Baseball Takes Illinois Home – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/7/1998 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 7, 1998
OSU WINS THREE IN HOME OPENER
Ohio State (17-8, 5-3) took three of four games from Michigan at Bill Davis Stadium over the weekend with a trio of dramatic victories (W 6-4, W 2-1, W 3-2, L 12-8) over the Wolverines. OSU fans packed the stadium Friday night (3,631) for the first home night game in the 115-year history of Buckeye baseball.
RADIO BROADCAST
Wednesdays contest will be broadcast live on WOSU Radio (820 AM) with Frank Fraas and Herb Howenstine calling all the action. The tandem will also provide commentary for Friday’s game, the first game on Saturday and the Sunday getaway game.
LAST WEEKEND IN THE BIG TEN
Illinois remains the hottest team in the conference after sweeping Northwestern at home. The Fighting Illini outscored the Wildcats 30-6 over the weekend, including a pair of 8-0 blankings in games one and two. After starting the conference season 3-1, Iowa was swept by Minnesota in Minneapolis. Penn State used home field advantage to win three games against Michigan State and Indiana and Purdue split their series.
BIG TEN STANDINGS 1. Illinois 7 1 0 .875 2. Minnesota 6 2 0 .750 3. Ohio State 5 3 0 .625 Penn State 5 3 0 .625 5. Indiana 4 4 0 .500 Purdue 4 4 0 .500 7. Iowa 3 5 0 .375 8. Northwestern 2 6 0 .250 Michigan State 2 6 0 .250 Michigan 2 6 0 .250
READY FOR NUMBER ONE
OSU will play host to first-place Illinois (18-11, 7-1) this weekend. The Illini have won nine of their last 10 games and are currently on a six-game winning streak. The team will play a pair of games with Eastern Illinois before traveling to Columbus this weekend. OSU leads the series 73-69-2 since the teams first met in 1904. The teams split a four-game series last year at Illinois but never met in the Big Ten Tournament as IU beat Purdue, only to lose to Michigan twice, forcing elimination. Illinois is sitting pretty with a distinct advantage as their first weekend on the road was canceled, giving the Orange and Blue four home series and just two away weekends on the year.
THE CONFERENCE WEEKEND
Indiana is at Michigan State and Iowa travels to Purdue. Minnesota and Michigan square off in Ann Arbor and Northwestern travels to University Park for a weekend against Penn State.
A PEEK AT THE PENGUINS
Youngstown State (6-21, 0-4) is in the midst of a seven-game losing streak and is 4-20 on the road. Chad Schultz leads the offense with a .343 batting average, nine doubles, three home runs and 17 runs batted in. Penguin starter John Scudder has pitched 30.2 innings and has a 5.58 ERA with 22 strikeouts. YSU is batting .284 as a team, fielding at a .932 rate and has a 6.08 team ERA.
BUCKS ADD GAME TO SCHEDULE
Ohio State has added another game to its schedule for next week. The Buckeyes will play Dayton at home on Tuesday, April 14 at 6:35 p.m. The Pittsburgh game has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 7 at 3 p.m.
ATTENDANCE RECORD SHATTERED
The 3,631 fans that poured into Bill Davis Stadium for last Friday’s contest established a new record. The previous mark was 2,393 which was set at the stadium dedication game on May 2 last season against Penn State. The Bucks also set a weekend attendance record as 7,069 fans went through the turnstiles for the three-day series with Michigan.
AVOIDING THE SCARLET SCARE
The Buckeyes are 0-3 in the Big Ten this season when wearing their scarlet uniform tops. The squad dug into the hamper last Sunday and brought out the dark tops for a rare home appearance which resulted in a 12-8 loss. Needless to say, the alternate jerseys may be pushed deep into the closet for the upcoming series with Illinois and perhaps left at home in two weeks.
SEIMETZ NOW OSU’S HITS LEADER
Senior first baseman Dan Seimetz (Massillon, Ohio) become OSU’s all-time hits leader in game two of the Michigan series in the first inning when he singled to right field. The All-American now has 253 hits, surpassing OSU assistant coach Brian Mannino’s (1992-95) 250. Seimetz also holds the career doubles (67), home runs (44) and runs batted in (210) records as well as the single season doubles (25-1997), home runs (19-1997) and RBI (80-1997) marks and the single-game home run record with three.
CAREK FIRST FOR CAREER AT-BATS
Mark Carek (Sr., Bowling Green, Ohio) eclipsed the record for career at bats over the weekend and has 723 as a Buckeye. Jeff Anderson (1989-92) drops down to the No. 2 spot at 718. Carek broke the runs scored record earlier this season and has 194 for his career.
