Ohio State Opens Eighth Season at Bill Davis Stadium – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 30, 2004
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OHIO STATE
(7-9; 0-0 Big Ten)
vs.
EASTERN MICHIGAN
(8-10; 3-0 Mid-American)
6:35 p.m., March 31, 2004
Bill Davis Stadium
Columbus, Ohio
OHIO STATE RADIO/INTERNET
NPR 820 (WOSU-AM)
Frank Fraas, Neil Sika and Paul Barnes
www.wosu.org
COLUMBUS, Ohio – After 16 games on the road to open the season, the Ohio State baseball team makes its season debut Wednesday in Columbus with a 6:35 p.m. game against Eastern Michigan to open the eighth season at majestic Bill Davis Stadium. The home appearance is the first since ending the season in super regional play last June that had the Buckeyes two wins away from their first College World Series since 1967. Ohio State finished 22-7 at home a season ago.
Eastern Michigan is the opponent in the home opener for Ohio State for the second straight year. The Buckeyes took both ends of a doubleheader last season, winning 4-2 and 15-7 on March 15, 2003. The Eagles ended up advancing to the NCAA Lincoln Regional, where they were 1-2. The game against Eastern Michigan will be the ninth against a team which played in the NCAA tournament in 2003. The Buckeyes are 3-5 against such opponents.
Ohio State is 7-9 on the year after going 2-2 on its spring break trip to Boca Raton, Fla., while Eastern Michigan is riding a five-game win streak following a weekend sweep of Marshall to open conference play.
ABOUT OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes evened their record to 7-7 after the first two games of the spring break trip to Boca Raton, Fla. before dropping the final two games to No. 19 Florida Atlantic to close the trip and fall to 7-9 on the season. Ohio State trailed 4-0 in the first game with the Owls before pulling within one run in the top of the eighth and then in the second game trailed 7-0 before scoring the final six runs of the game when the game ended with two runners on base.
Three Buckeyes stood out during the trip. Brett Garrard batted .538 (7-for-13) with four runs scored and three RBI, while Derek Kinnear batted .462 (6-for-13) with two runs scored and three RBI. Jedidiah Stephen continued to amaze at the plate extending a career-long hit streak to seven games in which he batted .536 (15-of-28) after getting only three hits in his first five games (12 at bats).
At .415 (17-of-41), Stephen owns the top batting average on the team and has two doubles, two triples and two home runs with seven RBI. His .707 slugging percentage paces the squad. Garrard also owns a batting average above .400. He is at .405, also with 17 hits. All six of his extra base hit are all doubles. Drew Anderson leads the team with 22 hits. He has a .338 batting average with six doubles, two triples and one home run, while Mike Rabin tops the team with 11 RBI, including five RBI during the spring break trip to Florida. The team is now batting .267 on the year.
Trent Luyster made two appearances on the mound with one start (against Rutgers) in Boca Raton, going 10.2 innings and allowing only one unearned run on 13 hits with 10 strikeouts. He finished with a .084 ERA in the two appearances to lower his season ERA to 3.11. He has 31 strikeouts against only nine walks. Josh Newman had 16 strikeouts in two starts in Florida. He recorded nine strikeouts in the first three innings in the second game against Florida Atlantic. Newman’s season ERA is now 5.05. He has 36 strikeouts in 35.2 innings. while the other weekend starter, Mike Madsen, is at 5.34 with 25 strikeouts. Trey Fausnaugh continues his fine pitching in relief, owning a 0.79 ERA with a 1-1 record and three saves. In 11.1 innings he has allowed only one earned run. The Buckeye pitching staff now has an ERA of 4.72.
ABOUT EASTERN MICHIGAN
The Eagles have won five games in a row to improve to 8-10 on the season. Eastern Michigan, which played in the 2003 NCAA Lincoln Regional, which Southwest Missouri State won to set up a meeting with Ohio State in super regional action, have not shied away from quality opposition so far in 2004. The Eagles took one of three games at Oklahoma State to open the year and split four games at Kentucky before three-game series at Tennessee and No. 1 Texas. The current five-game upswing has come against Wayne State, Detroit and a three-game sweep of Marshall to open up play in the Mid-American Conference.
