It has nearly been a month since I last spoke on the Ohio State baseball team. As I resume those duties I realize not much as changed. I last updated the Buckeyes' record with the team at 8-10 overall and 0-0, on the eve of the Big Ten season. I come back with the team having gone 2-2 in non-conference play, defeating Akron twice, while falling to Bowling Green and Miami, while going 6-6 in conference play, to leave Ohio State still 2 games under .500 at 16-18, with the even conference mark after today's 10-9 loss to Penn State.
Showing posts with label Theron Minium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Theron Minium. Show all posts
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Buckeye State Baseball: While Wimmers Waits, Buckeyes Bullpen Delivers
Buckeye Bullpen has ERA of 1.45 over 37 innings
Heading into 2010, Ohio State had hoped their season would stir thoughts of Bob Seger’s Turn the Page, as they would be somewhere east of Omaha traveling into the mecca of college baseball in the final stages of a storybook season. Unfortunately the Buckeyes are desperately trying not to live Tom Petty’s Free Falling as the team has managed just three wins over the last 11 games.
In a season of turmoil which has seen losses to a Division II school and NAIA program in back-to-back days, barely above .500 play against teams in the RPI top-200, and three straight weekend defeats in Big Ten play which is the first in head coach Bob Todd’s 23 years at the helm, few things have gone right for Ohio State to say the least.
Heading into 2010, Ohio State had hoped their season would stir thoughts of Bob Seger’s Turn the Page, as they would be somewhere east of Omaha traveling into the mecca of college baseball in the final stages of a storybook season. Unfortunately the Buckeyes are desperately trying not to live Tom Petty’s Free Falling as the team has managed just three wins over the last 11 games.
In a season of turmoil which has seen losses to a Division II school and NAIA program in back-to-back days, barely above .500 play against teams in the RPI top-200, and three straight weekend defeats in Big Ten play which is the first in head coach Bob Todd’s 23 years at the helm, few things have gone right for Ohio State to say the least.
Buckeyes Salvage Series
The buck finally stopped. A six-game losing streak was snapped as the Buckeyes defeated Illinois on Sunday 8-4.
The much-maligned bats awoke after falling behind 4-1 staring an embarrassing home sweep in the mirror.
With the Big Ten being in complete chaos, a loss would have dropped the Bucks into the Big Ten cellar, although they would be alongside three other schools. But as it turns out the Buckeyes are in a tie for 5th place with Indiana, controlling their own destiny for a berth in the Big Ten Tournament.
The much-maligned bats awoke after falling behind 4-1 staring an embarrassing home sweep in the mirror.
With the Big Ten being in complete chaos, a loss would have dropped the Bucks into the Big Ten cellar, although they would be alongside three other schools. But as it turns out the Buckeyes are in a tie for 5th place with Indiana, controlling their own destiny for a berth in the Big Ten Tournament.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Bucks Take Two of Three from Wildcats
Really there isn't much to say about the weekend, it pretty much went as expected.
I think we should feel comfortable expecting to take every series, with an occasional sweep against Iowa or Purdue, ultimately ending with a Big Ten mark not too far from the 18-6 2009 campaign.
A solid pitching performance was followed by two games of serviceable pitching. For two games the offense was there. An error-free game was followed by a three-error game. Ho-hum.
I don't advocate being content, but given the horrible schedule the Buckeyes faced in Florida, there will be no at-large berth this season and no "need" to ring up x amount of wins. It's Big Ten Tournament or bust, which we luckily host at Bill Davis Stadium.
So for the next seven weekends, I'm fine taking two of three, with some improvement here or there, securing one of the top two spots come conference tournament play and letting the dominoes fall.
But back to the weekend.
I think we should feel comfortable expecting to take every series, with an occasional sweep against Iowa or Purdue, ultimately ending with a Big Ten mark not too far from the 18-6 2009 campaign.
A solid pitching performance was followed by two games of serviceable pitching. For two games the offense was there. An error-free game was followed by a three-error game. Ho-hum.
