Eastern Michigan added solo runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to build a 9-1 lead.
The Buckeyes tried to come back. In the seventh inning they loaded the bases with nobody out against EMU reliever Tim Combs. Matt Streng singled to right to score one run, then with one out, Cory Kovanda singled in a pair of runs to make the score 9-4 and end Combs’ day.
Pinch hitter Ben Toussant drew a walk to re-load the bases against the third Eagle pitcher of the day, Jordan Goldschmidt. Shawn Forsythe followed with a hard-hit ball, but right at the left fielder for a sacrifice fly and the Buckeyes’ fifth run of the game.
“I thought at the end of the ball game our hitters were still trying to get us into the game,” Ohio State coach Bob Todd said. “They did a good job of competing.”
Andrew Armstrong started, pitched 3.0 innings and saw his record fall to 2-3 with the loss. He allowed four hits and five walks. Jared Strayer followed with three innings of work before giving way to Theron Minium in the seventh. Minium pitched 2.0 innings and did not allow a run while scattering three hits and walking one. Drew Rucinski worked a scoreless ninth inning.
Kendall Lewis pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just one run on seven hits with one strikeout. He evened his record at 4-4.
Ohio State can now put all its focus on its series with Iowa, Thursday through Saturday at Bill Davis Stadium. Ohio State enters the series in a tie for second place in the Big Ten Conference with Illinois, but the Buckeyes hold the first tie-breaker over the Illini by winning the series in Champaign last weekend. Both teams are one-half game behind Minnesota. One Penn State win over Minnesota will potentially turn the Ohio State/Iowa series into one with Big Ten championship implications... provided Ohio
OSU Athletics Recap
Box Score
Justin Miller Named Big Ten Player of the Week
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Justin Miller, the hot-hitting senior third baseman for the Ohio State baseball team, has been selected as the Big Ten Conference’s Player of the Week for his efforts last week, including leading the team to a series win at first-place Illinois. He has 10 hits in his last 14 at-bats (.715).
Miller is the eighth Buckeye to earn a Big Ten weekly award this season, which sets a single season Ohio State record for weekly conference awards. The 2004 team held the previous record with players honored by the Big Ten a total of seven times.
Miller, a two-time senior captain from Dayton, Va., and Turner Ashby High School, led Ohio State to a series victory at Illinois over the weekend, placing his team just one half-game back of Minnesota for the Big Ten lead. The senior hit .667 in the series, reaching base at a .714 clip while slugging for a 1.250 mark for an OPS of 1.964. The third baseman also scored four runs and drove in five on three extra-base hits, including two home runs, in the three-game set.
Miller had two multi-hit games, including a 4-for-5 performance on Saturday in which he recorded three RBI while scoring three runs on a double and a home run, giving his squad the 10-7 win. In the series finale on Sunday, he went 3-for-4 with another homer and a pair of RBI to give the Buckeyes the series victory in a 12-7 decision. The weekend performance upped Miller’s batting average 22 points and his slugging percentage 47 points.
After another three-hit game Tuesday against Eastern Michigan, Miller’s average had climbed to .299 this season.
The weekly honor is the second for an Ohio State hitter this season and the second in Miller’s career. Miller was also honored on May 12 last year.
2009 Ohio State Big Ten Player/Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 23 – Drew Rucinski, Pitcher
Mar. 2 – Dan Burkhart, Player
Mar. 16 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Mar. 23 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Apr. 14 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Apr. 21 – Jake Hale, Pitcher
May 4 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
May 12 – Justin Miller, Player
OSU Athletics Release
Big Ten Release
Miller is the eighth Buckeye to earn a Big Ten weekly award this season, which sets a single season Ohio State record for weekly conference awards. The 2004 team held the previous record with players honored by the Big Ten a total of seven times.
Miller, a two-time senior captain from Dayton, Va., and Turner Ashby High School, led Ohio State to a series victory at Illinois over the weekend, placing his team just one half-game back of Minnesota for the Big Ten lead. The senior hit .667 in the series, reaching base at a .714 clip while slugging for a 1.250 mark for an OPS of 1.964. The third baseman also scored four runs and drove in five on three extra-base hits, including two home runs, in the three-game set.
Miller had two multi-hit games, including a 4-for-5 performance on Saturday in which he recorded three RBI while scoring three runs on a double and a home run, giving his squad the 10-7 win. In the series finale on Sunday, he went 3-for-4 with another homer and a pair of RBI to give the Buckeyes the series victory in a 12-7 decision. The weekend performance upped Miller’s batting average 22 points and his slugging percentage 47 points.
After another three-hit game Tuesday against Eastern Michigan, Miller’s average had climbed to .299 this season.
The weekly honor is the second for an Ohio State hitter this season and the second in Miller’s career. Miller was also honored on May 12 last year.
2009 Ohio State Big Ten Player/Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 23 – Drew Rucinski, Pitcher
Mar. 2 – Dan Burkhart, Player
Mar. 16 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Mar. 23 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Apr. 14 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
Apr. 21 – Jake Hale, Pitcher
May 4 – Alex Wimmers, Pitcher
May 12 – Justin Miller, Player
OSU Athletics Release
Big Ten Release
Ohio State Takes Series From Illini, Move Into 2nd
Have A LOT of catching up to do. Here goes...
Recaps courtesy Ohio State Athletics
Game 1
League-leading Illinois scored three unearned runs in the ninth inning to snatch the first game of this crucial series with Ohio State, 5-4, before more than 5,000 fans at Illinois Field.
Ohio State led, 4-2, after another fine outing from Alex Wimmers, who pitched 7.2 innings and appeared to have the win after closer Jake Hale got out of a runners-on-second-and-third jam in the eighth inning.
Ohio State had been unbeaten entering the ninth inning with the lead this season at 30-0. Hale got the first out of the ninth, but then walked Pete Cappetta to bring Willie Argo, the tying run, to the plate. Argo reached on an error. Then pinch hitter Mike Giller reached on another infield error to load the bases, bringing up Joe Bonadonna. Two-run single to left center to tie the game. The next batter, Casey McMurray, then laced a sharp single to right to win the game and send the record Illinois crowd into a joyous celebration, topped off by fireworks that the Buckeyes had to watch because the place was too crowded with people to make leaving an option.
The loss dropped Ohio State two games behind Illinois and one-and-one-half behind Minnesota, which was taking care of business at Michigan. Heading into Saturday play, Illinois is 15-4, Minnesota is 14-4 and Ohio State is 13-6 with just five Big Ten Conference games to play. Overall, Ohio State is 34-14 and has lost four consecutive games.
This was Ohio State’s game. Michael Stephens hit his third home run in two games – a two-run shot in the first inning – to give the Buckeyes a quick, 2-0 lead. Also scoring on the play was Cory Kovanda, who had singled.