THOMPSON IS SMOOTH AND SAAVY
Eric Thompson (Fairborn, Ohio) hurled a complete game two-hitter in the 2-1 game two victory over Michigan. It was his third complete game of the season and the sixth of his career. The right hander is 4-1 on the year with a 2.43 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 40.2 innings pitched.
DURANT COOL IN THE CLUTCH
In game three of the 1998 Ohio State vs. Michigan series, the Buckeyes came from behind in the last inning to beat the Wolverines 3-2. Tom Durant (Jr., Columbus, Ohio) who had dropped a foul ball in the top of the seventh inning, made up for his fault by rapping a single to right field to bring in the winning run.
BIG TEN RANKINGS
OSU ranks third for pitching (4.76 ERA) third for hitting (.338) and second for fielding (.966) in the Big Ten. Individual conference rankings place Seimetz second for slugging Pct. (.778) and fourth for batting average (.431). Lockwood is first for slugging Pct. (.784) fourth for total bases (76) and fifth for hits (43). Thompson is second for ERA (2.43) and fourth for opposing batting average (.223) and Fry is third for batters struck out (51).
CURRENT OSU HITTING STREAKS
Buckeyes that are currently on hitting streaks of four or more games include: Carek – eight games, Durant – two games, Chad Ehrnsberger (Fr., Kalida, Ohio) – two games, Seimetz – three games, Jason Trott (Jr., Dublin, Ohio) – two games.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Seimetz and Lockwood are both listed as preliminary candidates for the Rotary Smith Award which goes to college baseball’s player of the year.
FOR THE RECORD
In addition to holding the runs scored record (194) and the at bats record (723), Carek is also third for triples with 10, fourth for base on balls with 108 and sixth for hits with 231. In addition to holding the career home run record (44) and the all-time hits mark (253), Seimetz holds the all-time marks for doubles with 67 and RBI with 210. He is also fifth for runs scored with 170 and fifth for at bats with 674. Trott remains OSU all-time batting leader with a .392 average (118-301). Seimetz is second on that list at .374 (253-676). Fry is now for 11th for career wins with 22.
INJURY REPORT
The Buckeyes are healthy.
DONATO’S NIGHT IS THIS FRIDAY
The first 1000 fans to arrive at Friday’s game against Illinois will receive an OSU baseball from Donatos Pizza.
WOSU DAY IS THIS SATURDAY
The first 1500 fans to arrive at Saturday’s doubleheader against Illinois will receive an OSU baseball pennant, courtesy of AM-820 WOSU. WOSU is the radio voice of Buckeye Baseball, and will carry all OSU home games, and most away games.
OSU AND NORTHWESTERN SPLIT
Ohio State started the 1998 Big Ten campaign at Evanston, Ill., winning just two of four games at Rocky Miller Park (15-9 NU, 12-1 OSU, 5-2 OSU, 6-4 NU). The Buckeyes were dismantled on Friday but managed to bounce back with a pair of three-hit contests in the doubleheader on Saturday. In a tight getaway game Sunday, the Bucks dropped another contest they were in position to win, ailing from a case of stranded runners.
BUCKS LEAVE FLORIDA 5-0
OSU left Florida 5-0 for the spring trip after winning all of its games at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla. The Buckeyes defeated: Fairleigh Dickinson, 11-1, Canisius, 10-2, Albright, 20-1 and Central Connecticut State 15-8 and 7-3.
OSU WINS DESERT CLASSIC CROWN
The Scarlet and Gray won the 18th annual Coors Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. The Bucks went 4-1 for the tournament, losing to host UNLV 9-8 in a contest that came down to OSU’s last at-bat. OSU pounded UNLV the next day 18-1 in the championship game, leaving Las Vegas with a 7-4 overall record. The squad also beat Oral Roberts 10-5, Washington State 11-2, Lewis-Clark State 11-8.
BUCKS CLAIM LAKE AREA TITLE
OSU went 2-1 at the Lake Area Classic this past weekend, claiming the eighth annual title. The championship marks the second time (the Scarlet and Gray won in 1996) the Buckeyes have taken the Lake Charles, La. tournament.
RECAPPING THE BASEBALL BLAST
OSU lost the first two games and won its last at the season opening ACC Baseball Blast at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. An untimely error late in the first game and a grand slam in the second led to the Buckeyes 0-2 start to the 1998 season. The squad was tied in the first game and leading in the second and was in position to win both contests. Lee, Lockwood and Seimetz were all-tournament team Bucks.