Preseason All-American Brian Bixler dominates the Eagle starting lineup with a .459 ERA with 34 hits, six doubles, two triples and a pair of home runs. He has a .676 slugging percentage and a .524 on-base percentage to set the standard for a team that boasts a batting average of .306. Ryan Ford is second on the team with 25 hits and a .352 batting average, while Derrick Peterson has a .343 batting average and an amazing 26 RBI in 18 games. Eastern Michigan is expected to toss George Biddle, who is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 14.0 innings. He has one strikeout against seven walks while allowing seven runs on 14 hits. The pitching staff has a 6.22 ERA.
Eastern Michigan is coached by Roger Coryell, who is 439-498-2 in his 17th year in Ypsilanti.
AGAINST THE EAGLES
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Eastern Michigan 5-1 after taking both ends of a doubleheader to open the 2003 home season.
April 15, 1992 at Ohio State 13, E. Michigan 10
March 14, 1997 at Ohio State 4, E. Michigan 1
April 12, 2000 at Ohio State 9, E. Michigan 1
May 5, 2001 E. Michigan 10, at Ohio State 7
March 15, 2003 at Ohio State 4, E. Michigan 2
March 15, 2003 at Ohio State 15, E. Michigan 7
IN HOME OPENERS
Since Bob Todd arrived to Ohio State prior to the 1988 season, the Buckeyes are 12-4 in home openers. The Scarlet and Gray defeated Eastern Michigan 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader last season to get back in the winning column after losing a 6-4 decision to Detroit in 2002. In the seven previous home openers at Bill Davis Stadium, Ohio State is 5-2.
ON THE RADIO
The Eastern Michigan game marks the first Ohio State baseball radio broadcast game of the season. NPR 820 (WOSU-AM) will again serve as the broadcast home for Ohio State baseball and will broadcast a total of 40 regular-season games, plus all postseason contests. Joining veteran broadcaster Frank Fraas will be newcomers Neil Sika and Paul Barnes.
www.wosu.org or www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com
ALL HOME GAMES TO FEATURE CSTV GAMETRACKER
The official athletics web site for Ohio State will offer Gametracker, live scoring Internet software, for all home games this season. Access live stats at:
www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com
Bob Todd RADIO CALL-IN SHOW BEGINS MARCH 30
The Bob Todd weekly radio call-in show begins Tuesday, March 30 and will continue every Tuesday night for the remainder of the season. The show will be hosted by Skip Mosic on Sports Radio 1460 The Fan (WBNS-AM). The program has received mention in Baseball America for its promotion of college baseball. To participate in the program, dial (614) 821-1460.
Bob Todd Radio Call-In Show Schedule March 30 7-7:30 p.m. April 6 7-7:30 p.m. April 13 7-7:30 p.m. April 20 7-7:30 p.m. April 27 7-7:30 p.m. May 4 7-7:30 p.m. May 11 7-7:30 p.m. May 18 7-7:30 p.m. May 25 7-7:30 p.m.
IN THE RANKINGS After starting the season ranked as high as 26th in the four major preseason college baseball polls, the Buckeyes dropped out of the rankings. Ohio State continues to receive votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Top 35 poll, but are not in any of the other three. The preseason ranking of 26th was in the NCBWA poll. Ohio State received note in all four preseason polls, ranking 31st in Collegiate Baseball, 32nd in Baseball America. The Buckeyes received the 28th most votes in the USA Today Sports Weekly/ESPN coaches’ poll. Last season, the Buckeyes finished the season ranked as high as 17th and no lower than 21st in any of the polls.
BUCKEYES OPEN SPRING BREAK WITH 8-1 WIN VS. RIDER
Ohio State scored four runs in the fourth inning to overcome a 3-1 deficit and went on to defeat Rider 8-3 March 19 at FAU Field in Boca Raton, Fla. Jedidiah Stephen and Derek Kinnear provided two hits apiece as the Scarlet and Gray out-hit the Broncs 11-4.
Two of Rider’s hits came in the first inning as it scored two runs in the top of the first inning. Jacob Howell led off the bottom of the inning with a single under the glove of Crimoli, the Bronc second baseman, who threw the ball back toward the vacant pitcher’s mound and into the Ohio State dugout. Howell reached third and scored on a ground out by Mike Rabin to pull within a 2-1 score. Rider extended its lead to 3-1 in the top of the third inning.
