Ohio State Breaks Big Ten Play for Dayton Wednesday Night – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 2004
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OHIO STATE
(13-13; 5-3 Big Ten)
vs.
DAYTON
(14-17; 4-5 Atlantic 10)
6:35 p.m., April 14, 2004
Bill Davis Stadium
Columbus, Ohio
SERIES HISTORY:
Ohio State leads 15-3
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State returns to Bill Davis Stadium Wednesday after a marathon of a game Sunday in West Lafayette, Ind. A Buckeye error allowed the winning Purdue run to score in the bottom of the 16th inning to earn a 5-4 victory and save a series split. The loss dropped Ohio State to 13-13 on the season and 5-3 in the Big Ten standings.
The Buckeyes are currently in a four-way tie for second place – with Minnesota, Michigan and Penn State – and are one game behind first-place Michigan State, the opponent this weekend in East Lansing, Mich. The Spartans are 6-2, while the Gopher, Wolverines, Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are all 5-3. Purdue is 4-4, while Indiana, Northwestern and Illinois are 3-5. Iowa is 10th with a 1-7 conference mark.
Dayton, which took a 14-17 record into its game Tuesday night against Kent State, visits the Buckeyes Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Bill Davis Stadium. The Flyers took two of three games from Massachusetts this past weekend. After losing 7-2 in the first game, Dayton rebounded for 5-4 and 5-1 victories.
ABOUT OHIO STATE
Had the Buckeyes been able to win the 16-inning ballgame at Purdue Sunday, they would have been tied with Michigan State for first place in the Big Ten heading into this weekend’s conference series with the Spartans in East Lansing, Michigan. Instead, Ohio State finds itself one game back. The Buckeyes and Boilermakers split the series 2-2.
Ohio State won the opening game of the series 3-2 as Josh Newman came one out short of his second straight complete game. He allowed both runs, one earned, and struck out 10 batters against only one walk. Purdue won the first game of the Saturday doubleheader 5-4, before the Buckeyes regrouped to take a 2-1 lead in the series with a 9-5 victory. Brett Garrard and Adam Schneider each homered and combined for five RBI in the second game. Schneider hit his first career home run in the first game of the twinbill. Purdue spoiled the return of 2003 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Scott Lewis Sunday to save a series split with a 5-4 victory. Lewis struck out six before departing after five innings with a 3-1 lead. Jacob Howell led Ohio State in the series by going 9-for-19 (.474).
Garrard leads the team with a .364 batting average. The junior shortstop has nine doubles and a slugging percentage of .519 and an on-base percentage of .443. Jedidiah Stephen is batting .351, second on the team. He, along with Steve Caravati, pace the team with three home runs. Stephen leads the team with 17 RBI. The Buckeyes are hitting .283 as a team. Ohio State will start freshman lefty Jeffrey Carroll against Dayton Wednesday night, but will likely finish with Johnny Wholestaff. Carroll is 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 4.1 innings.
ABOUT DAYTON
The Flyers took a 14-17 record into its home game Tuesday against Kent State after taking two of three Atlantic 10 games at home against Massachusetts. Dayton lost the first game of a doubleheader 7-2 before rebounding to win 5-4 in the nightcap. The Flyers also won 5-1 Sunday to clinch the conference series and improve to 4-5.
Through last weekend Patrick Flynn was batting .402 and led the team with 47 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 28 RBI. Dayton, which was batting .282 as a team, had two other players batting better than .300. Brandon Godzik was second on the team with a .378 batting average and 26 RBI. He led the team with 11 doubles. Nick Bohnenstiehl was third on the team with a .367 batting average.
On the mound, Dayton owned a 5.68 ERA through the weekend. Jerry Blevins had the lowest ERA among Flyers who had pitched at least 30 innings. Blevins is 4-2 with a 4.68 ERA in 42.1 innings. He paced the team with 40 strikeouts, had 45 hits and 20 walks. Dayton has not announced a starter for tonight’s game.
AGAINST THE FLYERS
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Dayton 15-3, though the Flyers have won the last two games, winning 2-1 in 2000 and 4-3 in 2002. Bob Todd is 14-5 against Dayton.
Last Five Meetings
April 23, 1997 at Ohio State 13, Dayton 7
April 14, 1998 at Ohio State 10, Dayton 9
April 27, 1999 at Ohio State 3, Dayton 1
April 19, 2000 Dayton 2, at Ohio State 1
April 17, 2002 Dayton 4, at Ohio State 3
LAST GAME VS. DAYTON
Dayton scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning on its way to a 4-3 victory over Ohio State April 17, 2002.
