Buckeyes Earn Shutout Win Over UCF

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State baseball team (24-25) earned a 2-0 shutout victory over the UCF Knights (27-21) on Tuesday night at Bill Davis Stadium. It was the Buckeyes’ second shutout of the season and first since blanking UCONN, 3-0, in the first game of the 2023 season.

Game Recap

Trey Lipsey led off with a single to center field in the bottom of the first and then swiped the bag at second base. Kade Kern was walked to put two runners on. Marcus Ernst was next up at the plate; he smoked a single down the left field line, scoring Lipsey to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead. Matthew Graveline then reached base on a fielder’s choice and Kern scored, putting Ohio State up, 2-0.
In the bottom of the second frame, Henry Kaczmar hit a two-out single and stole second, but the Knights secured the third out to stop the Buckeyes from adding to their lead.
The Buckeyes turned their first double play of the game in the top of the third inning, securing the first two outs shortstop to second to first. Their second double play came in the top of the fifth inning, center field to first base.
Kaczmar and Hank Thomas both walked in the bottom of the fifth and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, but they were both stranded on base.
In the bottom of the eighth, Kern once again reached base, leading off with a walk. He then swiped second. Ernst walked and Kern advanced to third base on a foul out to put runners on the corners for the Buckeyes. With two outs, Caden Kaiser also drew a walk to load the bases, but UCF fanned the next Buckeye batter.
Landon Beidelschies came in to close things out for the Buckeyes in the ninth; he allowed just one runner to reach base as the Buckeyes secured the win and Beidelschies earned his seventh save of the season.

Buckeyes by the Numbers

Lipsey, Ernst and Kaczmar combined for Ohio State’s three hits on the night.
Ernst and Graveline each had one RBI.
Lipsey, Kern and Kaczmar had one stolen base each.
Will Pfennig (1-0) earned the win on the mound. He struck out one and allowed two hits in 2.0 innings pitched.
Nolan Clegg struck out one and did not allow any hits in 2.0 innings tossed.
Josh Timmerman and Beidelschies each fanned two and did not give up any hits.

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