Baseball Loses Pitchers Dual to Illinois – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/10/1998 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 10, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio – It was billed to be the pitching dual of the weekend in the Big Ten and it did not disappoint. 1997 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Justin Fry (Jr., Munhall, Pa.) faced Brett Weber, last week’s Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, and the pair battled to a 2-1 finish in favor of the Illini.
Both right handers went the distance with Fry scattering six hits while striking out ten and Weber surrendering five hits, recording eight strikeouts. The Fighting Illini jumped to an early lead in the top of the third inning, scoring twice.
John Anderson led of the innning with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Todd McClure. Dusty Rhodes stepped to the plate and singled right back up the middle, scoring Anderson. Dan O’Neill followed with a double to left center field that brought Rhodes around third and across the plate. After posting just one hit in the first inning, the Buckeyes finally started to produce in the bottom of the seventh, scoring once making it a one run game. Jason Trott (Jr., Dublin, Ohio) reached first on a fielder’s choice and moved to second when Jason Turner (So., Versailles, Ohio) sliced a single to center field. Redshirt freshman Chad Ehrnsberger (Kalida, Ohio) dropped a single into right center field that brought Trott home and moved Turner to third base.
The two-out Buckeye rally was halted when Matt Middleton (Jr., Conover, Ohio) popped up to shallow left center field. The Buckeyes had trouble at the plate, taking some questionable swings and also stranded four runners on the day. OSU drops to 18-9 (5-4 Big Ten) and Illinois climbs to 21-11, resting at 8-1 atop the conference. The teams will square off in a doubleheader tomorrow at Bill Davis Stadium, starting at 4:05 p.m.