Kyle Brown gave up two runs in the eighth when in came on in relief for Trent Luyster. Ohio State missed a golden opportunity in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases without an out, but Doug Dendinger grounded into a 5-2-3 double play that first caught Brett Garrard, the tying run, at home. Designated hitter Lance Rolston struck out to end the inning and strand the tying run at third.
Tom Beechem finished the game 2-for-4 and scored a run for Dayton and Shawn Bolinger knocked in two runs in a 1-for-3 night. Christian Snavely led Ohio State was led at the plate going 2-for-5 with the single in the first and a two-run homer in the third. Garrard and Mike Rabin also had multiple hits for the Buckeyes.
NEWMAN LEADS BUCKEYES TO 3-2 WIN IN FIRST GAME VS. PURDUE
Ohio State left-handed pitcher Josh Newman took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and struck out 10 batters in 8.2 innings to lead Ohio State to a 3-2 victory April 9. Newman allowed four hits the rest of the way as the Buckeyes held on to improve to 4-1 in the Big Ten and rise above .500 for the first time this season.
Newman retired the first nine batters of the game, before back-to-back Buckeye errors put runners on base in the fourth inning. A sacrifice bunt by catcher Ben Fritz moved both runners into scoring position and then designated hitter John Hunter flied out to right for the sacrifice, scoring centerfielder Mike Coles to give Purdue an early 1-0 lead.
Second baseman Drew Anderson hit his second home run of the season in the top of the fifth to give the Buckeyes a 2-1 lead. The shot hit off the scoreboard in right-center field scored catcher Derek Kinnear, who reached on a fielder’s that caught centerfielder Mike Rabin at second. Newman took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth when second baseman Eric Osborn tripled to right-center field with one out. Newman responded with a pair of strikeouts, his sixth and seventh of the game, to get out of the inning without any damage.
In the eighth inning, Ohio State rightfielder Jacob Howell doubled down the left-field line with one out and then scored on a single by leftfielder Steve Caravati to extend the Buckeye lead to 3-1. The Boilermakers answered the run in the bottom of the inning to close within the final score.
Offensively for the Buckeyes, Rabin was the only player with two hits. He was 2-for-4 while Anderson batted in two runs in going 1-for-4. Caravati was 1-for-3 with one RBI.
BUCKEYES FALL IN GAME ONE OF DH
Ohio State scored two runs to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning, but gave up a bases-loaded walk to lose a 5-4 decision to Purdue in the first game of a doubleheader April 10.
First baseman Paul Farinacci led off the seventh inning with his first home run of the season. The shot cleared the fence in left field and pulled the Buckeyes within one run, 4-3.
Mike Rabin singled to left-center, but Dauby got a fly out and a pop out to keep Rabin at first with two outs, before a single by Steve Caravati singled to left-center to put runners at first and second for Stephen, who came up big, singling to left field to score Rabin from second. A throw from leftfielder Mitch Hilligoss threw to shortstop Mitch Koester for the out at third out of the inning. That tied the score 4-4 forcing the Boilermakers to bat in the bottom of the seventh.
Purdue leftfielder Mitch Hilligoss led off with a single to right-center field bringing an end to the day of OSU starter Mike Madsen as the Buckeyes brought in Jeffrey Carroll, who tagged out catcher Ben Fritz on a sacrifice bunt that moved Hilligoss to second. Carroll intentionally walked designated hitter John Hunter, who had three hits in his previous at bats. Caravati made a run-saving throw to nab Hilligoss at the plate on a single to left field by Eric Wolfe. Carroll hit third baseman Simon Klink to load the bases and then walked Eric Osborn, the winning run.
Rabin was 2-for-3 and both Jacob Howell and Jedidiah Stephen were 2-for-4.
OSU REBOUNDS FOR GAME TWO WIN
Shortstop Brett Garrard and designated hitter Adam Schneider each homered and combined for five RBI as the Buckeyes beat Purdue 9-5 in the second game of a doubleheader to earn a split with the Boilermakers. Garrard went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run in the fifth inning and Schneider went 2-for-4 to score two. Jedidiah Stephen finished 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI. The Buckeyes scored in every inning except the sixth and out-hit the Boilermakers 12-7.
Trailing 1-0, the Boilermakers put up three runs in the bottom of the first inning, just as they had in game one. Ohio State scored its lead off runner in the second inning to make it a one-run game and then Drew Anderson tied it in the third with a single. Purdue took a 4-3 lead until the Buckeyes scored the leadoff runner in the top of the fourth as Howell singled to score Garrard.