OSU IN THE POLLS
In the April 5 national polls, Ohio State is ranked 32nd by USA Today/Baseball Weekly. The Bucks have not been ranked in the Baseball America poll since Feb. 23 and last appeared in Collegiate Baseball’s top 30 on Feb. 9.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Both Fry and Seimetz were named to Collegiate Baseball’s preseason All-America squads. Fry (RHP) was a first team selection and Seimetz (1B) was named to the second team.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR BDS
Bill Davis Stadium was ranked as the 11th-best college stadium in the nation by Baseball America. Arkansas, home of $8.9-million Baum Stadium at Cole Field, topped the rankings as the No. 1 venue.
HEAD COACH BOB TODD
Bob Todd’s Ohio State Buckeyes have been the dominant Big Ten team of the 1990s. His 1997 squad returned to the Big Ten tournament after a one year layoff and rolled to a playoff victory, earning OSU’s sixth NCAA tournament berth in seven years. His Buckeyes went 42-18 last season, the sixth 40-win season for Todd in the 90’s. Under Todd, Ohio State won five straight Big Ten titles, made eight straight Big Ten playoff and five straight NCAA tournament appearances. Todd has Ohio State baseball solidly among the best in the nation. Now entering his tenth season at Ohio State, Todd has guided the Buckeyes to a 419-215-1 record (an average of 40 wins a year), four Big Ten championships, five straight first place finishes in the Big Ten regular season standings between 1991-95, and to five straight and six total, NCAA regional appearances (1991-95, ’97). He also has guided OSU to a third-place and two second-place finishes in those six NCAA Regional Tournaments. His career record is 543-297-1.
LAST YEAR
The 1997 Ohio State University baseball team reestablished itself as a Big Ten power and a national contender by winning 42 games, capturing the 1997 Big Ten tournament championship and advancing to the NCAA Mideast Regional in Starkville, Miss. The 42-18 campaign represented Ohio State’s sixth 40-win season in the last seven seasons. The NCAA Regional appearance was also the Buckeyes’ sixth in the last seven years. And the Big Ten Tournament championship was OSU’s fourth in the last seven years.
The Buckeyes finished second in the Big Ten regular season standings, just .011 percentage points behind Michigan, which played two fewer games. Ranked as high as 17th nationally at one point, and in either Collegiate Baseball’s or USA Today/Baseball Weekly’s top 25 for the final 10 weeks of the season, the Bucks did not lose a Big Ten series last season, taking three of four from Iowa, Michigan State, Indiana and Penn State and splitting with Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan. The team’s 18-10 record included an 11-5 mark at Bill Davis Stadium and a 7-5 road record.
MARK CAREK
Dare you to find a better fielding shortstop in college baseball. Smooth operator. Co-captain of the Buckeyes for the second year in a row. Batted .500 (2-4) in G4 against Michigan while scoring one run and batting in another. 1-4 in G1 against the Wolverines, but it was a clutch hit that knocked in a run to put OSU up by two. Recorded a 6-17 performance at Northwestern where he went 4-5 with three runs scored in G2. Hit first HR of the year in the 9-8 loss at UNLV to pull the Bucks within one. Batted 4-6 with 3 R in the championship game against the Rebels and 12-24 (.500) with 9R for the tournament. Went 2-4 with 2 R and an RBI against Iowa State. Batted .364 (4-11) at the ACC Baseball Blast and knocked in three runs on the weekend.
CORY COX
Pitched 0.2 innings in G4 against Michigan. First career start came last Tuesday against Ohio Wesleyan in which he pitched 4.0 innings of 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB baseball. Has appeared four times in 1998.
JASON DRISCOLL
Pinch-hit for Zabloudil against the Battling Bishops and went 1-2 with one run scored. Hit a grand slam in G1 at Northwestern, OSU’s first of the year. 11 R and 9 RBI in 1998.
TOM DURANT
1-3 in G4 of the Michigan series. Dropped a sure foul ball out, but came back to post the game-winning RBI in G3 against Michigan. Started for the first time since Albright in G3 at Northwestern (0-2, 1 RBI, SF) and the first time behind the dish since Lewis-Clark State. Had a big weekend at the Desert Classic batting 7-14 with seven runs scored and four RBI. Hit a two run HR against Oral Roberts.