Ohio State came up big in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring four runs on five hits and two Rider errors to take a 5-3 lead. Adam Schneider led off the inning with a single over the third baseman’s head and then went to third on a double down the left-field line by Stephen. Garrard sent a shot through the left side to tie the game 3-3 and then stole second. He could not advance on a base hit by Carroll. Kinnear loaded the bases with his second hit of the game before getting caught at second on a fielder’s choice by Howell that scored Garrard. After getting Kinnear at second, Wagner, the Rider shortstop, threw to first to try to turn the double play but threw past the first baseman failing to get Howell. The error enabled Carroll to score from second to give the Buckeyes a 5-3 lead.
The Buckeyes took a three-run lead in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single by Stephen. Two more Buckeyes crossed the plate in the eighth inning for the final 8-3 margin of victory. Newman improved to 3-2 with the victory. He pitched six innings, allowing all three runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out seven for the second straight game and did not give up a walk. Trey Fausnaugh came on to start the seventh inning and picked up his third save of the season. He retired nine of 10 batters.
BUCKEYES EVEN RECORD WITH 6-4 VICTORY AGAINST RUTGERS
Ohio State shortstop Brett Garrard went 4-for-4 and doubled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Buckeyes went on to defeat Rutgers 6-4 March 20 at FAU Field. With the win the Scarlet and Gray extended its win streak to a season long three and evened its overall record to 7-7, the first time this season the team reached .500.
Garrard had singles in his first three at bats and then doubled to left field in his final at bat to score Jedidiah Stephen, who led off the inning with the team’s second double of the game. The score broke a 3-3 tie. Ohio State went on to score twice more in the inning to take a 6-3 lead. Four Buckeyes had multiple hits as the team tied its season high with 14 hits. Drew Anderson snapped a 0-for-11 streak with a 2-for-5 day. Stephen also finished 2-for-5, while Howell was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Madsen threw 42 pitches in 3.1 relief innings to pick up his third win on the year. He allowed only the ninth-inning home run on three hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Luyster allowed the first three Rutgers runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings. He struck out six and walked a season-high three batters.
BUCKEYE COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AT NO. 19 FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Ohio State pulled within one run in the top of the eighth inning, but allowed two runs in the bottom of the inning as No. 19 Florida Atlantic handed the Buckeyes a 6-4 loss March 23 at FAU Field.
The Buckeyes pulled within a 4-3 score, capitalizing on the first error of the game by Florida Atlantic. After a strike out to start the inning, Mike Rabin launched a towering shot just off the infield grass, which was dropped by the Alex, Fonseca, the Owls’ shortstop. Rabin reached second on the error and scored on a single through the right side by Jedidiah Stephen. After the second pitching change by Florida Atlantic, Stephen was caught stealing to end the scoring threat.
Florida Atlantic took a 6-3 lead, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Those two runs proved costly for Ohio State, which would have tied the game, 4-4, in the top of the ninth. Garrard delivered a one-out infield single and moved to second on a ground out by Ronnie Bourquin. Garrard stole third and scored on a wild pitch.
Owls’ designated hitter Jordan Hafer was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game, though it was Mascia, who delivered three RBI for Florida Atlantic in a 2-for-4 night. Stephen and Drew Anderson were both 2-for-4 for the Buckeyes, which were out-hit 12-8. Madsen got the loss for Ohio State.
FAU SHUNS SECOND OSU COMEBACK
Ohio State scored once in the top of the ninth and left two runners on base ending a second straight comeback bid against No. 19 Florida Atlantic March 24 at FAU Field.
Trailing 7-5 entering the top of the ninth, Derek Kinnear led off the inning with a single up the middle for his third hit of the game. Drew Anderson followed with a single to shallow left-center field to put runners at first and second. Anderson was out at second on a fielder’s choice by Jacob Howell, before Steve Caravati singled down the right line to score Kinnear and make it a one-run game with only one out. Florida Atlantic reliever Chris Saxton, who entered the game in the seventh inning, then got a fly out by Jedidiah Stephen and then struck out Brett Hatcher to end the game.
Kinnear finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and scored one run to pace the Buckeyes who out-hit the Owls 12-11. Anderson and Howell added two hits apiece for Ohio State.
The early story of the game appeared to be with Buckeye starter Josh Newman, who got off to an impressive start in his sixth start of the season. Through the first three innings, he struck out nine batters. Ohio State could not capitalize on Newman’s pitching in the first three innings. It mustered three hits, a single in the first by Howell and singles by Hatcher and Jeffrey Carroll in the second.