After keeping Purdue off the scoreboard in the fourth inning, the Buckeyes took a 7-4 lead in the top of the fifth on a three-run home run to left-center field by Garrard. His first home run of the season also scored Stephen and Schneider. The Boilermakers got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning before the Buckeyes added their final two runs on the second home run of the day by Adam Schneider.
Dan DeLucia picked up his first win as a Buckeye, pitching 4.0 innings, allowing all five runs on seven hits. He had one walk and two strikeouts. Trey Fausnaugh and Trent Luyster did not allow a hit in the final 3.0 innings. Luyster picked up his third save of the season and his second of the weekend.
PURDUE WINS IN BOTTOM OF 16TH
Purdue scored one run in the bottom of the 16th inning on a fielding error to hand Ohio State a 5-4 loss in the Big Ten series finale April 11. The win gave the Buckeyes and Boilermakers a series split.
Centerfielder Mike Coles led off the inning with an infield single and moved to second on a single through the left side by shortstop Mitch Koester before the pair was moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt by leftfielder Andy Dahl for the first out of the inning. Ohio State second baseman Drew Anderson committed the first error of the game on a ground ball by Purdue catcher Ben Fritz, which allowed Coles to score the winning run.
Scott Lewis, the 2003 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, started the game in his first appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery May 29, 2003. Lewis threw 66 pitches over five innings and had six strikeouts without allowing a walk. He gave up four hits and left the game with a 3-1 lead, handing the game over to Jesse Paciorek.
He retired the batters in order, before the Buckeyes were able to plate another run in the top of the seventh. Jacob Howell led off the inning with a perfect bunt and moved to second on a fly out to deep right field by Jedidiah Stephen before scoring on a double to right-center field by catcher Adam Schneider to give Ohio State a 4-1 lead.
Paciorek walked his first batter of the eighth and then gave up a base hit to end his day. Trent Luyster came on and got Ben Fritz to fly out to right field before Simon Klink sent a towering shot out of the park to tie the game 4-4.
Jeffrey Carroll got the loss for the Buckeyes, allowing both hits in the 16th. He pitched 2.1 innings giving up three hits and the winning run. Howell was 4-for-8 in the game with a single RBI and scored twice. Schneider had three hits for the Buckeyes.
HOWELL TOP BUCKEYE LAST WEEK
Jacob Howell led the Buckeyes with nine hits 10 hits last week in batting .417 in five games. The freshman rightfielder had nine hits in the four games against Purdue, a series in which he batted .474 (9-for-19). Of the nine hits he had two doubles, his second career triple and batted in two runs while scoring twice. He had a slugging percentage of .684 and a team-leading .474 on base percentage. The freshman from Ashland, Ohio (Ashland) is riding a season-long six game hit streak after going 4-for-8 in the series finale at Purdue, in which he had three singles and a triple. The four-hit effort was his season high, topping a three-hit effort in game two against Illinois. Howell is batting .304 this season.
NEWMAN AMONG TOPS IN BIG TEN
Josh Newman pitched 8.2 innings in the series opener at Purdue and picked up a 3-2 victory in winning the 29th game of his career, fourth best in school history. Stuck out 10 batters against one walk, his first in three starts. Now has 251 strikeouts to rank fifth all-time at Ohio State. Trent Luyster saved the game getting a ground out to end the game. Newman is 5-3 with a 3.71 ERA in 53.1 innings and has 60 strikeouts. The senior lefty from Wheelersburg, Ohio (Wheelersburg) as allowed only three runs (two earned) in his last two starts (totalling 17.2 innings). Newman is 2-0 in the Big Ten with a 1.02 ERA, 24 strikeouts (against one walk) and an opposing batting average of .177.
LEWIS MAKES RETURN
Ohio State left-handed pitcher Scott Lewis made his return Sunday in the Buckeyes’ Big Ten series finale at Purdue. Lewis struck out six in his five-inning start and left the 16-inning game with a 3-1 lead. It was his first action since undergoing Tommy John surgery May 29, 2003 after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament in a game-one start the final weekend of the regular season at Minnesota on May 16, 2003.
Lewis, a junior from Washington Court House, Ohio (Washington), was named the 2003 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year after leading the conference with a 1.61 ERA, 127 strikeouts and a .160 opponent batting average in 83.2 innings. He also was named Ohio State’s 10th-ever First Team All-American and the first since 1999. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association District V Player of the Year was 9-1 as a sophomore and was 17-3 in the first two years of his career. He ranks 15th on the school’s career strikeout list with 218 and has a 2.25 career ERA, which ranks third. Lewis was a 2004 preseason All-American as selected by the NCBWA.