I don't advocate being content, but given the horrible schedule the Buckeyes faced in Florida, there will be no at-large berth this season and no "need" to ring up x amount of wins. It's Big Ten Tournament or bust, which we luckily host at Bill Davis Stadium.
So for the next seven weekends, I'm fine taking two of three, with some improvement here or there, securing one of the top two spots come conference tournament play and letting the dominoes fall.
But back to the weekend.
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
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Lantern: Big Ten-best OSU hosts BG, Ball State in midweek games
Nathan Schlabach
Issue date: 4/21/09
The Big Ten leading Ohio State Buckeyes baseball team will host two mid-week games this week as they face Bowling Green on Tuesday night and Ball State Wednesday night.
The Buckeyes first mid-week game will be against Bowling Green at Bill Davis Stadium. The first pitch is set for Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m.
Bowling Green (17-16, 8-6 MAC) comes in to Bill Davis Stadium on a two game losing skid, losing two out of three to Kent State this past weekend. They will be looking to rebound before they return to MAC play this weekend against Miami of Ohio.
"There a solid ball club," coach Bob Todd said. He also noted the importance of these mid-week games and how it's a jump starter for their Big Ten series this weekend.
If the Buckeyes play well for these mid-week games it acts as a tune up for their Big Ten games.
"Weekday games are huge," pitcher Alex Wimmers said. "If we are able to win those games it gives us confidence [for the weekend]."
The Buckeyes will finish off their two game mid-week slate on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. as the Bucks will take on Ball State at Bill Davis Stadium.
Ball State (16-17, 6-7 MAC) comes in to the game with a one game winning streak after defeating Central Michigan 12-4 on Saturday.
Ball State's pitching coach Mike Stafford is a 1998 graduate of Ohio State is now helping the Ball State baseball team.
"Mike Stafford is doing an outstanding job over there" coach Todd said. "We talked to him in the winter time and he said they were going to have an outstanding ball club."
Hopefully the Buckeyes can come out for both games and get good pitching, timely hitting and get the two wins heading into this weekend games against Northwestern
OSU leads the all time series against Bowling Green 29-18-4 and they also lead the series against Ball State 11-4.
Pitcher Jake Hale has been named Big Ten player of the week he comes in to Tuesday's game with 10 saves and a 1.12 ERA. It is the sixth time this season a Buckeye player has been player of the week.
Hale has also been added to the midseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year Award.
Issue date: 4/21/09
The Big Ten leading Ohio State Buckeyes baseball team will host two mid-week games this week as they face Bowling Green on Tuesday night and Ball State Wednesday night.
The Buckeyes first mid-week game will be against Bowling Green at Bill Davis Stadium. The first pitch is set for Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m.
Bowling Green (17-16, 8-6 MAC) comes in to Bill Davis Stadium on a two game losing skid, losing two out of three to Kent State this past weekend. They will be looking to rebound before they return to MAC play this weekend against Miami of Ohio.
"There a solid ball club," coach Bob Todd said. He also noted the importance of these mid-week games and how it's a jump starter for their Big Ten series this weekend.
If the Buckeyes play well for these mid-week games it acts as a tune up for their Big Ten games.
"Weekday games are huge," pitcher Alex Wimmers said. "If we are able to win those games it gives us confidence [for the weekend]."
The Buckeyes will finish off their two game mid-week slate on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. as the Bucks will take on Ball State at Bill Davis Stadium.
Ball State (16-17, 6-7 MAC) comes in to the game with a one game winning streak after defeating Central Michigan 12-4 on Saturday.
Ball State's pitching coach Mike Stafford is a 1998 graduate of Ohio State is now helping the Ball State baseball team.
"Mike Stafford is doing an outstanding job over there" coach Todd said. "We talked to him in the winter time and he said they were going to have an outstanding ball club."
Hopefully the Buckeyes can come out for both games and get good pitching, timely hitting and get the two wins heading into this weekend games against Northwestern
OSU leads the all time series against Bowling Green 29-18-4 and they also lead the series against Ball State 11-4.