Wimmers kept Illinois in control through the first four innings, not allowing a man to reach base while facing the minimum 12 batters. But Dominic Altobelli led off the fifth with a home run to right that cut the lead to 2-1. The home run ended two amazing streaks for the talented Wimmers: 15.1. hitless innings and 14.2 scoreless innings.
Illinois threatened with a man on second and two out in the sixth, but Matt Streng made a nice play to his left to stab a Brandon Wikoff liner and make the unassisted play at first for the final out of the inning.
The Illini came right back in the seventh, with back-to-back, two-out singles by Matt Dittman and Cappetta to put runners on first and third. But Wimmers reared back and struck out Argo, the .348-hitting freshman with 11 home runs, swinging on a 3-2 count. Whew!
Ohio State extended the lead in the eighth. Stephens reached after getting hit on his right shin. Dan Burkhart then went opposite field – to left center – for his ninth home run of the season and a 4-1 lead. The two RBI were Burkhart’s team-leading 52nd and 53rd of the year.
With the intensity of the game rising with every pitch, Illinois bunched three hits together in the eighth to score a run, making it 4-2, and prompting Ohio State coach Bob Todd to the mound to relieve Wimmers.
So in came Hale (0-1) with runners on second and third and two out. His first three pitches to Aaron Johnson were balls, but Johnson swung at the fourth and Tyler Engle hustled to make a play behind the mound and throw Johnson out to end the inning.
Winning pitcher John Anderson (1-2) worked a scoreless ninth, setting the Illini up for a ninth inning that will probably never be forgotten by their players or the huge crowd on hand. There’s a Big Ten championship at stake, after all, and the home team took a big step toward it tonight. There are two more games left to be played in this series, though.
Game 1 Recap & Notes
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2
Ohio State pounded out 16 hits, including four by team captain Justin Miller, and rebounded from its Friday loss to defeat league-leading Illinois, 10-7, in Game 2 of the series Saturday at Illinois Field. The win keeps Ohio State in third place in the Big Ten standings, 1.5 games behind the new leader, Minnesota. Illinois falls one-half game back of the Golden Gophers with the loss.
There were seven ties and lead changes in the contest, but this game changed within a 60-second span of the first inning. That’s how long it took for Ohio State to get out of a serious situation.
Illinois, sky high after its come-from-behind ninth-inning win Friday, loaded the bases with nobody out in the first, courtesy of a leadoff walk and a pair of singles. But Dominic Altobelli hit a hard bouncer right back to Ohio State starter Dean Wolosiansky, who snapped the ball out of the air and teamed with catcher Dan Burkhart and first baseman Matt Streng to complete a textbook, 1-2-3 double play. Wolosiansky then fielded Aaron Johnson’s grounder and threw to first to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
Wolosiansky, the sophomore who was seeking to become the first 11-win pitcher at Ohio State since Justin Fry in 1999, pitched well enough to get a win, but after giving up two walks in the fifth inning, he yielded the game to reliever Drew Rucinsky, who pitched 3.2 innings to get the win and improve to 8-2 on the season. Jake Hale pitched a perfect, seven-pitch ninth inning to record his 12th save of the season.
This game, unlike Friday night, was more about the hitting than pitching, though. A game-long breeze reaching speeds of 15-to-20 mph out of the west made for a precarious afternoon with every well-hit fly ball. Advantage Ohio State in that department. Miller hit a two-run home run and had a double as part of his four-hit day, which included three runs and three RBI. Tyler Engle had two doubles, three hits and three runs scored and Ryan Dew also had three hits and three runs to lead the Buckeyes offensively.
Two of the biggest hits of the game came from Cory Kovanda and Matt Streng. Kovanda had the big hit in a three-run fourth inning...a two-out, two-strike, two-out single to give the Buckeyes a 4-3 lead. Zach Hurley, who had two hits and two RBI, drew a two-out, bases loaded walk to bring home the first run of the inning...a play that won’t be in the headlines but one that was certainly crucial at a critical point of the game.
Streng’s big hit came in the ninth with the Buckeyes clinging to an 8-7 lead. He singled to right, driving home two insurance runs to increase the lead to three at 10-7.
“My first few at-bats I had some good swings but things didn’t work out,” Streng, a sophomore from Upper Arlington said. “I was looking for a good pitch to drive in my last at-bat. I fouled a few pitches off and then I worked into a deep count and was able to drive one up the middle. I saw it get past the second baseman and I had to clap and cheer a little because I was excited. We needed those two runs.”
The win not only improved Ohio State’s record to 35-14, but it also stopped the only losing streak the team has been on all season at four games.
Game 2 Recap
Game 2 Box Score
Game 3
Ohio State pounded 16 hits for the second consecutive game to win the series with Illinois on the strength of a 12-7 victory Sunday at Illinois Field. The Ohio State win, coupled with a Sunday win by Michigan over Minnesota, leaves the Buckeyes and the Illini just one-half game behind Minnesota heading into the final weekend of the Big Ten season. Ohio State is now 36-14 overall and 15-6 in the Big Ten. Illinois is 32-16 and also 15-6.
Just two days after losing a Friday night game that appeared in the bag, the Buckeyes were backed into a corner and one loss away from being eliminated from the Big Ten championship picture and a couple losses away from being a fourth or fifth seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament at Huntington Park.
But this team didn’t quit. It didn’t give in to the pressure and it quite simply didn’t care about its predicament. Instead, it came out of that corner swinging...in a big way.
This was a championship game from the start. Illinois had Best on the ropes early, scoring two runs off two hits in the first inning and then getting two men on in the second, but failing to score a run. The Illini also had men on in the third but could not add to their 2-0 lead.
The Buckeyes scored a run in the fourth. Burkhart doubled to center, moved to second on a ground out and with two out, Miller’s seventh hit of the series – a single to center – scored Burkhart, making the score 2-1.
Arp started the fifth off on a positive note for the Buckeyes, first-pitch swinging and collecting a single to left. Engle then crushed his first home run of the season out of left center field for a 3-2 Ohio State lead. Matt Streng walked and singles by Hurley and Kovanda increased the lead to 4-2 and closed the day on Illinois starter Bryan Johnson (5-3).
Stephens then greeted reliever Ben Reeser, in his first relief appearance of the year, with a sharp single to left that scored both Hurley and Kovanda for a 6-2 lead.
After Illinois’ Dominic Altobelli countered with his second home run of the series to cut the lead to 6-3, Ohio State retaliated with a single run in the sixth, a single by Kovanda that scored Engle.
Then leading 7-5 heading into the eighth inning, the Buckeyes delivered a series of knockout blows with two out that clinched the win. Burkhart doubled off the center field wall to drive in two. Dew followed with his seventh home run of the season to left center to drive in two more. The very next hitter, Miller, crushed his ninth home run to give the Buckeyes a 12-5 lead.