BIG STICKS AT PURDUE
Ohio State hit five home runs last weekend at Purdue and now have hit 14 home runs this season. Drew Anderson got thing started with his two-run long ball in the series opener, which prompted three Buckeyes hit their first home run of the season. Adam Schneider his the first home run of his Buckeye career, a two-run poke in the fourth inning of the first game Saturday and was followed in the top of the seventh by Paul Farinacci who sent out his first of the year to tie the game 4-4. In the nightcap. In the nightcap, Brett Garrard broke a 4-4 tie with a three-run shot in the fifth inning before Schneider sent out his second of the day, a two-run blast in the seventh inning.
LAST WEDNESDAY
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ohio State senior shortstop Brett Garrard broke the game wide-open with a two-out, bases-loaded double to propel the Buckeyes to their fourth win in five games. Garrard finished the game 3-for-5, knocking in a career-best five RBI in Ohio State’s 14-4 route of the Oakland Golden Grizzles Wednesday night.
With a 4-2 lead, the Buckeyes scored eight runs on seven hits in the fourth inning, all with two outs, to take a commanding 12-2 lead. Drew Anderson and Mike Rabin provided singles before a pair of walks plated the first run. Paul Farinacci singled up the middle to score Rabin and Steve Caravati and then after the third walk of the inning, Garrard, a senior from Brownsburg, Ind., delivered his third and fourth RBI with a double to make the score 9-4.
Cody Caughenbaugh provided a pinch hit single to left-center field to score the sixth and seventh runs of the inning and then two more singles scored one more run to give the Buckeyes a 10-run lead. The Golden Grizzlies scored twice in the top of the to close within a 12-4 score after a pinch hit single by Bryan DeLamielleure and a double by Tim Doig. With runners at second and third and one out John Sullivan singled to left and reached second on a fielding error by Caravati and both runners scored.
Ohio State scored twice more in the eighth as Garrard drove in his fifth run of the game, doubling down the left field line to score Ronnie Bourquin, who led off the inning with a double, and Farinacci, who singled up the middle. The runs gave the Buckeyes their second 10-run lead.
Eight of the nine starters had a hit, including Rabin, Caravati and Garrard, who provided three hits apiece in the Buckeyes’ season-high 18 hit attack. Anderson and Farinacci added two hits each, while Farinacci drove in three runs. Paciorek got the win in the scheduled abbreviated start, going 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on one hit and four walks. He tied a career high with four strikeouts.
SEEING DOUBLE
Ohio State had a season-high six doubles in the 14-4 victory Wednesday night vs. Oakland. It was the most doubles in a game since hitting seven last season against Wooster (April 16). Steve Caravati and Brett Garrard each had two two-baggers in the game, while Ronnie Bourquin and Kris Moorman each added one. Moorman’s was his first career hit. Garrard leads the team with nine doubles this season and has 31 for his career.
CAREER HIGH IN RBI
Shortstop Brett Garrard, a senior from Brownsburg, Ind., drove in a career high five runs Wednesday night against Oakland. The total was one better than his previous high of four, which he last posted in the NCAA regional championship game at Auburn. Wednesday, he batted in two in the third to reclaim the lead. He then doubled in a pair of runs in the fourth inning and then doubled in another run in the eighth. Garrard has 11 RBI this season, four off the pace by Mike Rabin and has 78 for his career. The five RBI are the most since Steve Caravati batted in six against Penn State in a 13-3 win in the Big Ten Tournament (May 24).
BUCKS WIN OPENING BIG TEN SERIES VS. ILLINOIS 3-1
Ohio State won the first three games against Illinois, including the game Friday April 2, the 300th Big Ten victory for head coach Bob Todd, before falling 12-4 in the finale. The Buckeyes won 5-1 Friday, 14-3 in the first game of the doubleheader and 5-3 in the nightcap.
