Baseball Buckeyes Battle Opening Day Jitters With Comeback Win – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/26/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
February 26, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State baseball team fought through five errors and defeated Kentucky 9-6, with an eighth inning rally Friday afternoon at the Blue-Gray Classic at Paterson Field. The Buckeyes earned their first win of the season while Kentucky falls to 1-6.
The Wildcats jumped to an early lead, scoring once in their first at-bat. Aaron McGlone cracked a triple to deep left centerfield that nicked the top of Mike Lockwoods (Jr., Powell, Ohio) glove and fell for a three-base hit. John Wilson stepped to the plate and doubled to left center, bringing in McGlone, setting the score at 1-0.
With two out in the top of the second, Kentucky tacked on another run, moving the score to 2-0. Taylor McInnis walked and advanced to second when Fry launched an attempted pick-off three feet over first baseman Jason Trotts (Sr., Dublin, Ohio) head. McInnis came home when Jeff Meade two-bounced a ball down the first base line that Trott fumbled for OSUs second error of the day. Meade advanced to second on Andy Greens single to right, but was caught stealing third by catcher Tom Durant (Sr., Columbus, Ohio) to end the inning.
Durant finally broke Wildcat starter Nathan Kents no-hitter in the bottom of the fourth, singling to centerfield and stealing second. Trott followed with a double to the gap in left center, bringing home Durant for OSUs first run.
The Buckeyes took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring twice. Designated hitter Doug Dendinger (Fr., Greenwich, Ohio) led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to third on consecutive fielders choices by second baseman John Mayor (So., Chesterfield, Mo.) and Lockwood. Dendinger strutted home when Durant pulled a single to left field. Durant then stole second and scored the go-ahead run on Trotts single to centerfield.
In the top of the sixth, Kentucky tied the game at three apiece on OSUs fourth error of the day. Breck Price ripped a screamer down the first base line that bounced once and sailed past Trotts head. Price then stole second and came home when shortstop Chad Ehrnsberger (So., Kalida, Ohio) bobbled a Nate Linder ball and was late on the throw two first.
Kent walked right fielder Jason Turner (Jr., Versailles, Ohio) to open the Buckeye sixth and gave way to southpaw Jason Chaney. OSU third baseman Matt Middleton (Sr., Conover, Ohio) greeted the new Wildcat hurler with a single to center and left fielder Jason Driscoll (Jr., Middlefield, Ohio) followed with a single to left, bringing in Turner for a 4-3 Buckeye lead.
With two out in the top of the seventh, the Buckeyes avoided a potential Wildcat threat to hold a one-run lead. Kevin Goodrum (So., Mentor, Ohio) entered in relief with the bases loaded and struck out Price to end the inning.
Kentuckys Jason Wolfe opened the eighth inning with a solo homerun to center, knotting the score at four-all. Goodrum struck out the next two batters but Kentucky went ahead when McInnis singled to center, stole second and came home on Meades single to left. Driscoll appeared to have McInnis gunned down at the plate but the ball skidded through Durants legs, giving UK a 5-4 lead.
Ohio State took a 9-5 lead in the bottom half of the eighth, scoring five unearned runs. Middleton led off with a single to left centerfield and advanced to second on a fielders choice. Price came in from right field to pitch for the Wildcats and put Middleton on third with a wild pitch. Mayor came to bat and chopped a ball down the third base line that Linder failed to field, allowing Middleton to tie the game.
Lockwood reached first on a second UK error and Durant cleared the bags with a two-run double down the left field line. Durant moved to third on an error by Wilson and Trott walked and stole second. Ehrnsberger then singled to left field, bringing in two more runs.
“Youre not going to win many games when you make five errors,” said head coach Bob Todd. “I like the fact that we competed. There are going to be many more games like this during the year and you have to make adjustments in every situation. Thats baseball.”
With four strikeouts, Fry passed Bill Cunningham (1982-85) and moved into second place on the career ledger with 282. He is just 14 back from 1966 College World Series MVP Steve Arlin, who fanned 294 batters for the Buckeyes from 1965-66.
Ohio State plays Troy State Saturday at 2 p.m.