Hale gave up a home run in the eighth, but that was all and after a 3-up-3-down, ninth, the Buckeyes celebrated with their sixth series win of the season.
Game 3 Recap & Notes
Game 3 Box Score
Recaps courtesy Ohio State Athletics
Game 1
League-leading Illinois scored three unearned runs in the ninth inning to snatch the first game of this crucial series with Ohio State, 5-4, before more than 5,000 fans at Illinois Field.
Ohio State led, 4-2, after another fine outing from Alex Wimmers, who pitched 7.2 innings and appeared to have the win after closer Jake Hale got out of a runners-on-second-and-third jam in the eighth inning.
Ohio State had been unbeaten entering the ninth inning with the lead this season at 30-0. Hale got the first out of the ninth, but then walked Pete Cappetta to bring Willie Argo, the tying run, to the plate. Argo reached on an error. Then pinch hitter Mike Giller reached on another infield error to load the bases, bringing up Joe Bonadonna. Two-run single to left center to tie the game. The next batter, Casey McMurray, then laced a sharp single to right to win the game and send the record Illinois crowd into a joyous celebration, topped off by fireworks that the Buckeyes had to watch because the place was too crowded with people to make leaving an option.
The loss dropped Ohio State two games behind Illinois and one-and-one-half behind Minnesota, which was taking care of business at Michigan. Heading into Saturday play, Illinois is 15-4, Minnesota is 14-4 and Ohio State is 13-6 with just five Big Ten Conference games to play. Overall, Ohio State is 34-14 and has lost four consecutive games.
This was Ohio State’s game. Michael Stephens hit his third home run in two games – a two-run shot in the first inning – to give the Buckeyes a quick, 2-0 lead. Also scoring on the play was Cory Kovanda, who had singled.
Wimmers kept Illinois in control through the first four innings, not allowing a man to reach base while facing the minimum 12 batters. But Dominic Altobelli led off the fifth with a home run to right that cut the lead to 2-1. The home run ended two amazing streaks for the talented Wimmers: 15.1. hitless innings and 14.2 scoreless innings.
Illinois threatened with a man on second and two out in the sixth, but Matt Streng made a nice play to his left to stab a Brandon Wikoff liner and make the unassisted play at first for the final out of the inning.
The Illini came right back in the seventh, with back-to-back, two-out singles by Matt Dittman and Cappetta to put runners on first and third. But Wimmers reared back and struck out Argo, the .348-hitting freshman with 11 home runs, swinging on a 3-2 count. Whew!
Ohio State extended the lead in the eighth. Stephens reached after getting hit on his right shin. Dan Burkhart then went opposite field – to left center – for his ninth home run of the season and a 4-1 lead. The two RBI were Burkhart’s team-leading 52nd and 53rd of the year.
With the intensity of the game rising with every pitch, Illinois bunched three hits together in the eighth to score a run, making it 4-2, and prompting Ohio State coach Bob Todd to the mound to relieve Wimmers.
So in came Hale (0-1) with runners on second and third and two out. His first three pitches to Aaron Johnson were balls, but Johnson swung at the fourth and Tyler Engle hustled to make a play behind the mound and throw Johnson out to end the inning.
Winning pitcher John Anderson (1-2) worked a scoreless ninth, setting the Illini up for a ninth inning that will probably never be forgotten by their players or the huge crowd on hand. There’s a Big Ten championship at stake, after all, and the home team took a big step toward it tonight. There are two more games left to be played in this series, though.
Game 1 Recap & Notes
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2
Ohio State pounded out 16 hits, including four by team captain Justin Miller, and rebounded from its Friday loss to defeat league-leading Illinois, 10-7, in Game 2 of the series Saturday at Illinois Field. The win keeps Ohio State in third place in the Big Ten standings, 1.5 games behind the new leader, Minnesota. Illinois falls one-half game back of the Golden Gophers with the loss.
There were seven ties and lead changes in the contest, but this game changed within a 60-second span of the first inning. That’s how long it took for Ohio State to get out of a serious situation.
Illinois, sky high after its come-from-behind ninth-inning win Friday, loaded the bases with nobody out in the first, courtesy of a leadoff walk and a pair of singles. But Dominic Altobelli hit a hard bouncer right back to Ohio State starter Dean Wolosiansky, who snapped the ball out of the air and teamed with catcher Dan Burkhart and first baseman Matt Streng to complete a textbook, 1-2-3 double play. Wolosiansky then fielded Aaron Johnson’s grounder and threw to first to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
Wolosiansky, the sophomore who was seeking to become the first 11-win pitcher at Ohio State since Justin Fry in 1999, pitched well enough to get a win, but after giving up two walks in the fifth inning, he yielded the game to reliever Drew Rucinsky, who pitched 3.2 innings to get the win and improve to 8-2 on the season. Jake Hale pitched a perfect, seven-pitch ninth inning to record his 12th save of the season.
This game, unlike Friday night, was more about the hitting than pitching, though. A game-long breeze reaching speeds of 15-to-20 mph out of the west made for a precarious afternoon with every well-hit fly ball. Advantage Ohio State in that department. Miller hit a two-run home run and had a double as part of his four-hit day, which included three runs and three RBI. Tyler Engle had two doubles, three hits and three runs scored and Ryan Dew also had three hits and three runs to lead the Buckeyes offensively.
Two of the biggest hits of the game came from Cory Kovanda and Matt Streng. Kovanda had the big hit in a three-run fourth inning...a two-out, two-strike, two-out single to give the Buckeyes a 4-3 lead. Zach Hurley, who had two hits and two RBI, drew a two-out, bases loaded walk to bring home the first run of the inning...a play that won’t be in the headlines but one that was certainly crucial at a critical point of the game.
Streng’s big hit came in the ninth with the Buckeyes clinging to an 8-7 lead. He singled to right, driving home two insurance runs to increase the lead to three at 10-7.
“My first few at-bats I had some good swings but things didn’t work out,” Streng, a sophomore from Upper Arlington said. “I was looking for a good pitch to drive in my last at-bat. I fouled a few pitches off and then I worked into a deep count and was able to drive one up the middle. I saw it get past the second baseman and I had to clap and cheer a little because I was excited. We needed those two runs.”
The win not only improved Ohio State’s record to 35-14, but it also stopped the only losing streak the team has been on all season at four games.
Game 2 Recap
Game 2 Box Score
Game 3
Ohio State pounded 16 hits for the second consecutive game to win the series with Illinois on the strength of a 12-7 victory Sunday at Illinois Field. The Ohio State win, coupled with a Sunday win by Michigan over Minnesota, leaves the Buckeyes and the Illini just one-half game behind Minnesota heading into the final weekend of the Big Ten season. Ohio State is now 36-14 overall and 15-6 in the Big Ten. Illinois is 32-16 and also 15-6.