CHAD EHRNSBERGER
Has filled in for and has started at both second and third base. May have the best hands on the team next to Carek but has trouble with decisions on the base paths. Started at both 3B and 2B against Michigan. 2-4 with 1 R and 1 RBI in G1 against Michigan, doubling twice. Just a little trouble fielding the ball last night with 1 E. Posted a 2-4 performance in G1 at Northwestern. Went 3-5 with 2 2B, 6 RBI and 2 R against Albright. Hit first career HR against Washington State. Batted 2-3 with three RBI and one run scored against the Cougars.
JUSTIN FRY
All-American that is effective throwing the fastball, slider and change-up. Rocked the house in G1 against Michigan with 10 K and another complete game to his credit. Started to get the ball up in the zone midway through the game, but held on to finish. Was roughed up (4.1 IP, 14 H, 12 ER, 3 HR) in G1 at Northwestern, suffering his first loss of the season. Went the distance against Oral Roberts, Striking out 10 batters to move to 2-0 on the year. Struck out 14 against McNeese State at the Lake Area Classic. Had control problems against Duke, pitching 6.0 innings giving up seven hits, seven earned runs and four base on balls and did not factor in the decision. Big Ten Pitcher of the Year in 1997.
KURT FULLENKAMP
Pitched 4.2 innings of one-hit ball against the Wolverines, but did not factor in the G3 decision. Had a no-hitter going through four. Combined for a three-hit victory in G3 at Northwestern, pitching 4.0 innings. Walked four Wildcats. Pitched 2.1 innings in relief against Lewis-Clark State striking out three. Relieved Eric Thompson against Louisiana Tech and pitched 3.2 innings giving up three hits and two earned runs while striking out four. Pitched 1.0 inning against NC State giving up three hits and two earned runs.
MARCELLO GAROFALO
First home run of the year came against Albright when he went 3-5 with 3 RBI. Has not seen action since the Gene Cusic Classic. Came in for the injured Seimetz against Oral Roberts. Scored once against Florida State, batting 0-4 against the Seminoles.
MIKE KREMBLAS
Leads pitchers to wins like The Pied Piper. Intense everyday. Went 2-3 with one run scored in G3. 1-3 against the Wolverines in G1. Managed just one hit in five at bats Tuesday against the Battling Bishops. Scored four times with a 2-4 performance and 3 RBI in G2 at Northwestern, but also struck out five times against the Wildcats. Started at third base in G3 in Evanston. Went 2-4 with three RBI and two runs scored against Oral Roberts. Batted .500 (6-12) at Disney with four RBI.
ANDY LEE
Two-game losing streak as the game four starter and control problems have hurt him at times. Was torched by the Wolverines for 10 H and 10 ER. Lost for the first time this year in G4 at Northwestern in a tight game. Pitched 7.0 innings in the championship game against UNLV, striking out a career high eight batters. Hurled 7.0 innings against Iowa State, scattering 10 hits and two runs while striking out five. Started for the fourth time in his career against NC State and pitched 7.0 innings of one-hit, one-walk, zero-run ball against the Wolfpack, earning all-tournament honors.
MIKE LOCKWOOD
Batted 3-4 with 2 R and 1 RBI and 1 2B in G4 last weekend. 2-4 with 1 R in G1 against UM. Big Ten Player of the Week for 3/24. Hit two HRs in the Buckeyes 9-8 loss at UNLV, including a two-run shot that brought the Buckeyes within two in the ninth. Went 3-5 at McNeese State scoring three times and tallying three RBI. Also homered in the ninth against the Cowboys. Went 8-14 (.571) in Florida, en route to earning all-tournament honors. Has big-league tools. 1997 Big Ten Most Valuable Tournament Player.
TRENT McILVAIN
Started against Michigan in G4 and Ohio Wesleyan and went 0-2 and 0-3 respectively. First career start came against Albright where he went 3-5 with three R and three RBI. Has started in three games so far this season and should see more action before the year is through.
MATT MIDDLETON
The wrist is healed and not a minute too late as the Bucks have missed his bat. Pinch-hit in G’s 3 & 4 against Michigan. Went 1-2 with one run scored. One of the Buckeyes only bright spots in the 9-7 loss to Louisiana Tech, batting .750 (3-4) with two RBI, a double and one run scored. Went 3-12 in the opening weekend, scoring once.
LOU SANTANGELO
Scored twice and went 3-9 at Northwestern. Batted 3-5 with 2 RBI and 3 R against Central Connecticut. Doubled and scored against the Bulldogs. Had a rough opening weekend (1-13 and three errors) as the new second baseman.