All three outs of the third again were Newman strikeouts giving him nine strikeouts through three innings. The difference in the inning was the three runs posted on the score board by Florida Atlantic. Newman could not get any of the first four batters of the fourth inning and was pulled after allowing four runs on two hits and his own error. Trent Luyster came on and gave up a single through the left side before giving up a two-RBI single to give the Owls a 7-0 lead. The Buckeye defense turned a double play and Luyster struck out Fonseca to end the inning.
The Buckeyes finally posted a run in the fifth inning and then after getting the Owls in order in the bottom of the inning, Ohio State erupted for four runs in the sixth to make it a 7-5 game. The Buckeyes stepped it up on defense behind Luyster allowing only two hits in the final four innings of the game, including 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and seventh innings.
Ohio State went in order in the seventh inning, but Garrard singled through the right side to lead off the eighth inning. Any threat ended when Farinacci grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and then Rabin grounded out to end the inning. It was the fourth double play turned by the Owls in the game which helped overcome five errors.
Newman got the loss despite nine strikeouts through three innings. He did allow seven runs on seven hits and walked two batters. Luyster pitched the final five innings and added four strikeouts while not allowing a run on four hits.
NEWMAN SIXTH ALL-TIME
With his win over Rider March 19, Josh Newman moved into a two-way tie for sixth-place on the Ohio State career wins list with his 27th victory with the Buckeyes. The senior from Wheelersburg, Ohio, who was drafted in the 31st round of the 2003 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, is tied with Chris Granata (1991-94). Newman won eight games each of his first three seasons and is 3-3 in 2004. The school record for career victories is 36 by Justin Fry (1995-99). Newman’s 301.1 career innings ranks fourth all-time. He now needs 43 innings to move past Pete Perini (1947-50) who is third with 344.0 career innings and 78.2 innings to move past E.J. Laratta (1999-2002), who is second with 379-.2 career innings.
OHIO STATE ALL-TIME VICTORIES 1. Justin Fry 1995-99 36 2. E.J. Laratta 1999-02 34 3. Pete Perini 1947-50 30 4. Scott Klingenbeck 1990-92 28 Tom Schwarber 1987-91 28 6. Josh Newman 2001-present 27 Chris Granata 1991-94 27
OHIO STATE CAREER INNINGS PITCHED 1. Justin Fry 1995-99 419.2 2. E.J. Laratta 1999-02 379.2 3. Pete Perini 1947-59 344.0 4. Josh Newman 2001-present 301.1 5. Chris Granata 1991-94 295.1
NEWMAN CLIMBING STRIKEOUT LIST
Josh Newman’s nine strikeouts against Florida Atlantic now give him 227 career strikeouts, which puts him in 11th place on the school’s all-time list. He trails E.J. Laratta (1999-2002) by seven strikeouts for 10th place. The nine strikeouts Wednesday were the most by Newman this season and two off his all-time high off 11 against Michigan in 2001.
STRIKEOUTS 1. Justin Fry 1995-99 382 2. Steve Arlin 1965-66 294 3. Bill Cunningham 1982-85 281 4. Tim Smith 1989-91 254 5. Mark Dempsey 1977-80 250 6. Paul Semall 1974-77 247 7. Matt Beaumont 1992-94 245 8. Tom Schwarber 1987-91 244 9. Scott Klingenbeck 1990-92 238 10. E.J. Laratta 1999-02 234 11. Josh Newman 2001-present 227
ANDERSON A TRIPLE THREAT
Ohio State second baseman Drew Anderson had two triples on the Buckeyes’ spring break trip to Boca Raton, Fla. to give up 10 career triples. The figure is within one of the record set by Jason Driscoll (1997-2000).
TRIPLES 1. Jason Driscoll 1997-00 12 2. Scott Meadows 1985-88 11 Tim Kauffman 1975-78 11 4. Drew Anderson 2002-present 10 Mark Carek 1995-98 10 Christian Snavely 2001-03 10
ANDERSON SIXTH IN STEALS
Drew Anderson has 42 career stolen bases to tie him for sixth place on the Buckeyes’ all-time stolen base list. He needs one to move into a tie for fifth place with Morgan Assmann (1978-81) and two to tie Wade Manning (1976-78) for fourth. He is within striking distance of Bo Rein’s (1965-67) third-place total of 49. Anderson is a perfect 5-for-5 this season. He was 20-for-25 as a freshman and was 17-for-19 last season. The school record is 73 set by Roy Marsh (1992-94).
