Snavely Blasts a Game-Winning Home Run to Lead No. 22 Baseball to a 6-5 Win – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 7, 2001
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On an 83-degree afternoon in Bill Davis Stadium, the No. 22 Ohio State baseball team (22-6 overall, 5-1 in the Big Ten) won game one, 6-5, of a doubleheader against the Illinois Fighting Illini (16-13 overall, 5-4 in the Big Ten) in dramatic fashion. The Fighting Illini rallied with two runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-4 lead. It was their first lead of the game, but it was soon to be short-lived as Nick Swisher (So., Parkersburg, W.Va.) drew a walk on four straight pitches to start the bottom of the seventh. He advanced to second on a Doug Deeds (Fr., Bexley, Ohio) fielder’s choice. Christian Snavely (Fr., Defiance, Ohio) then stepped to the plate and ended the game with a monstrous home run off a 2-2 pitch from starting pitcher Justin Olson to win the game.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Buckeyes scored the first run of the ballgame. Mike Harris (Sr. Hillsborough, N.C.) led off and reached base on a single to left field. After a stolen base, Harris moved to third base on a groundout by Mike Check (Sr., Bay Village, Ohio). Illini starting pitcher Justin Olsen then gave OSU an early gift when he allowed Harris to score on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the second inning, OSU added another run to its lead. With one out, Doug Dendinger (Jr., Greenwich, Ohio) singled to right field and moved to second on a balk by Olsen. Two batters later he scored on a single by Trent McIlvain (Sr., Louisville, Ohio).
The Illini rallied and tied the game in the top of the third inning. Greg Belcher reached base on a bunt single and then moved to second base on a single by Brady Ballard. T.F. Meagher followed and reached base on a fielding error by McIlvain at shortstop. The error also scored Belcher on the play. A wild pitch by OSU starting pitcher Kevin Goodrum (Sr., Mentor, Ohio) allowed Ballard to score and tie the game at two.
In the bottom of the fourth inning OSU regained the lead. With one out, Brett Garrard (Fr., Brownsburg, Ind.) and McIlvain hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third base. Chris Alvord (Sr., Mentor, Ohio) stepped to the plate and proceeded to drop a perfect sacrifice bunt to score Garrard and give OSU a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, Illinois tied the game when Patrick Arlis scored on an error by Garrard at third base.
OSU rallied in the bottom half of the sixth when Brett Garrard (Fr., Brownsburg, Ind.) led off with a walk and later scored on a wild pitch by Illinois starting pitcher Justin Olsen to break a 3-3 tie.
Goodrum was steady but did not factor into the decision. He went 5.2 innings, threw 90 pitches, scattered seven hits, gave up three runs (one earned) and recorded six strikeouts. Cory Cox (Sr., Chillicothe, Ohio) pitched 1.1 innings of relief for the win. His record is now 2-0. Olsen (3-1) went seven innings and gave up all six runs in the loss.
Tomorrow, the teams conclude the four-game series with a single game at 1:05 p.m.