Pitcher Jake Hale has been named Big Ten player of the week he comes in to Tuesday's game with 10 saves and a 1.12 ERA. It is the sixth time this season a Buckeye player has been player of the week.
Hale has also been added to the midseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year Award.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Midweek Watch: 2 Games; Bowling Green, Ball State
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State will kick off a nine game homestand with games Tuesday and Wednesday against Bowling Green and Ball State from the Mid American Conference. Each game will start at 6:35 p.m., respectively
This Week in Ohio State Baseball
No. 24 Ohio State (29-8; 9-3 Big Ten Conference)
Game 38 vs. Bowling Green (17-16; 8-6 MAC East)
Tuesday, April 21 - 6:35 p.m.
Bill Davis Stadium
Game 39 vs. Ball State (17-17; 6-7 MAC West)
Wednesday, April 22 - 6:35 p.m.
Bill Davis Stadium
EXPECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
Tuesday vs. Bowling Green...
LHP Theron Minium (0-2) vs. TBA
Wednesday vs. Ball State...
RHP Ross Oltorik (1-0) vs.
RHP Cal Bowling (3-0)
OHIO STATE VERSUS...
In a series dating back to 1951, Bowling Green and Ohio State have met 51 times with the Bucks leading the series 29-18-4. Ohio State and Ball State have met 15 times since 1964 with Ohio State leading the series, 11-4.
NEWS ON THE FALCONS
Bowling Green makes its way into Columbus for its fourth straight road game. Bowling Green battled Kent State over the weekend, losing a three-game series, 2-1. BGSU won the opener, 9-2, but Kent State came back to win the Saturday double-header, 12-9 and 9-4. The Falcons are batting an impressive .326 as a team and are being led by Tyler Elkins (.400) and Ryan Shay (.387). The staff ERA is 6.96. Leaders on the mound are RH Brennan Smith (6-3; 2.50) and Matt Malewitz (2-1; 3.88).
AN EYE ON BALL STATE
Ball State is coming off a 2-1 series loss at home to Central Michigan. The Cardinals are now 16-17 overall and are in second scond place in the MAC West with a 6-7 mark. Ball State brings speed to the table, leading the MAC in stolen bases with 84 in 98 attempts. Kolbrin Vitek is hitting .376 with seven HRs and 37 RBI and he is also 2-2 with a 4.05 ERA on the mound. Jeremy Hazelbaker leads with a .440 average. Brad Piatt is 4-1 with a 3.95 ERA.
Full OSU Athletic Release
This Week in Ohio State Baseball
No. 24 Ohio State (29-8; 9-3 Big Ten Conference)
Game 38 vs. Bowling Green (17-16; 8-6 MAC East)
Tuesday, April 21 - 6:35 p.m.
Bill Davis Stadium
Game 39 vs. Ball State (17-17; 6-7 MAC West)
Wednesday, April 22 - 6:35 p.m.
Bill Davis Stadium
EXPECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
Tuesday vs. Bowling Green...
LHP Theron Minium (0-2) vs. TBA
Wednesday vs. Ball State...
RHP Ross Oltorik (1-0) vs.
RHP Cal Bowling (3-0)
OHIO STATE VERSUS...
In a series dating back to 1951, Bowling Green and Ohio State have met 51 times with the Bucks leading the series 29-18-4. Ohio State and Ball State have met 15 times since 1964 with Ohio State leading the series, 11-4.
NEWS ON THE FALCONS
Bowling Green makes its way into Columbus for its fourth straight road game. Bowling Green battled Kent State over the weekend, losing a three-game series, 2-1. BGSU won the opener, 9-2, but Kent State came back to win the Saturday double-header, 12-9 and 9-4. The Falcons are batting an impressive .326 as a team and are being led by Tyler Elkins (.400) and Ryan Shay (.387). The staff ERA is 6.96. Leaders on the mound are RH Brennan Smith (6-3; 2.50) and Matt Malewitz (2-1; 3.88).