STOLEN BASES 1. Roy Marsh 1992-94 73 2. Mike Check 1998-01 63 3. Bo Rein 1965-67 49 4. Wade Manning 1976-78 44 5. Morgan Assmann 1978-81 43 6. Drew Anderson 2002-present 42 Tim Kauffman 1975-78 42 Ken Peters 1961-63 42
GARRARD RIDES HIT STREAK
Senior shortstop Brett Garrard is riding a season-long seven game hit streak going back to his 2-for-3 day March 7 against Western Michigan. He followed that with a 3-for-3 game against McNeese State but did not play either of the remaining two games at the Coca-Classic in Mobile. Since returning from that two-game absence, Garrard is 7-for-13 (.538). During the entire streak he is batting .565 (13-for-23) with four of his six doubles of the season.
OTHER CURRENT HIT STREAKS
With Brett Garrard enjoying a season-long seven game hit streak, there are other streaks to note. Outfielder Steve Caravati has hits in his last six games and Drew Anderson has a current three-game hit streak. Jedidiah Stephen had a hit in seven straight games until going hitless in the last game against Florida Atlantic. He was 15-for-29 (.517) during his career long streak. Stephen now leads the team with a .415 batting average after having only two hits in his first four games of the season.
CAN’T SPELL RABIN WITHOUT R-B-I
Junior outfielder Mike Rabin leads the team with 11 runs batted in this season after picking up five RBI in the four games in Boca Raton. Against Rider, Rabin had two RBI that included a sacrifice fly. He allowed a score on a ground out against Rutgers and delivered RBI singles in both games against Florida Atlantic.
BUCKEYES GIVING UP RUNS EARLY
Ohio State has struggled in the early innings of games so far this season. The Buckeyes are getting out scored 53-16 in the first four innings of games, including a 19-1 margin in favor of the opposition in the third inning. The big inning for the Buckeyes has typically been in the sixth when they have out scored opponents 16-5. In all innings, Ohio State is getting out scored 91-74 so far this season.
BUCKEYES GO 2-1 IN ALABAMA
Ohio State picked up two wins in the three games at the 19th annual Coca-Cola Classic in Mobile, Ala. March 12-14. Ohio State opened with an 8-1 victory over McNeese State, a 2003 NCAA tournament team before falling 7-3 to South Alabama, another tourney team from a season ago, Saturday. The Buckeyes picked up the rubber game of the tournament with a 6-4 victory over Winthrop March 14.
Ohio State left-handed pitcher Josh Newman struck out seven batters to pick up his 26th career victory and the Buckeyes supported him with 14 hits as they defeated McNeese State 8-1. Newman retired batters in order in all but one of the first six innings of the game. McNeese State got its first hit in the third inning to break a string of seven straight put outs to start the game. He then retired the next 11 batters before the Cowboys got their second hit in the seventh inning. Newman did not walk a runner and it was the first time since April 19 against Indiana that he did not walk a runner after starting. While Newman was pitching his best outing of the year, Ohio State provided the offense. Jedidiah Stephen finished 4-for-4 with a home run and a pair of RBI while Brett Garrard was 3-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Drew Anderson, who added two RBI, and Mike Rabin each added two hits as the Buckeyes totaled 14 hits, the highest total of the season. Five different Cowboys accounted for five hits. South Alabama
South Alabama scored three runs in the second inning and then added two runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings to hand Ohio State a 7-3. Stephen again led the Buckeyes for the second straight day going 3-for-3 with a home run and three runs batted in. Against South Alabama, he walked in the second inning and followed it with a single in the fifth, a double in the sixth before the one out, solo home run in the eighth. The Buckeyes pulled within one run in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a double to left-center field by Stephen. South Alabama added a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Those two runs proved to be costly for Ohio State, which, without the runs, would have tied the score 3-3 with an eighth-inning home run by Stephen.
