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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State baseball team opened the home schedule on a strong note, powering a season-high 18 hits in a 14-3 win over Lipscomb on a chilly and windy Friday night at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. The offensive surge was the most runs scored by a Buckeye squad in a home opener in 12 years. Freshman third baseman Zach Dezenzo had a memorable first game at Bill Davis Stadium, going 2-for-4 with two homers and three RBI, while freshman right-hander Garrett Burhenn improved to 3-1. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 8-9 overall, while the Bisons drop to 9-7 in 2019.
QUOTE FROM COACH
“This last week we didn’t play bad but we didn’t win games,” head coach Greg Beals said. “It was really critical for us to be back home. That’s what I told our guys in South Carolina. We are going home so let’s flip the switch. Tonight is what we are capable of and I thought we gave their starter some really tough at-bats. Their starter has had a really good career and we made him work out there. Nate Romans had a big 10-pitch at-bat that ended in a big hit for us. Brady Cherry looked good again. Zach Dezenzo hits a home run in his first at-bat at home and had another one, so good for him, he maximized his opportunity today
Most runs scored in a home opener in 12 years 💪
It's good to be home.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Guh1EtIFoX
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) March 16, 2019
GOOD START AT THE DISH
Ohio State scored six times on seven hits to take 4-0 lead after three vs. Lipscomb right-handed starter Chris Kachmar. Conner Pohl drove in the first run of the game with a two-out single in the bottom of the first. Dezenzo launched an opposite field homer in his first at-bat at Bill Davis Stadium in the bottom of the second. Nate Romans worked a 10-pitch at-bat in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded before hitting a two-out, two-run single to right center for a 4-0 advantage. In the fourth, a single and error pushed Ridge Winand across the dish and a RBI single by Canzone added the sixth run of the ball game.
BISONS GET ON THE BOARD
Shortstop Brian Moore hit a two-out solo homer over the wall in left to score the first run for Lipscomb in the top of the fifth. It was the first hit allowed by Burhenn.
SEVEN SPOT IN THE FIFTH
The Buckeyes batted around in the fifth and scored six times against the Lipscomb bullpen. Dezenzo had the big hit in the inning with his second homer of the game with a two-run shot vs. reliever Alex Dorso. Winand tripled and West doubled for an 8-1 game. Cherry then doubled before Pohl knocked a two-run single. Romans singled through the left side to push pinch-runner Scottie Seymour around. Ohio State scored a final run in the sixth on a wild pitch.
STARTER TALK
Burhenn, from Indianapolis, Ind., claimed his first win at Bill Davis Stadium, working six innings and limited the Lipscomb bats to three runs, one earned, on two hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
BULLPEN TALK
Ohio State right-handed reliever Thomas Waning relieved Burhenn to start the seventh and struck out one in one inning of work. Right-handed reliever Joe Gahm threw a scoreless eighth with two strikeouts. Brady Cherry made his career appearance on the mound in the ninth and was electric, striking out two hitters to end the game.
UP NEXT
Ohio State and Lipscomb meet at 3 p.m. Saturday at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. The game will be streamed on BTN Plus ($).
GAME NOTES
RANDOM NOTES FROM AROUND THE BALLPARK
Dom asked…
They listened 🙌
🔥 @nikebaseball cleats for #OpeningDay at Bill Davis Stadium #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/vJGIsRLKEd
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) March 15, 2019