Taking two of three to start Big Ten play
Right: Sophomore starting pitcher Dean Wolosiansky went seven strong innings to get the win on Friday. (Matt Barker Photo)
Over the weekend, the now 18th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes baseball team ventured over to State College, Pa., for a three-game series against the Penn State Nittany Lions, winning two out of the three contests to start Big Ten play at Medlar Field.
On Friday, sophomore starting pitcher Dean Wolosiansky lasted seven innings and allowed just two runs on five hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts to earn the win.
The two runs giving up by Wolosiansky both came in the home half of the first inning as center fielder Blake Lynd and second baseman Landon Nakata each hit consecutive singles to start the frame and left fielder Mike Deese was issued a walk to load the bases. First baseman Cory Wine then hit into a 1-2-3 double play, and it appeared that Ohio State might get out of the jam, but Nakata and Deese both scored on third baseman Jordan Steranka’s two-out base hit.
The Buckeyes took the lead for good in the fifth inning, scoring five times in the frame with two outs.
After third baseman Justin Miller flied out and catcher Dan Burkhart struck out, shortstop Cory Rupert and designated hitter Ryan Dew each singled before right fielder Michael Arp drew a base on balls to fill the sacks full of Bucks. With the bases loaded and two out, first baseman Matt Streng got a free pass, scoring Rupert from third. Left fielder Zach Hurley then added a two-run single which plated Dew and Arp, and after second baseman Cory Kovanda walked, center fielder Michael Stephens’ liner to left brought home Streng and Hurley to put Ohio State ahead 5-2.
The Buckeyes added three more runs in the eighth as Hurley doubled down the right field line, Kovanda walked, then both advanced 90 feet closer after a wild pitch. Stephens plated Hurley with a sacrifice fly to right, and Miller added a two-run homer left to make it an 8-2 ball game.
The Nittany Lions got one run back in the ninth against Buckeye reliever Drew Rucinski as Steranka tripled and later scored on a sac fly.
On Saturday, first baseman Matt Streng went 3-for-4 with a pair of homers and four runs batted in as the Buckeyes bombed the Lions 12-2.
OSU starting pitcher Eric Best lasted two batters into the sixth, giving up two runs on six hits while issuing two walks and tossing six K’s as he faced 26 batters.
The Buckeyes were leading 3-2 heading into the visitor’s half of the eighth when OSU exploded for three runs in that frame and added five more in the ninth.
In the eighth, shortstop Tyler Engle was issued a walk with two outs before Streng homered to left field. Hurley then singled, stole second, and touched home on Rupert’s single to center field.
In the ninth, two of the runs scored on bases loaded walks, and another two were plated after an error by Lions’ shortstop Michael Glantz scored Engle and Dew. One batter later, Miller added an RBI single.
On Sunday, starting pitcher Alex Wimmers, who helped in tossing a one-hitter against Miami (Fla.) earlier in the week, was tagged for six runs on four hits in just 2.1 innings pitched while striking out two and walking five as the Buckeyes lost 15-11.
Stephens had a two-run double in the fifth and added an RBI single in the seventh while going 2-for-6 with a run scored for OSU.
Up next, the Buckeyes will host Xavier in OSU’s home-opener at Bill Davis Stadium, Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. ET. Ohio State will then take on Marshall, Wednesday afternoon, at Bill Davis Stadium. Game time is also 2:05 p.m. ET.