Ohio State scored five runs in the sixth inning, including a two-run home run by Steve Caravati, to come back from a 3-1 deficit to take a 6-3 lead on its way to an eventual 6-4 victory over Winthrop Sunday. Winthrop scored one run on a pair of hits to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Trailing 3-0, the Buckeyes finally got on the board in the fifth inning after stringing together three one-out hits. With the bases loaded, Jeffrey Carroll scored on a wild pitch to make the score 3-1. Caravati tied the game, 3-3, with his third home run of the season. The shot to left-center field in the top of the sixth inning also scored Anderson. Winthrop reliever Jonathan Settle walked Jason Zoeller to load the bases with one out and then his third walk of the inning gave the Buckeyes a 4-3. Winthrop brought in Jon Wilson, who struck out Jacob Howell before Rabin sent a shot under the glove of Eagles shortstop Matt Repec to score both Stephen and Zoeller to give the Buckeyes a 6-3 lead. The Buckeyes scored five runs in the inning, the most in an inning this season, on two hits and three walks. In the bottom of the inning, Winthrop’s Kyle Roberson answered Caravati’s home run with a home run of his own to left field to cut the Buckeye lead to 6-4. Caravati finished 3-for-5 with one run scored and a pair of RBI to lead Ohio State.
STEPHEN, NEWMAN EARN BIG TEN PLAYER, PITCHER OF WEEK HONORS
Ohio State infielder Jedidiah Stephen and left-handed pitcher Josh Newman have been named the Big Ten Baseball Player and Co-Pitcher of the Week, respectively, the conference office announced March 16. Stephen led Ohio State to wins against McNeese State and Winthrop in the classic by batting .727 (8-for-11) with two home runs and five runs batted in to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors. He was perfect at the plate in his first two games, going 4-for-4 with a homer and two RBI in the win over McNeese State before batting 3-for-3 with another long ball, a double and three RBI against South Alabama. Newman racked up a season-high seven strikeouts and no walks to pick up the win over McNeese State. The senior right-hander went 7.2 innings and allowed only four hits and one unearned run. Newman picked up the 26th victory of his career and has now pitched 292.1 career innings for the Buckeyes, which ranks sixth on the school’s all-time list.
BUCKEYES GO 1-2 IN JACKSONVILLE
The best-case scenario for the weekend would have put the Buckeyes one game over .500 at 5-4, instead the Buckeyes left the Kennel Club Classic with a 3-6 record after losing two games, to North Florida and Western Michigan. The lone win of the weekend came against Connecticut, a game the Buckeyes won in the bottom of the ninth.
North Florida pitcher Travis Stanton improved to 5-0 on the season with a two-hit, complete game 8-0 shutout of Ohio State March 5. The Buckeyes struggled on defense committing four errors, while the Ospreys looked brilliant defensively. Stanton picked up his third complete game of the season allowing only two hits while recording six strikeouts and two walks. He retired 11 batters in a row at one point and then ended the game sitting down the final nine batters following Drew Anderson’s second hit of the game, which led off the seventh inning. Anderson was 2-for-4 accounting for both Buckeye hits. Ohio State pitcher Josh Newman did not pitch poorly until giving up five runs in the eighth inning. He had allowed only four hits the first seven innings of the game. He finished with seven runs on six hits. He walked four, two intentionally, and struck out three.
Centerfielder Mike Rabin sent a shot up the middle to score Cody Caughenbaugh in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Ohio State a 4-3 victory over Connecticut. Steve Caravati scored the tying run in the bottom of the eighth when he went from second to third on a fielder’s choice by Paul Farinacci and then scored when the throw from second baseman Dave Tokarz got past first baseman Jeff Hourigan. That throw took Hourigan away from the bag and he collided with Farinacci, a play the forced the Buckeye first baseman to leave the game with a sprained right ankle. Caughenbaugh delivered in huge fashion with a pinch-hit double to the wall in right-center field. Rabin sent a shot off the pitcher’s rubber and up the middle to win the game. Rabin finished 2-for-4, knocking in the game winner and scoring the team’s first run with his leadoff walk in the fourth inning.
Ohio State scored twice in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game 3-3, but gave up a bases-loaded single to Western Michigan third baseman Mark Abro as the Broncos treated the Buckeyes to a taste of their own medicine with a 4-3 ninth-inning victory the very next day. After tying the game in the top of the ninth inning, Trey Fausnaugh, who picked up the relief win against UConn in only 2/3 inning, come in to pitch the ninth inning. He walked the first batter faced before giving up a bunt by Dickerson to put runners at first and second. Matt Bolton followed with another bunt, advancing the runners with the sacrifice. Fausnaugh intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases in hopes of a potential double play to send the game to extra innings, but Abro delivered with a base hit through the right side to scoring the winning run. Anderson led the team with four hits in the three games.
OSU WINS TWO AT THE BEACH
The Buckeyes continued to have their fair share of poor weather when it traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 27-29, for Baseball at the Beach. Cold temperatures and wet weather forced the postponement of Friday action, giving the Buckeyes two games Saturday against Richmond and Kent State.