AN EYE ON BALL STATE
Ball State is coming off a 2-1 series loss at home to Central Michigan. The Cardinals are now 16-17 overall and are in second scond place in the MAC West with a 6-7 mark. Ball State brings speed to the table, leading the MAC in stolen bases with 84 in 98 attempts. Kolbrin Vitek is hitting .376 with seven HRs and 37 RBI and he is also 2-2 with a 4.05 ERA on the mound. Jeremy Hazelbaker leads with a .440 average. Brad Piatt is 4-1 with a 3.95 ERA.
Full OSU Athletic Release
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Midweek Wrap: Bucks Beat Xavier, Fall to Marshall
The 18th-ranked Ohio State baseball team, after 24 consecutive “road” games to open the season, defeated Xavier, 9-7, Tuesday afternoon at Bill Davis Stadium in its home opener.
A three-run seventh inning completed a game-long comeback for the Buckeyes, who trailed 4-0 after the first inning, 6-3 after the fifth and 7-5 after the Xavier half of the seventh. Justin Miller and Dan Burkhart singled in the inning and both scored – tying the game at 7-all – off Ryan Dew’s double to the right field wall. Dew scored on Cory Rupert’s triple to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the game.
Dean Wolosiansky pitched 3.0 innings in relief of starter Ross Oltorik to pick up the win and improve to 5-1 on the season. He surrendered just one run off three hits. Jake Hale, making his fourth appearance in the last eight days, pitched the final two innings for his fifth save of the year and his 13th finished game. Both stats lead the Big Ten Conference.
On Wednesday Marshall rolled into Columbus and defeated 18th-ranked Ohio State, 14-3, in front of a crowd of 595 at Bill Davis Stadium. The win was Marshall’s first over Ohio State in 16 tries and improved its record to 12-15 on the season. Ohio State, which rested several everyday starters, drops to 21-5.
The green jerseys stroked a season-high 21 hits against four Ohio State pitchers. Starting pitcher Mike Mason, a true freshman who had pitched just 6.1 innings for his career, lasted 5.0 innings, didn’t allow an earned run and gave up just three hits to a team that was leading the Big Ten Conference in both runs (9.56 per game) and hitting (.342 average and 12.8 hits per game). He improved to 1-0 with the win.
The Herd put three runs on the board in the second inning, four in the third and another three in the fourth to build a 10-0 lead before the Buckeyes even had two hits. Thor Meeks had a three-run home run in the third and Rhett Stafford a two-run single in the fourth to spark the Herd’s offense early on. A solo run in the fifth extended the lead to 11-0
Ohio State added a run in the fifth on Shawn Forsythe’s RBI single, but left three runners on base. Two more Ohio State runs in the sixth closed the lead to 11-3. Ben Toussant and Tyler Engle had RBI singles. Toussant and Engle each had two singles on the day, as did Ryan Dew, to lead the offense.
Marshall, which added two more runs in the eighth and another in the ninth, was led at the plate by Stafford with five hits and four RBI, Victor Gomez, who had three hits and three RBI and Meeks, who had a pair of hits and three RBI.
Theron Minium started for the Buckeyes, pitched 3.0 innings and took the loss to drop to 0-2 on the season.
Xavier Recap & Game Notes
Xavier Box Score
Marshall Recap & Game Notes
Marshall Box score
A three-run seventh inning completed a game-long comeback for the Buckeyes, who trailed 4-0 after the first inning, 6-3 after the fifth and 7-5 after the Xavier half of the seventh. Justin Miller and Dan Burkhart singled in the inning and both scored – tying the game at 7-all – off Ryan Dew’s double to the right field wall. Dew scored on Cory Rupert’s triple to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the game.
Dean Wolosiansky pitched 3.0 innings in relief of starter Ross Oltorik to pick up the win and improve to 5-1 on the season. He surrendered just one run off three hits. Jake Hale, making his fourth appearance in the last eight days, pitched the final two innings for his fifth save of the year and his 13th finished game. Both stats lead the Big Ten Conference.