Just two days after losing a Friday night game that appeared in the bag, the Buckeyes were backed into a corner and one loss away from being eliminated from the Big Ten championship picture and a couple losses away from being a fourth or fifth seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament at Huntington Park.
But this team didn’t quit. It didn’t give in to the pressure and it quite simply didn’t care about its predicament. Instead, it came out of that corner swinging...in a big way.
This was a championship game from the start. Illinois had Best on the ropes early, scoring two runs off two hits in the first inning and then getting two men on in the second, but failing to score a run. The Illini also had men on in the third but could not add to their 2-0 lead.
The Buckeyes scored a run in the fourth. Burkhart doubled to center, moved to second on a ground out and with two out, Miller’s seventh hit of the series – a single to center – scored Burkhart, making the score 2-1.
Arp started the fifth off on a positive note for the Buckeyes, first-pitch swinging and collecting a single to left. Engle then crushed his first home run of the season out of left center field for a 3-2 Ohio State lead. Matt Streng walked and singles by Hurley and Kovanda increased the lead to 4-2 and closed the day on Illinois starter Bryan Johnson (5-3).
Stephens then greeted reliever Ben Reeser, in his first relief appearance of the year, with a sharp single to left that scored both Hurley and Kovanda for a 6-2 lead.
After Illinois’ Dominic Altobelli countered with his second home run of the series to cut the lead to 6-3, Ohio State retaliated with a single run in the sixth, a single by Kovanda that scored Engle.
Then leading 7-5 heading into the eighth inning, the Buckeyes delivered a series of knockout blows with two out that clinched the win. Burkhart doubled off the center field wall to drive in two. Dew followed with his seventh home run of the season to left center to drive in two more. The very next hitter, Miller, crushed his ninth home run to give the Buckeyes a 12-5 lead.
Hale gave up a home run in the eighth, but that was all and after a 3-up-3-down, ninth, the Buckeyes celebrated with their sixth series win of the season.
Game 3 Recap & Notes
Game 3 Box Score
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Midweek Woes Continue, Bucks Fall
I'll have much more on this game I promise. I'll finish up the Illinois weekend, update everyone on news, Gus was Big Ten Player of the Week, Big Ten Tourney news, and everything else thats happening. BUT it'll have to wait until tomorrow. I apologize. Been very bsy with midterms this week, picked up a shift for a friend that was ill, and the normal studying that comes with 19 hours is piling up. So in short, I'm a very tired man. I'm getting ready to pass out right now. Hopefully this means I'll wake up somewhat early and can update you guys.
Again sorry for the lack of coverage and updates, but I'll have it ready to go tomorrow.
Again sorry for the lack of coverage and updates, but I'll have it ready to go tomorrow.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Buckeyes Down Illini, 12-7 Win Series
For the second game in a row the Buckeyes bats came alive, pouding Illini pitching for 16 hits again. The 16 hits including 3 home runs, and 6 players had 2-RBI games accounting for the 12 runs.
With the win the Bucks move into a tie for 2nd with the Illini, though they hold the tiebreaker due to the series victory, and sit a half game back of Minnesota going into the final Big Ten weekend.
Minnesota 15-5
Ohio State 15-6
Illinois 15-6
Indiana 14-6
Leading the way for Ohio State at the plate were:
Cory Kovanda 4-for-5, 2 RBI
Dan Burkhart 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 2B
Justin Miller 3-for-5, 2 RBI, HR
Ryan Dew and Tyler Engle also added 2-run HR's, Michael Stephens had a 2-run double as well.
To continue the running joke, Stephens was once again HBP. My last tally was wrong, the correct total is 13 HBP, 11 HR for Stephens. Stephens was HBP in every game this series.
On the mound starter Eric Best picked up his 7th win moving to 7-3 on the season. Best throwing in his 3rd game in 7 days throw 108 pitches, allowed 6 hits, issued 6 walks, struck out 3, and gave up 5 runs all earned in 5.2 IP. Jared Strayer pitched 1 inning of no hit baseball, before giving way to closer Jake Hale who went the final 2.1 inning, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits. Hale gave up his first home run of the season, but struck out a batter and picked up his Big Ten leading 13th save.
The win clinched the Bucks 6th Big Ten series victory, but was just their 2nd win in conference play on Sunday.
A full recap of all 3 games will come tomorrow.
With the win the Bucks move into a tie for 2nd with the Illini, though they hold the tiebreaker due to the series victory, and sit a half game back of Minnesota going into the final Big Ten weekend.
Minnesota 15-5
Ohio State 15-6
Illinois 15-6
Indiana 14-6
Leading the way for Ohio State at the plate were:
Cory Kovanda 4-for-5, 2 RBI
Dan Burkhart 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 2B
Justin Miller 3-for-5, 2 RBI, HR
Ryan Dew and Tyler Engle also added 2-run HR's, Michael Stephens had a 2-run double as well.
To continue the running joke, Stephens was once again HBP. My last tally was wrong, the correct total is 13 HBP, 11 HR for Stephens. Stephens was HBP in every game this series.
On the mound starter Eric Best picked up his 7th win moving to 7-3 on the season. Best throwing in his 3rd game in 7 days throw 108 pitches, allowed 6 hits, issued 6 walks, struck out 3, and gave up 5 runs all earned in 5.2 IP. Jared Strayer pitched 1 inning of no hit baseball, before giving way to closer Jake Hale who went the final 2.1 inning, allowing 2 runs on 2 hits. Hale gave up his first home run of the season, but struck out a batter and picked up his Big Ten leading 13th save.
The win clinched the Bucks 6th Big Ten series victory, but was just their 2nd win in conference play on Sunday.
A full recap of all 3 games will come tomorrow.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Miller's Big Day Carries Buckeyes
Justin Miller powered No. 24 Ohio State to an 11-7 win over Northwestern Saturday by hitting a grand slam home run and driving in a career-high six runs. The series-clinching win, after a 5-4 win Friday, improved Ohio State’s records to 31-9 overall and to a Big Ten-leading 11-3 in the conference.
Miller, playing in his 200th career game as a Buckeye, sent an Eric Jokisch pitch high and deep to centerfield in the first inning for his first career grand slam. Scoring ahead of Miller’s sixth home run of the year and his 11th career home run was Cory Kovanda, who had singled, Michael Stephens, who doubled and Dan Burkhart, who had walked.
“I didn’t think I hit the ball that well,” Miller said after the game. “I thought I had one RBI with a sacrifice fly, not four.”
After Northwestern scored two in the second to close the deficit to 4-3, Matt Streng led off the Buckeyes’ second inning with his seventh home run of the season to extend the lead to 5-3. A Ryan Dew RBI single in the third put the Buckeyes up, 6-3.
Northwestern, 11-26 and 2-10 in the Big Ten, wouldn’t go away, though, scoring a run in the fourth to get to within 6-4.