Ohio State picked up its first win of the season when Drew Anderson doubled in the winning run to lift Ohio State to a 7-6 victory over Richmond. With two on and two out in the top of the eighth inning, Anderson drove a shot into left-center field to score Jedidiah Stephen. The Buckeyes had squandered a 4-0 lead as Richmond went ahead 6-4 after a four-run fifth inning to go with a pair of runs it scored in the fourth. Steve Caravati tied the game, 6-6, in the top of the seventh inning with a two-run home run. Anderson finished the game 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and a single. The win evened Newman’s record to 1-1, as he came out of the game after the Buckeyes took the lead. Trent Luyster picked up his first career save throwing four pitches.
The Buckeyes took their second win of the day posting a 5-3 victory over Kent State. Ohio State out-hit the Golden Flashes 12-6 in the two-run victory. Ohio State came up big in the second inning, scoring four runs on five hits, including the first career triple by Paul Farinacci. The Golden Flashes pulled within one run in the top of the seventh scoring two runs on a Matt Sega home run. The Buckeyes got out of the inning with a one-run lead, 4-3. Ohio State scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Rabin knocked in Bourquin, who boarded with a one-out single through the right side. Caravati had a 3-for-4 game for the Buckeyes while Rabin was 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI. Mike Madsen evened his record to 1-1, going six innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out seven. Trey Fausnaugh, who picked up his first career save in 2 1/3 innings.
Three Ohio State pitchers combined to allow seven runs on seven hits and eight walks in the first four innings as Coastal Carolina stormed out to a 7-0 lead before holding off the Buckeyes in an eventual 8-4 victory Feb. 29. Ohio State finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning, scoring three runs to make it a four-run game and then added a run in the top of the seventh, turning a two-out walk by Rabin into a run when Anderson doubled to the wall in left-center field to pull within three runs. The Chanticleers added a run in the bottom of the eighth. Farinacci was 2-for-2 with one RBI. Jesse Paciorek got the loss for Ohio State to fall to 0-1 on the year.
Caravati was 6-for-13 with a double and home run for 10 total bases. He scored twice and added four RBI. Farinacci was 4-for-9 with a pair of singles, a double and a triple.
BUCKEYES FRUITLESS AT MINUTE MAID COLLEGE CLASSIC
Ohio State knew it would have its hands full at the Minute Maid College Classic, a tournament featuring four teams, which participated in NCAA super regionals a season ago, including national champion Rice. Fortunate for the Buckeyes though, they were in the same side of the bracket as Rice and Houston meaning those teams would not face one another.
The Scarlet and Gray did draw 2002 national champion Texas though in the season opener, marking the second earliest opener in school history. The Longhorns out hit the Buckeyes 8-3 and used a three-run second inning on their way to a 6-0 shut out victory Feb. 13. The Buckeyes had just one runner in scoring position the entire game, but could not get the runner to third base in the fourth inning. Josh Newman got the loss as he and the Buckeyes fell to 0-1. In his five innings, Newman allowed five hits, five runs and struck out four batters while walking four.
Ohio State right-handed pitcher Mike Madsen gave up seven runs in the first two innings and Kansas State never looked back in a 12-6 victory Feb. 14. Madsen walked three and Kansas State had four hits, including a three-run triple to build a 6-0 lead in the top half of the first inning. In the second inning, Steve Murphy scored on an inside-the-park home run. Ohio State’s second error of the game yielded a run in the third inning to build the Wildcat lead to 8-0. Kansas State scored its leadoff runner in the fifth inning to build a nine-run lead. Ohio State got on the board in the sixth inning. Jacob Howell led off the inning with a pinch-hit triple and then scored on a ground out by Mike Rabin. The Buckeyes added three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull within a 9-4 score. The Wildcats countered the Buckeyes’ three runs with a three-spot in the top of the eighth inning. Madsen was tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs on five hits with three walks and no strikeouts in two innings of work.
Against Texas Tech, Ohio State kept it close, but the Red Raiders scored four runs in the final two innings to hand the Buckeyes a 9-4 loss. The Buckeyes pulled within 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Red Raiders got four runs on six hits against reliever Justin Myers the final two innings of the game.
Drew Anderson finished the weekend 5-for-13 (.385) with one double, a home run and one RBI. Cody Caughenbaugh’s lone hit was a three-run home run.
