Buckeye Offense Explodes, Beats USC Upstate 13-10

Box Score (PDF) 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State hosted USC Upstate for Game Two of their three-game end-of-season series on Friday night. The Buckeyes avenged their Game One loss with an offensive explosion, scoring 11 of their 13 runs in the first three innings and ultimately winning 13-10.  

The Buckeyes climb to 21-30 on the season, and USC Upstate drops to 34-20-1. 

Notes 

• Zach Dezenzo’s two home runs were his 18th and 19th of the season, tying him for the most in a single season in Ohio State history with Dan Seimetz (1997) 
• Dezenzo also moved up the all-time career home run leaderboard in the game, now holding sole possession of third place with 38, passing class of 1984 Jeff King’s 37 career round-trippers.  
• Marcus Ernst had two hits, including a home run, for his team-leading 22nd multi-hit game of the season. 
• Buckeye backstops Archer Brookman and Brent Todys each had their tenth multi-hit game of the year. Todys’ was his seventh in his last 13 games, and fifth with three or more hits this season.  

How It Happened  

Ohio State broke open the game early, scoring five in the first inning. After a leadoff single by Marcus Ernst, Zach Dezenzo hit his first home run of the day to clear the bases. After two flyouts, a Brent Todys single, Mitchell Okuley walk, and Colton Bauer hit by pitch loaded the bases. Blayne Robinson walked to drive in a run, and Archer Brookman’s two-RBI single made it 5-0 after one.  

Buckeye starter Isaiah Coupet’s second scoreless frame to start the game set Ohio State up for another big inning offensively. Zach Dezenzo led off with a towering solo home run, his second in as many innings. After Trey Lipsey’s single, Kade Kern blasted his ninth home run of the year to drive in Lipsey and increase the lead to eight. Todys then doubled, and after advancing to third on a flyout, Bauer’s RBI groundout made it 9-0 after just two Buckeye at-bats.  

The Spartans chipped away in the third, scoring four runs on a leadoff home run follow by an RBI single, double, and a run on a wild pitch. Next, in the bottom of the fourth, the Buckeyes got two runs back when Brent Todys and Mitchell Okuley singled to set up Blayne Robinson for an RBI single of his own. Marcus Ernst’s home run in the bottom of the fifth made it a 12-4 Ohio State lead.  

In the sixth, Coupet was chased after two walks and and RBI gave the Spartans their fifth run. Jake Johnson entered and allowed an RBI single, double, and groundout on consecutive at-bats; USC Upstate cut the deficit to four at 12-8.  

Archer Brookman’s sacrifice fly in the sixth scored Mitchell Okuley, who reached on a walk, to push the lead back to five. In the top of the seventh, USC Upstate added two more on a walk, two singles, and a fielder’s choice to make it 13-10. Will Pfennig and Nolan Clegg pitched shutout innings to close out the win by that score of 13-10.  

Up Next 

The Buckeyes finish up their 2022 season on  Saturday, with first pitch slated for 1:05 p.m. Saturday’s tilt will follow Senior Day festivities, which will take place leading up to first pitch.  

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