It’s was Miller’s time, again, in the fifth inning. With two men on, the two-time senior captain ripped a double off the centerfield wall to score two more runs, build the lead back to a five-run cushion and the Buckeyes cruised to the win from there.
Dean Wolosiansky pitched 7.0 innings of seven-hit, five-earned run baseball to improve his record to a Big Ten-best 9-1 on the season. Jokisch, who gave up nine runs in 4.1 innings pitched, dropped to 3-5 with the loss.
Jake Hale pitched the final two innings in a non-save situation to finish a game for the 24th time this season.
Miller, in addition to his homer, double and six RBI, also had a single during his grand day. Michael Stephens had two hits and two runs scored, Ryan Dew had two more hits – he leads the team with a .396 average – and Michael Arp had a pair of hits and two RBI to support Miller’s offensive numbers. Kovanda and Burkhart each scored a pair of runs.
OSU Athletics Recap & Game Notes
Box Score
Columbus Dispatch
Miller, playing in his 200th career game as a Buckeye, sent an Eric Jokisch pitch high and deep to centerfield in the first inning for his first career grand slam. Scoring ahead of Miller’s sixth home run of the year and his 11th career home run was Cory Kovanda, who had singled, Michael Stephens, who doubled and Dan Burkhart, who had walked.
“I didn’t think I hit the ball that well,” Miller said after the game. “I thought I had one RBI with a sacrifice fly, not four.”
After Northwestern scored two in the second to close the deficit to 4-3, Matt Streng led off the Buckeyes’ second inning with his seventh home run of the season to extend the lead to 5-3. A Ryan Dew RBI single in the third put the Buckeyes up, 6-3.
Northwestern, 11-26 and 2-10 in the Big Ten, wouldn’t go away, though, scoring a run in the fourth to get to within 6-4.
It’s was Miller’s time, again, in the fifth inning. With two men on, the two-time senior captain ripped a double off the centerfield wall to score two more runs, build the lead back to a five-run cushion and the Buckeyes cruised to the win from there.
Dean Wolosiansky pitched 7.0 innings of seven-hit, five-earned run baseball to improve his record to a Big Ten-best 9-1 on the season. Jokisch, who gave up nine runs in 4.1 innings pitched, dropped to 3-5 with the loss.
Jake Hale pitched the final two innings in a non-save situation to finish a game for the 24th time this season.
Miller, in addition to his homer, double and six RBI, also had a single during his grand day. Michael Stephens had two hits and two runs scored, Ryan Dew had two more hits – he leads the team with a .396 average – and Michael Arp had a pair of hits and two RBI to support Miller’s offensive numbers. Kovanda and Burkhart each scored a pair of runs.
OSU Athletics Recap & Game Notes
Box Score
Columbus Dispatch
Friday, April 24, 2009
Buckeye 2-Run Bottom 9th Wins Game 5-4
For the first time this season the Ohio State baseball team wins a game after trailing through 7.
Trailing 4-3 going into their last at-bat, Zach Hurley led-off the 9th with a single through the left side. A perfectly executed bunt sacrafice by Cory Kovanda moved Hurley into scoring position. Michael Stephens followed reached base via a HBP. With runners on first and second, Dan Burkhart sent a shot back up the middle, with Hurley scoring just ahead of the the throw home. Advancing on the throw to third was Stephens, who in the next at-bat scored the game winning run, as captain Justin Miller hit a chopper to short that Stephens beat the throw home.
Recap from OSU Athletics
No. 24 Ohio State has a bunch of wins this season – 30 to be exact – but Friday at Bill Davis Stadium the team earned its first when trailing after the seventh inning with a hard-earned 5-4 victory over Northwestern in front of a season high 1,758 fans.
Trailing 4-3 entering the ninth inning and 0-9 in such situations this season, the Buckeyes manufactured two runs for the victory to improve to 30-9 overall and a Big Ten Conference-leading 10-3 in the league. Northwestern drops to 11-25 overall and 2-9 in the Big Ten.
“We need to win games like this,” said Ohio State coach Bob Todd, who has now guided all 22 of his Ohio State teams to 30 or more victories. “Zach Hurley set the stage in the ninth and Cory Kovanda did his job by getting Hurley into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.”
“That was a good comeback win,” Burkhart, one of four Buckeyes with two hits, said. “We needed to get that.”
Ohio State played from behind the entire game. Northwestern’s hitters were seeing pitches clearly in the first inning, collecting five hits to score three runs off Ohio State starter Alex Wimmers. Wimmers ended up striking out the side in the inning, but a three-run inning against Wimmers simply doesn’t happen much this year.
“Wimmers battled through even though he didn’t have his good stuff,” Todd said.
The runs didn’t faze Wimmers and the Buckeyes fought back. Burkhart doubled in the second and scored on Miller’s single to put the Buckeyes on the scoreboard. Matt Streng led off the fifth inning with his sixth home run of the season to close the gap to 3-2.
A two-out walk with a man on board, followed by a Hamilton Wise single, scored a Wildcat run in the sixth inning to give a boost of adrenalin to the Northwestern bench, along with a 4-2 lead.
Streng singled to lead off the Buckeye seventh and eventually scored on a wild pitch to close the gap once again to one run at 4-3. Midway through the inning Wildcat starter Joe Muraski was replaced by David Jensen. Mursaki went 6.2 innings and gave up seven hits, just two earned runs with four walks and three strikeouts.
Wimmers left shortly thereafter. After getting the first two batters out in the eighth, back-to-back walks prompted a visit to the mound from coach Todd and the end of the effort for Wimmers. The sophomore went 7.2 innings and scattered eight hits, gave up the four runs, walked three and struck out 10 Wildcats.
The score stayed at 4-3 into the bottom of the ninth inning, when Ohio State had the top of its order coming to the plate. And they did their job.
Drew Rucinski pitched the final 1.1 innings to pick up the win and improve to 7-2 on the season. Cole Livermore, NU’s third pitcher of the night, dropped to 0-2 with the loss.
Box score
Dispatch Recap
Trailing 4-3 going into their last at-bat, Zach Hurley led-off the 9th with a single through the left side. A perfectly executed bunt sacrafice by Cory Kovanda moved Hurley into scoring position. Michael Stephens followed reached base via a HBP. With runners on first and second, Dan Burkhart sent a shot back up the middle, with Hurley scoring just ahead of the the throw home. Advancing on the throw to third was Stephens, who in the next at-bat scored the game winning run, as captain Justin Miller hit a chopper to short that Stephens beat the throw home.
Recap from OSU Athletics
No. 24 Ohio State has a bunch of wins this season – 30 to be exact – but Friday at Bill Davis Stadium the team earned its first when trailing after the seventh inning with a hard-earned 5-4 victory over Northwestern in front of a season high 1,758 fans.