On Wednesday Marshall rolled into Columbus and defeated 18th-ranked Ohio State, 14-3, in front of a crowd of 595 at Bill Davis Stadium. The win was Marshall’s first over Ohio State in 16 tries and improved its record to 12-15 on the season. Ohio State, which rested several everyday starters, drops to 21-5.
The green jerseys stroked a season-high 21 hits against four Ohio State pitchers. Starting pitcher Mike Mason, a true freshman who had pitched just 6.1 innings for his career, lasted 5.0 innings, didn’t allow an earned run and gave up just three hits to a team that was leading the Big Ten Conference in both runs (9.56 per game) and hitting (.342 average and 12.8 hits per game). He improved to 1-0 with the win.
The Herd put three runs on the board in the second inning, four in the third and another three in the fourth to build a 10-0 lead before the Buckeyes even had two hits. Thor Meeks had a three-run home run in the third and Rhett Stafford a two-run single in the fourth to spark the Herd’s offense early on. A solo run in the fifth extended the lead to 11-0
Ohio State added a run in the fifth on Shawn Forsythe’s RBI single, but left three runners on base. Two more Ohio State runs in the sixth closed the lead to 11-3. Ben Toussant and Tyler Engle had RBI singles. Toussant and Engle each had two singles on the day, as did Ryan Dew, to lead the offense.
Marshall, which added two more runs in the eighth and another in the ninth, was led at the plate by Stafford with five hits and four RBI, Victor Gomez, who had three hits and three RBI and Meeks, who had a pair of hits and three RBI.
Theron Minium started for the Buckeyes, pitched 3.0 innings and took the loss to drop to 0-2 on the season.
Xavier Recap & Game Notes
Xavier Box Score
Marshall Recap & Game Notes
Marshall Box score
Monday, March 30, 2009
Bucks fall 15-11 to Penn State in Series Finale
The Nittany Lions countered a five-run Ohio State fifth inning, which gave OSU an 8-7 lead, with six runs in its half of the fifth and two more in the eighth to improve to 14-10 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten. Ohio State, No. 16 nationally, had its three-game win streak snapped and drops to 20-4 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten.
Ohio State started two-time Big Ten pitcher of the week Alex Wimmers, but the talented sophomore managed just 2.1 innings and was followed on the mound by Andrew Armstrong, Theron Minium, Drew Rucinski and Jake Hale.
Early on it was a pedestrian, 2-1, game entering the bottom of the third inning with Ohio State in the lead thanks to a two-out, Cory Kovanda double that scored Matt Streng and Zach Hurley.
Wimmers had worked in the drizzle with a man on and nobody out in the first and second innings, allowing just one second inning run on a weak grounder to third that ended up ricocheting off the bag for an RBI hit.
The drizzle, which had stopped for Ohio State’s third inning at-bat, returned and Penn State loaded the bases with one out on a walk, bloop single and a hit-by-pitch. Another walk tied the score and when Ben Heath cleared the bases with a double to right center field, Wimmers’ day was done.
Armstrong came in but when the third inning had ended, the Nittany Lions had scored six runs off just two hits, but had benefited from six walks and the hit batsmen to take a 7-2 lead.
Ohio State came back. Tyler Engle had a two-out, RBI single in the fourth to bring the Buckeyes to within 7-3. When Michael Stephens spanked a double to right center in the fifth to score Hurley and Kovanda, who had walked and reached on a sweet bunt single, respectively, there was a new ball game at 7-5. Dan Burkhart followed with a single to right center that scored Stephens, made the score 7-6, and chased Penn State starter Calvin Brumley.
Michael Arp drew a walk off reliever Mike Lorentson and Ryan Dew singled to load the bases. Engle followed with a walk that tied the score and then Matt Streng walked for an 8-7 Ohio State lead and a successful comeback – for the time being – from five runs down.
Penn State responded with a six-run fifth inning – off five hits – to take a 13-8 lead. The big hit was a two-run double by Michael Glantz.
