Baseball Holds On For 10-7 Win Over East Carolina – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/5/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 5, 1999
Box Score
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After four lead changes in the first three innings and 10 combined errors, the Buckeyes took control and opened the first round of the BELLSOUTH Hurricane Diamond Classic with a 10-7 victory over East Carolina. Ohio State left nine stranded on the day, but didnt allow a run after the third and put up a three-run sixth inning, complete with rally caps in the dugout, to take the lead for good. OSU moves to 3-1 for the season while ECU hovers at 10-3.
Ohio State jumped to an early lead, scoring once in the first inning. With two strikes on him, Mike Lockwood (Jr., Powell, Ohio) took four straight balls, drawing a leadoff walk. He moved to second when Tom Durant (Sr., Columbus, Ohio) grounded into a fielders choice and scored when Jason Turner (Jr., Versailles, Ohio) dropped a single into centerfield for a 1-0 lead.
The Pirates plundered their way right back into the game in the bottom half of the inning. John Williamson led off the inning with a single to right field and moved to second when Eric Bakich walked. Williamson was moved over to third by Chad Tracy, who flew out deep to right and scored on Lee Delfinos single that slid through the hole between first and second. Bakich then moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a bunt single down the third base line by Jason Howard. James Molinari walked and Nick Schnabel stepped to the plate, rapping a single to center that brought in Delfino and Goodwin. Molinari then scored from third when Buckeye starter Justin Fry (Sr., Munhall, Pa.) fired wildly to first, allowing Steve Salargo to reach safely and ECU to jump ahead 5-1.
Not to be outdone, OSU took the lead back in the top of the second, taking advantage of three Pirate miscues, scoring five unearned runs. Jason Driscoll (Jr., Middlefield, Ohio) reached first on an error by Delfino and moved to second on a single by Trent McIlvain (So., Louisville, Ohio). The Buckeyes loaded the bags when Delfino committed his second error of the inning, allowing Lockwood to reach base. Durant cleared the bases with a double down the left field line that just landed in fair territory. Jason Trott (Sr., Dublin, Ohio) walked and moved to third when Chad Ehrnsberger (So., Kalida, Ohio) reached on an error. Turner then sacrificed Trott home for a 6-5 lead. East Carolina jumped out front again in the bottom of the second, taking a 7-6 lead. Bakich led of the inning with a single to right field and came home when Delfino cranked his third homerun of the year over the left field fence.
The Buckeyes took the lead again in the bottom of the sixth, scoring with two outs. With one out in the inning, Durant singled to left field. He moved to third when Ehrnsberger singled to center and came home on the same play when Molinari bobbled the ball in center. Ehrnsberger moved to second on the play when Delfino committed his third error of the day and scored on Turners single to right. After Matt Middleton (Sr., Conover, Ohio) singled, Driscoll dropped a double down the right field line, allowing Turner to score, giving the Buckeyes a 9-7 lead. OSU tacked on a 10th run in the bottom of the eighth.
Goodwin opened the Pirate ninth with a leadoff double which forced OSU coach Bob Todd to the bullpen in favor of Kevin Goodrum (So., Mentor, Ohio) who recorded one out, but walked two and was pulled. Cory Cox (So., Chillicothe, Ohio) entered in relief and recorded the final two outs for his second save of the season.
ECUs eight errors ties a school mark.
OSU plays No. 26 Georgia and No. 3 Miami, Saturday at 4:30 and 8 p.m., respectively.