Trailing 4-3 entering the ninth inning and 0-9 in such situations this season, the Buckeyes manufactured two runs for the victory to improve to 30-9 overall and a Big Ten Conference-leading 10-3 in the league. Northwestern drops to 11-25 overall and 2-9 in the Big Ten.
“We need to win games like this,” said Ohio State coach Bob Todd, who has now guided all 22 of his Ohio State teams to 30 or more victories. “Zach Hurley set the stage in the ninth and Cory Kovanda did his job by getting Hurley into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.”
“That was a good comeback win,” Burkhart, one of four Buckeyes with two hits, said. “We needed to get that.”
Ohio State played from behind the entire game. Northwestern’s hitters were seeing pitches clearly in the first inning, collecting five hits to score three runs off Ohio State starter Alex Wimmers. Wimmers ended up striking out the side in the inning, but a three-run inning against Wimmers simply doesn’t happen much this year.
“Wimmers battled through even though he didn’t have his good stuff,” Todd said.
The runs didn’t faze Wimmers and the Buckeyes fought back. Burkhart doubled in the second and scored on Miller’s single to put the Buckeyes on the scoreboard. Matt Streng led off the fifth inning with his sixth home run of the season to close the gap to 3-2.
A two-out walk with a man on board, followed by a Hamilton Wise single, scored a Wildcat run in the sixth inning to give a boost of adrenalin to the Northwestern bench, along with a 4-2 lead.
Streng singled to lead off the Buckeye seventh and eventually scored on a wild pitch to close the gap once again to one run at 4-3. Midway through the inning Wildcat starter Joe Muraski was replaced by David Jensen. Mursaki went 6.2 innings and gave up seven hits, just two earned runs with four walks and three strikeouts.
Wimmers left shortly thereafter. After getting the first two batters out in the eighth, back-to-back walks prompted a visit to the mound from coach Todd and the end of the effort for Wimmers. The sophomore went 7.2 innings and scattered eight hits, gave up the four runs, walked three and struck out 10 Wildcats.
The score stayed at 4-3 into the bottom of the ninth inning, when Ohio State had the top of its order coming to the plate. And they did their job.
Drew Rucinski pitched the final 1.1 innings to pick up the win and improve to 7-2 on the season. Cole Livermore, NU’s third pitcher of the night, dropped to 0-2 with the loss.
Box score
Dispatch Recap
Friday, March 27, 2009
Ohio State Wins Big Ten Opener
Big innings, quality pitching lead to 8-3 win over Penn State.
A five-run fifth inning erased a 2-0 deficit and carried No. 16 Ohio State to an 8-3 win over Penn State Friday in the Big Ten Conference opener for both schools. The win improved Ohio State’s record to 19-3 and Penn State, which had won six consecutive games, drops to 13-9 on the year.
Sophomore Dean Wolosiansky allowed just five hits and two runs through 7.0 innings to improve to 4-1 on the season. Wolosiansky walked two and struck out six before giving way to Drew Rucinski in the eighth inning.
Offensively, Zach Hurley had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI and Michael Stephens and Justin Miller had two RBI apiece. The Buckeyes totaled eight hits while Penn State was held to six, half of which came in the first inning.
Penn State scored twice in that first inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Blue and Whites loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk, but Wolosiansky got hot-hitting Cory Wine - .442 avg. coming into the game – to ground into a home-to-first double play. Matt Sterenka then singled to center to drive home both runs.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, were not presenting any difficulties for Penn State starter T.J. Macy, who came in with a 2-1 record and a 1.41 ERA and with impressive outings this season against Texas and Rutgers. Macy threw double play balls in each of the first two innings, he had a three-up-three-down inning in the third and the Buckeyes’ leadoff runner in the fourth was caught stealing in another 1-2-3 inning.
The Buckeyes finally got to Macy and took the lead with a five-run fifth inning with all the runs scored with two out. Cory Rupert and Ryan Dew singled and Michael Arp and Matt Streng walked to make the score 2-1. Hurley ripped a single up the middle to score two more and, after Cory Kovanda walked, Stephens singled sharply to left to score two more and give the Buckeyes a 5-2 lead.
Three more runs in the eighth extended the lead. Hurley led off with a double and after Kovanda walked for the third time, both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Hurley scored on Stephens’ sacrifice fly and Kovanda came home on Miller’s towering home run to left field, his fourth of the season and the 29th on the year for the Buckeyes.
Wolosiansky kept the Buckeyes in the game by not allowing another through the next six innings. He helped himself by striking out the side in the fourth after giving up a leadoff single to Wine. Then he got three consecutive outs after hitting the first two batters in the fifth. He enjoyed another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth and with a runner on in the seventh, he got another strikeout and a groundout to end the inning and his fine Friday in Happy Valley.
Penn State scored a run in the ninth off Rucinski, but that would be it.
Games Notes & Release
Box Score
Penn State Recap & Release
A five-run fifth inning erased a 2-0 deficit and carried No. 16 Ohio State to an 8-3 win over Penn State Friday in the Big Ten Conference opener for both schools. The win improved Ohio State’s record to 19-3 and Penn State, which had won six consecutive games, drops to 13-9 on the year.
Sophomore Dean Wolosiansky allowed just five hits and two runs through 7.0 innings to improve to 4-1 on the season. Wolosiansky walked two and struck out six before giving way to Drew Rucinski in the eighth inning.
Offensively, Zach Hurley had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI and Michael Stephens and Justin Miller had two RBI apiece. The Buckeyes totaled eight hits while Penn State was held to six, half of which came in the first inning.
Penn State scored twice in that first inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Blue and Whites loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk, but Wolosiansky got hot-hitting Cory Wine - .442 avg. coming into the game – to ground into a home-to-first double play. Matt Sterenka then singled to center to drive home both runs.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, were not presenting any difficulties for Penn State starter T.J. Macy, who came in with a 2-1 record and a 1.41 ERA and with impressive outings this season against Texas and Rutgers. Macy threw double play balls in each of the first two innings, he had a three-up-three-down inning in the third and the Buckeyes’ leadoff runner in the fourth was caught stealing in another 1-2-3 inning.
The Buckeyes finally got to Macy and took the lead with a five-run fifth inning with all the runs scored with two out. Cory Rupert and Ryan Dew singled and Michael Arp and Matt Streng walked to make the score 2-1. Hurley ripped a single up the middle to score two more and, after Cory Kovanda walked, Stephens singled sharply to left to score two more and give the Buckeyes a 5-2 lead.
Three more runs in the eighth extended the lead. Hurley led off with a double and after Kovanda walked for the third time, both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Hurley scored on Stephens’ sacrifice fly and Kovanda came home on Miller’s towering home run to left field, his fourth of the season and the 29th on the year for the Buckeyes.