DAN SEIMETZ
The Man. Is now the all-time hits leader at OSU. 1-3 in G’s 2, 3 & 4 against Michigan . Scored once and walked twice in G1 against Michigan. Put together a 6-16 performance at Northwestern in which he scored five times and homered twice (G’s 3&4). One of his homers would have hit Welsh Ryan Arena had it not been for the gusting winds of Evanston. Reentered the lineup in Ft. Myers, batting 10-17 at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. Went 6-14 at the Lake Area Classic. Scored three runs and recorded three RBI against Iowa State, including a two-run shot (the record breaker) in the seventh. Batted .429 (6-14) with four RBI and was named to the all-tournament team at the ACC/Disney Baseball Blast. One of the most prolific offensive players ever to wear the Scarlet and Gray.
MIKE STAFFORD
Ultimate reliever who not only aids from the bullpen, but also provides comic relief. No need for binoculars to spot when he is warming as his 2-1/2-inch sideburns are easily spotted from a distance. Picked up the G3 win against UM after 2.1 innings in relief. Sweet double play in G3 when he snagged a line drive and tossed to first. Came in Tuesday to bail out Vogelmeier and was knocked for 3 H, 3 R and 3 ER. String of innings pitched with no ER was snapped at Northwestern. Earned save in G3 after relieving Fullenkamp. Pitched 5.1 innings in relief for first win of the year against Central Connecticut State. Made two appearances at the Desert Classic. Made two appearances at the Desert Classic. Relieved Andy Lee in the 18-1 demolition os UNLV and came in for Kurt Fullenkamp against Lewis-Clark State. Appeared once at the Lake Area Classic, pitching 1.0 innings against Louisiana Tech. Took both losses at the Disney Baseball Blast after pitching just 2.2 innings.
ERIC THOMPSON
No. 2, but just as good as an ace. Snagged a two-hit CG win in G2 that gave him a B10 PoW nomination. Hurled a CG three-hitter in G2 at Northwestern (1 ER, 3 SO). Struck out eight against Canisius. Pitched 9.0 innings against Washington State, scattering 11 hits and recording seven strikeouts. Struggled against Louisiana Tech, pitching 3.1 innings, giving up eight hits and seven runs, five of them earned. Struck out a career high 12 batters in 6.1 innings against Florida State.
JASON TROTT
Took over the responsibilities at first base when Dan Seimetz went down with an injury. 2-3 with 1 R and 1 RBI in G1 against the Wolverines and also batted 2-4 in G4. 11-game hitting streak snapped against Ohio Wesleyan. Brought the funk on Northwestern with his 8-13 performance that earned him a B10 PoW nomination. Marvelous in G2 against the Wildcats (4-4, 5 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B). 11 G hitting streak. Went 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored against UNLV. Batted .400 (4-10) at the Lake Area Classic. Produced a 5-15 (.333) effort at the ACC Baseball Blast. Talented enough to play first base or outfield and is outstanding with the bat. A second team all-Big Ten selection in 1997 and the second consecutive Buckeye to lead the Big Ten in batting. Named to the Big Ten’s all-tournament team as a designated hitter.
JASON TURNER
An athlete. 10-game hitting streak snapped against the Wolverines. Batted 3-5 Tuesday against Ohio Wesleyan with a 2B and an RBI. Playing LF, RF or DH. 4-9 at Northwestern with 1 HR and 2 R. 3-10 at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. Had a huge performance against UNLV, batting 3-4 with 1 2B, one HR, six RBI and three R.
PHIL VOGELMEIER
Big, strong and can throw it by you. Faced a situation against the Battling Bishops, walking all three batters he faced before being pulled, taking his first loss of the year. Added relief at Northwestern in G4 (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO). Pitched 3.2 innings against Central Connecticut. Started against Lewis-Clark State, pitching 5.1 innings but not factoring in the decision. Made two appearances in Lake Charles, dropping his ERA with 3.0 combined innings of four-hit zero-walk, zero earned run ball. Appeared twice during the opening weekend, relinquishing three hits and three earned runs.
DAN ZABLOUDIL
Speed to burn. Gunned down Mick Kalahar at the plate with the bags loaded to save the Bucks in G3 against Michigan. Is currently in a slump (0-11 in last six games). Went 2-4 against Washington State with two RBI and one run. Homered against the Cougars. Batted .417 (5-12) in Louisiana with five runs scored, three RBI and two stolen bases (both against La. Tech). Was 3-3 for stolen bases at the Disney Baseball Blast and batted .250 (3-12) with two runs scored.