Scoring in its fourth consecutive inning, the Buckeyes got two runs back in the sixth off a Michael Arp sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Dew.
After Rucinski set the Penn State hitters down in order in the sixth, Ohio State scored one in the seventh – an RBI single by Stephens – to creep to within 13-11. To help the cause, Rucinski had a second consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to keep the Buckeyes within striking distance.
A second comeback in this marathon game wouldn’t happen, though. Ohio State went down in order in the eighth and had two runners on in the ninth, but couldn’t score.
Kovanda led Ohio State offensively with four hits, two runs and two RBI. Stephens had two hits and three RBI and four other Buckeyes had multi-hit games as the Buckeyes had 15 hits. Penn State scored its 15 runs off 12 hits.
Reliever David Lutz pitched 2.0 innings to pick up the win and improve to 3-0. Ryan Ignas his second save by striking out the two batters he faced in the ninth with men aboard. Reliever Theron Minium gets the loss (0-1).
Bucks Now 20-4
Box Score
Penn State Recap
Columbus Dispatch
Daily Collegian
Ohio State started two-time Big Ten pitcher of the week Alex Wimmers, but the talented sophomore managed just 2.1 innings and was followed on the mound by Andrew Armstrong, Theron Minium, Drew Rucinski and Jake Hale.
Early on it was a pedestrian, 2-1, game entering the bottom of the third inning with Ohio State in the lead thanks to a two-out, Cory Kovanda double that scored Matt Streng and Zach Hurley.
Wimmers had worked in the drizzle with a man on and nobody out in the first and second innings, allowing just one second inning run on a weak grounder to third that ended up ricocheting off the bag for an RBI hit.
The drizzle, which had stopped for Ohio State’s third inning at-bat, returned and Penn State loaded the bases with one out on a walk, bloop single and a hit-by-pitch. Another walk tied the score and when Ben Heath cleared the bases with a double to right center field, Wimmers’ day was done.
Armstrong came in but when the third inning had ended, the Nittany Lions had scored six runs off just two hits, but had benefited from six walks and the hit batsmen to take a 7-2 lead.
Ohio State came back. Tyler Engle had a two-out, RBI single in the fourth to bring the Buckeyes to within 7-3. When Michael Stephens spanked a double to right center in the fifth to score Hurley and Kovanda, who had walked and reached on a sweet bunt single, respectively, there was a new ball game at 7-5. Dan Burkhart followed with a single to right center that scored Stephens, made the score 7-6, and chased Penn State starter Calvin Brumley.
Michael Arp drew a walk off reliever Mike Lorentson and Ryan Dew singled to load the bases. Engle followed with a walk that tied the score and then Matt Streng walked for an 8-7 Ohio State lead and a successful comeback – for the time being – from five runs down.
Penn State responded with a six-run fifth inning – off five hits – to take a 13-8 lead. The big hit was a two-run double by Michael Glantz.
Scoring in its fourth consecutive inning, the Buckeyes got two runs back in the sixth off a Michael Arp sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Dew.
After Rucinski set the Penn State hitters down in order in the sixth, Ohio State scored one in the seventh – an RBI single by Stephens – to creep to within 13-11. To help the cause, Rucinski had a second consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to keep the Buckeyes within striking distance.
A second comeback in this marathon game wouldn’t happen, though. Ohio State went down in order in the eighth and had two runners on in the ninth, but couldn’t score.
Kovanda led Ohio State offensively with four hits, two runs and two RBI. Stephens had two hits and three RBI and four other Buckeyes had multi-hit games as the Buckeyes had 15 hits. Penn State scored its 15 runs off 12 hits.
Reliever David Lutz pitched 2.0 innings to pick up the win and improve to 3-0. Ryan Ignas his second save by striking out the two batters he faced in the ninth with men aboard. Reliever Theron Minium gets the loss (0-1).
Bucks Now 20-4
Box Score
Penn State Recap
Columbus Dispatch
Daily Collegian
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