Wolosiansky kept the Buckeyes in the game by not allowing another through the next six innings. He helped himself by striking out the side in the fourth after giving up a leadoff single to Wine. Then he got three consecutive outs after hitting the first two batters in the fifth. He enjoyed another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth and with a runner on in the seventh, he got another strikeout and a groundout to end the inning and his fine Friday in Happy Valley.
Penn State scored a run in the ninth off Rucinski, but that would be it.
Games Notes & Release
Box Score
Penn State Recap & Release
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Hartford's Rally Comes Up Short, Bucks win 9th in a Row
The No. 22 Ohio State baseball team won its ninth consecutive game with a 9-8 win over Hartford Sunday at Chain of Lakes Field. The win improved the team’s record to 17-2 on the season. Hartford drops to 1-10.
Ohio State starting pitcher Ross Oltorik, a true freshman, pitched a career-long 5.0 innings, allowing just one run off six hits to record his initial collegiate win against no losses. He struck out a career-best five batters and walked three in his best performance to date as a Buckeye.
Oltorik had a couple of one-two-three innings, including striking out the side in the fourth, and he successfully got himself through a couple of tight situations. In the second inning with Ohio State up 2-0, Oltorik got through a bases loaded with nobody out pinch with a fly ball and a thank-you-very-much one-two-three double play with Oltorik fielding a one-hopper and throwing to Dan Burkhart for the force at home. Burkhart then threw to first to get the batter.
In the fifth inning, Oltorik faced a bases loaded with one out exam. He passed this test with flying colors as well, getting back-to-back strikeouts of the four and five hitters and fist-pumping all the way to the bench at the end of the inning to close the scorebook on his first collegiate win.
Meanwhile, the Ohio State offense was chipping away at a handful of Hawk pitchers and building a 9-1 lead. Zach Hurley led off the game with a triple and he scored on a groundout. Michael Stephens followed with a single and scored on Justin Miller’s single for a quick, 2-0 lead.
Consecutive doubles by Ryan Dew and Michael Arp plated another run for a 3-1 lead after the Buckeyes’ second, and then Ohio State scored four times in the seventh off four hits and two Hartford errors. Hurley, Cory Kovanda, Michael Stephens and Miller all singled and scored runs off Hartford reliever Matt Govoni.
Three consecutive two-out doubles in the eighth – by Kovanda, Chris Griffin and Miller – increased the lead to 9-1.
Miller led the Buckeyes offensively with four hits and three RBI. The senior captain recorded his 55th career multi-hit game and his three RBI represented the 35th time he has had multiple RBIs in a game.
The first four hitters for Ohio State – Hurley, Kovanda, Stephens and Miller – all had multiple hits as did Ryan Dew and Michael Arp, and the Buckeyes totaled 16 hits on the afternoon.
Hartford rallied with four runs in the eighth inning and another three in the ninth – with half of its 14 hits coming in those two innings – before closer Jake Hale came in to get the final three outs for his fourth save of the season and his 10th consecutive game finished without allowing a run.
Bucks now 17-2
BoxScore
Ohio State starting pitcher Ross Oltorik, a true freshman, pitched a career-long 5.0 innings, allowing just one run off six hits to record his initial collegiate win against no losses. He struck out a career-best five batters and walked three in his best performance to date as a Buckeye.
Oltorik had a couple of one-two-three innings, including striking out the side in the fourth, and he successfully got himself through a couple of tight situations. In the second inning with Ohio State up 2-0, Oltorik got through a bases loaded with nobody out pinch with a fly ball and a thank-you-very-much one-two-three double play with Oltorik fielding a one-hopper and throwing to Dan Burkhart for the force at home. Burkhart then threw to first to get the batter.
In the fifth inning, Oltorik faced a bases loaded with one out exam. He passed this test with flying colors as well, getting back-to-back strikeouts of the four and five hitters and fist-pumping all the way to the bench at the end of the inning to close the scorebook on his first collegiate win.
Meanwhile, the Ohio State offense was chipping away at a handful of Hawk pitchers and building a 9-1 lead. Zach Hurley led off the game with a triple and he scored on a groundout. Michael Stephens followed with a single and scored on Justin Miller’s single for a quick, 2-0 lead.
Consecutive doubles by Ryan Dew and Michael Arp plated another run for a 3-1 lead after the Buckeyes’ second, and then Ohio State scored four times in the seventh off four hits and two Hartford errors. Hurley, Cory Kovanda, Michael Stephens and Miller all singled and scored runs off Hartford reliever Matt Govoni.
Three consecutive two-out doubles in the eighth – by Kovanda, Chris Griffin and Miller – increased the lead to 9-1.
Miller led the Buckeyes offensively with four hits and three RBI. The senior captain recorded his 55th career multi-hit game and his three RBI represented the 35th time he has had multiple RBIs in a game.
The first four hitters for Ohio State – Hurley, Kovanda, Stephens and Miller – all had multiple hits as did Ryan Dew and Michael Arp, and the Buckeyes totaled 16 hits on the afternoon.
Hartford rallied with four runs in the eighth inning and another three in the ninth – with half of its 14 hits coming in those two innings – before closer Jake Hale came in to get the final three outs for his fourth save of the season and his 10th consecutive game finished without allowing a run.
Bucks now 17-2
BoxScore
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Hits Keep on Coming, Bucks Get 37 Hits in DH Sweep
The Buckeyes hit five home runs in wins over SIUE and UMBC, win game 1 13-10, game 2 16-9.
The Ohio State baseball team defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 13-10, and Maryland Baltimore County, 16-9, Saturday at the Santaluces Sports Complex behind 37 combined hits in the two games and five home runs. The 30th-ranked Buckeyes have won four consecutive games and are 12-2 on the season.
The team’s starting outfield of left fielder Zach Hurley, center fielder Michael Stephens and right fielder Michael Arp did the most damage Saturday as the trio combined for 16 hits, 14 runs batted in and nine runs scored.
Justin Miller (three hits, three runs and three RBI vs. UMBC) and Dan Burkhart (hits in both games to extend his hitting streak to 17 consecutive games) also hit home runs – against UMBC – and Ohio State has now hit 24 home runs in 14 games after hitting 19 home runs all last season.
Game 1
In the first game of the day, Ohio State scored three unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 10-10 tie and defeat SIU Edwardsville, 13-10. Drew Rucinski picked up the win with 2.2 innings of effective relief work to improve to 5-1 on the year. Hale recorded the final out of the game with two men on base to record his third save of the season.
The Cougars, a pesky sort in their first season of Division I baseball as members of the Ohio Valley Conference, kept coming at the Buckeyes despite trailing by 6-1 and 9-5 margins. Three home runs hit into the nice breeze from home plate helped, as did the biggest hit of the game: a clear-the-bases double by Chase Thrasher that tied the score at 10-apiece in the sixth inning.