2003 SEASON REVIEW
The 2003 Ohio State Buckeyes knew they were a good team last year, but just how good was not discovered until its postseason run in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.
Needing two wins on the final day of the conference tournament against Minnesota, Ohio State rallied for a 13-3 win in game one and a 10-8 victory in game two to claim its second straight and sixth ever Big Ten tournament championship.
The win also handed the Buckeyes the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA tournament. Now, Ohio State, as a No. 3 regional seed, was faced with an even greater challenge against a trio of Tigers, including two southern baseball powerhouses: Auburn, Clemson and Princeton. Yet the Buckeyes again rose to the challenge, shocking the nation with a sweep of the Auburn Regional, defeating Clemson, a 2002 College World Series participant, in the opening round, before taking a pair of victories from host and national No. 4 seed Auburn.
That set up a super regional matchup with Southwest Missouri State, which itself came out of the Lincoln Regional as a No. 3 seed. The NCAA awarded the super regional to Ohio State, yet the Buckeyes fell two games short of advancing to the College World Series for the first time since 1967 despite crowds of more than 5,000 fans each game at Bill Davis Stadium.
TWO BUCKEYES NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Left-handed pitcher Scott Lewis and second baseman Drew Anderson were named Third Team Preseason All-Americans by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Lewis was the 2003 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and a Louisville Slugger First Team All-American last year after finishing 9-1 on the mound. Lewis ran his record to 9-0 before suffering a loss in his last outing of the regular season, May 16, when he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in a game at Minnesota. That loss snapped a string of 15 consecutive victories. His 17-3 career record gives him a win percentage of .850, which is third best in school history. He finished with a 1.61 ERA in 2003 and held opposing batters to a .160 batting average. His 127 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings was the third highest total in school history. Lewis underwent Tommy John surgery the week of regional play and could return to the mound this month.
Anderson was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2003 after leading the Buckeyes with 77 hits. He batted .307 for the season and had 12 home runs and 34 RBI. Anderson was unanimously named the most outstanding player of the NCAA Auburn Regional by batting .429 (6-of-14) with two doubles and four home runs. Also a member of the all-regional team, he touched 20 bases for a slugging percentage of 1.429.
FIVE ALL-BIG TEN PICKS RETURN
Five Buckeyes who won All-Big Ten honors last season are back in 2004. Scott Lewis, the 2003 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, is the lone first-team selection returning, but the date of the return is unknown pending his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery May 29. Second baseman Drew Anderson and left-handed pitcher Josh Newman were second team selections while catcher Derek Kinnear and designated hitter Steve Caravati earned third-team honors.
LEWIS RANKED 43RD BEST PROSPECT IN 2004 DRAFT
Baseball America listed Scott Lewis No. 43 on its Top 100 College Prospects for the June amateur draft by Major League Baseball. Lewis, who is undergoing rehab following Tommy John surgery last May, could pitch for the Buckeyes this month. Lewis struck out 127 batters in 83.2 innings and finished with a 9-1 record and 1.61 ERA. Baseball America lists Lewis’ breaking ball as one of the best in college baseball with Rice’s Jeff Niemann and South Carolina’s Matt Campbell. Lewis was drafted following high school by the Anaheim Angels in the 33rd round of the 2001 draft.
BASEBALL AMERICA BIG TEN HONORS
In the 2004 College Baseball Preview by Baseball America, several Buckeyes received preseason honors. The publication named catcher Derek Kinnear, second baseman Drew Anderson, designated hitter Steve Caravati and left-handed pitcher Josh Newman to its preseason all-conference team for the Big Ten. Baseball America also mentioned Scott Lewis as the Big Ten’s top overall prospect while listing Newman as the sixth-best prospect and Anderson as the ninth-best prospect while tabbing him as the league’s fastest runner and best base runner. Kinnear was named the best defensive catcher. Baseball America penciled in Ohio State and Minnesota for the NCAA tournament.
2004 TEAM CAPTAINS
The Buckeyes elected four of their fellow teammates to serve as team captains for the 2004 season: outfielder Steve Caravati, shortstop Brett Garrard, catcher Derek Kinnear and pitcher Josh Newman.
UP NEXT…
Ohio State opens Big Ten Conference play this weekend with a four-game set against the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Buckeyes and Illini will play Friday at 6:35 p.m., then a doubleheader Saturday at 4:05 p.m. before closing the slate with a single game Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
