COLUMBUS, Ohio – The cold Columbus weather did not deter the Buckeyes (10-6) as they defeated Dayton (4-12), 7-2, in their home opener at Bill Davis Stadium on Friday night. Ohio State has now won six games in a row.
Game Recap
- After retiring the Flyers in order in the top of the first, the Buckeyes made their first plate appearances of the season at their home field. Trey Lipsey was walked to lead things off and he then stole second. Kade Kern stepped up to the plate next and belted a homerun over the center field fence to give the Buckeyes an early 2-0 lead.
- The Flyers answered with a two-run homer of their own in the top of the third inning to tie the score, 2-2.
- The score remained knotted at 2-2 until the bottom of the seventh inning when Ohio State began to pick up momentum on offense. Mitchell Okuley led off the inning with a double to center field. Nick Erwin then laid down a beautiful bunt to advance Okuley to third. Erwin was safe at first to put runners on the corners. The bases were loaded after Henry Kaczmar drew a walk. After Dayton switched pitchers, Okuley scored on a wild pitch, putting OSU back in the lead, 3-2. Kern came up big again with a two-RBI double to extend the Buckeyes’ lead, 5-2. After Dayton changed pitchers once again, Cole Andrews came up to the plate and doubled to right center, driving in two runs to put Ohio State up by five, 7-2.
- The Buckeyes held the Flyers off in the final two innings to earn the 7-2 victory in front of their home crowd.
Buckeyes by the Numbers
- Isaiah Coupet (2-1) pitched lights-out, fanning a season-high 11 batters. In 7.0 innings of work, he allowed just two earned runs on four hits and walked only one batter.
- Kern led the Buckeyes at the plate with two hits. He also recorded a team-high four RBIs.
- Andrews added two RBIs for Ohio State.
- Lipsey and Josh McAlister each had one stolen base.
- Landon Beidelschies closed things out on the mound. He struck out two and gave up two hits in 2.0 scoreless innings tossed.
Up Next
- Saturday’s game versus the Flyers has been canceled due to frigid temperatures, but the teams are slated to play as scheduled Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
#GoBucks