Rucinski, who replaced Jared Strayer who had replaced starter Andrew Armstrong (5.1 innings pitched), got out of a key two-on with no out situation in the bottom of the seventh with two strikeouts and a fly out to preserve the tie ball game.
In the ninth inning, Ohio State scored its runs off three hits and two errors. Burkhart scored the go-ahead run on Arp’s single. Ryan Dew, who also singled in the inning, and Arp scored insurance runs for the Scarlet and Gray.
Offensively, all nine Ohio State offensive starters had hits and scored runs in the SIUE game. Stephens hit a solo home run in the first inning and Hurley had a three run home run in the second inning, part of a three-hit game for the junior. Three more Buckeyes joined them with multi-hit games: Cory Rupert (3-4 with a run scored); Arp (two hits, two RBI and two runs scored); and Cory Kovanda (two hits and two runs scored).
Game 2
Eric Best pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just three earned runs, didn’t walk a batter and struck out six to get the win in the Maryland Baltimore County game. The junior, making his first start since the 2007 season, improved to 2-0 on the season.
A six-run fifth inning propelled the Buckeyes past UMBC. With the score tied at 3-apiece, Ohio State sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning with six of them getting hits, including three home runs in the inning by Stephens leading off, Burkhart with one man on board and a solo shot by Arp.
The Retrievers countered with two in their half of the fifth, but Ohio State, which has scored 49 runs in three games this weekend, plated seven more the rest of the way to win going away.
Jake Hale pitched the ninth inning and did not allow a run for his seventh consecutive appearance, and he finished a game for his Big Ten leading seventh time.
Ohio State caps its West Palm Beach weekend with a 12:30 p.m. game Sunday against North Dakota State. Sophomore Dean Wolosiansky (1-1) will be on the mound for the Buckeyes.
Recap and Game Notes
SIUE Box Score
UMBC Box Score
The Ohio State baseball team defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 13-10, and Maryland Baltimore County, 16-9, Saturday at the Santaluces Sports Complex behind 37 combined hits in the two games and five home runs. The 30th-ranked Buckeyes have won four consecutive games and are 12-2 on the season.
The team’s starting outfield of left fielder Zach Hurley, center fielder Michael Stephens and right fielder Michael Arp did the most damage Saturday as the trio combined for 16 hits, 14 runs batted in and nine runs scored.
Justin Miller (three hits, three runs and three RBI vs. UMBC) and Dan Burkhart (hits in both games to extend his hitting streak to 17 consecutive games) also hit home runs – against UMBC – and Ohio State has now hit 24 home runs in 14 games after hitting 19 home runs all last season.
Game 1
In the first game of the day, Ohio State scored three unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 10-10 tie and defeat SIU Edwardsville, 13-10. Drew Rucinski picked up the win with 2.2 innings of effective relief work to improve to 5-1 on the year. Hale recorded the final out of the game with two men on base to record his third save of the season.
The Cougars, a pesky sort in their first season of Division I baseball as members of the Ohio Valley Conference, kept coming at the Buckeyes despite trailing by 6-1 and 9-5 margins. Three home runs hit into the nice breeze from home plate helped, as did the biggest hit of the game: a clear-the-bases double by Chase Thrasher that tied the score at 10-apiece in the sixth inning.
Rucinski, who replaced Jared Strayer who had replaced starter Andrew Armstrong (5.1 innings pitched), got out of a key two-on with no out situation in the bottom of the seventh with two strikeouts and a fly out to preserve the tie ball game.
In the ninth inning, Ohio State scored its runs off three hits and two errors. Burkhart scored the go-ahead run on Arp’s single. Ryan Dew, who also singled in the inning, and Arp scored insurance runs for the Scarlet and Gray.
Offensively, all nine Ohio State offensive starters had hits and scored runs in the SIUE game. Stephens hit a solo home run in the first inning and Hurley had a three run home run in the second inning, part of a three-hit game for the junior. Three more Buckeyes joined them with multi-hit games: Cory Rupert (3-4 with a run scored); Arp (two hits, two RBI and two runs scored); and Cory Kovanda (two hits and two runs scored).
Game 2
Eric Best pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just three earned runs, didn’t walk a batter and struck out six to get the win in the Maryland Baltimore County game. The junior, making his first start since the 2007 season, improved to 2-0 on the season.
A six-run fifth inning propelled the Buckeyes past UMBC. With the score tied at 3-apiece, Ohio State sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning with six of them getting hits, including three home runs in the inning by Stephens leading off, Burkhart with one man on board and a solo shot by Arp.
The Retrievers countered with two in their half of the fifth, but Ohio State, which has scored 49 runs in three games this weekend, plated seven more the rest of the way to win going away.
Jake Hale pitched the ninth inning and did not allow a run for his seventh consecutive appearance, and he finished a game for his Big Ten leading seventh time.
Ohio State caps its West Palm Beach weekend with a 12:30 p.m. game Sunday against North Dakota State. Sophomore Dean Wolosiansky (1-1) will be on the mound for the Buckeyes.
Recap and Game Notes
SIUE Box Score
UMBC Box Score
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Over His Head? Big Ten feature on Captain Justin Miller
By Larry Watts
Contributor, BigTen.org
Justin Miller was told he was getting in over his head -- by his grandfather no less.
Coming out of Turner Ashby High School, which has an enrollment of 1,100 students in Bridgewater, Va., Miller was examining his baseball opportunities. The standout catcher had an offer from St. Joseph's University, a small Division I school in Philadelphia, and several offers from Division III schools. He was also in talks with Virginia Tech, but no scholarship had formally been given.
Then along came Ohio State at the last minute. He took a visit, fell in love with the school and signed up to become a Buckeye.
"Our pitching coach, Eric Parker, was going into his first season at Ohio State and he was from Harrisonburg, Va., so I guess that's how they heard about me," Miller says. "He told (head) coach (Bob) Todd and they followed up on it. There is nothing wrong with playing Division III ball, but I really wanted a shot at Division I."
Full Miller Article
Contributor, BigTen.org
Justin Miller was told he was getting in over his head -- by his grandfather no less.
Coming out of Turner Ashby High School, which has an enrollment of 1,100 students in Bridgewater, Va., Miller was examining his baseball opportunities. The standout catcher had an offer from St. Joseph's University, a small Division I school in Philadelphia, and several offers from Division III schools. He was also in talks with Virginia Tech, but no scholarship had formally been given.
Then along came Ohio State at the last minute. He took a visit, fell in love with the school and signed up to become a Buckeye.
"Our pitching coach, Eric Parker, was going into his first season at Ohio State and he was from Harrisonburg, Va., so I guess that's how they heard about me," Miller says. "He told (head) coach (Bob) Todd and they followed up on it. There is nothing wrong with playing Division III ball, but I really wanted a shot at Division I."
Full Miller Article
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