Josh Newman pitched his 15th-ever complete game and fanned a career high 14 batters to lead Ohio State to a 5-1 victory over Illinois in the Big Ten opener for both teams April 2. Newman struck out six Illini batters through three innings. The senior lefty gave up a lead-off double in the second and a one-out home run in the third as Illinois took a 1-0 lead. Newman responded to the home run by retiring the next 10 batters before the third hit of the game by the Illini. Newman gave up a total of seven hits in picking up the first complete game by a Buckeye pitcher this season. He allowed only the one run and fanned 14 without a walk. The Buckeyes answered the third-inning home run by scoring three runs on four hits on a pair of Illini errors in the bottom of the inning. With runners at the corners, Jedidiah Stephen doubled down the left-field line to score Drew Anderson from third. Howell, who was at first, was waved home, but was thrown out at the plate. However, the Illinois third baseman was called for obstruction as he nudged Howell rounding third. The interference allowed the run to score and then Paul Farinacci doubled in the third run of the inning. Anderson plated two more runs for Ohio State in the bottom of the sixth inning with his 11th career triple giving the Buckeyes a 5-1 lead. Four different players each had two hits. Anderson and Howell each finished 2-for-5, while Farinacci was 2-for-4 and Ronnie Bourquin was 2-for-3. Anderson delivered two RBI, while Stephen and Farinacci provided the other two. OSU Slugs Way Past Illinois 14-3
In the second game of the series, Ohio State stormed out to a 12-3 lead through three innings and cruised to a 14-3 victory in the first game of the doubleheader Saturday. Illinois took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and then Ohio State answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to five hits, including singles by both Anderson and Jacob Howell to open the inning. That lead did not last long as the Illini scored twice in the top of the second to tie the game, but Ohio State erupted for six runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 9-3 lead. The Buckeyes plated another three runs in the third inning to take a 12-3 lead on singles by Anderson, Howell and Bourquin. Howell finished 3-for-5 with one RBI and scored three times while Bourquin was 3-for-3 with RBI. Ohio State scored twice more in the fifth inning to go up 14-3. In addition to the three-hit efforts by Howell and Bourquin, Anderson, Caravati and Kinnear each added two hits. Mike Madsen pitched 6.0 innings giving up the three Illinois runs on four hits. He struck out three and walked five. Jesse Paciorek pitched the final inning for Ohio State. Walk-off Home Run Lifts Bucks
Bourquin took a 0-1 fastball and launched a rocket over the fence in right field for two runs lifting Ohio State to a 5-3 victory over Illinois in the nightcap of the doubleheader. It was his first home run as a Buckeye. Trailing 3-1 entering the top of the seventh, Illinois catcher Chris Robinson tied the game with a two-run home run he poked over the fence in right field. JR Kyes led off the inning with a single through the right side. After giving up the home run, Ohio State starter Trent Luyster got two groundouts and a strikeout to get out of the inning. Stephen reached on a one-out walk in the seventh before Farinacci skied a shot to a windy right field, but it was caught at the wall for the second out of the inning. Bourquin, who was 3-for-3 with three RBI in the first game of the doubleheader, provided the heroics giving the Buckeyes their second win this season in their last at bat. Bourquin finished the Saturday nightcap 2-for-4 and was 5-for-7 on the day with five RBI. Bourquin was the only Buckeye with multiple hits as the team out hit the Illini 6-5. Illinois had only two hits the first five innings. Luyster improved to 1-3 on the season, picking up his first complete game of the season, allowing the three runs on five hits. He recorded eight strikeouts against two walks.
Facing a potential sweep by Ohio State in the opening Big Ten series of the season, Illinois stormed out to a 12-0 lead, which is all it needed in a 12-4 victory over the Buckeyes Sunday at Bill Davis Stadium, denying the Buckeyes their first sweep of the Illini since 1999. Ohio State put the leadoff runner on base five times in the game and turned it into all four of Buckeye runs. Anderson, Caravati and Bourquin each finished with two hits. Illinois out-hit Ohio State 13-11, but committed three errors to the Buckeyes’ zero. Dan DeLucia got his first loss of the season.
Bob Todd BECOMES SECOND BIG TEN COACH TO REACH 300
With the Buckeyes 5-1 victory over Illinois last Friday, 17th year coach Bob Todd won his 300th career Big Ten game, becoming the second coach to ever top the number. Current Minnesota coach John Anderson guided the Golden Gophers to 354 Big Ten victories entering his 23rd season in Minneapolis. He recorded his 300th conference victory during the 2001 season, his 20th season at Minnesota. Former Golden Gopher coach Dick Siebert had 295 conference wins.
BOURQUIN SHARES BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Ohio State designated hitter Ronnie Bourquin has been named the Big Ten Baseball Player of the Week for leading the Buckeyes to a 3-1 series win over Illinois the opening weekend of conference play, the league office announced April 5. Bourquin, a freshman from Canton, Ohio (Canton South), hit .529 in the Buckeyes’ five games last week against Eastern Michigan and four games against Illinois. He hit .643 against Illinois and was 9-for-17 (including two doubles and a home run) with five RBI and scored four runs. Bourquin was a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday against the Illini and in game two hit a walk-off, two-run home run, which clinched the 5-3 victory. He posted a 1.000 slugging percentage against Illinois while adding a .667 on-base percentage. He shared the honor with Michigan State’s Travis Gulick. Northwestern’s J.A. Happ won pitcher of the week honors.
NEWMAN FOURTH ALL-TIME IN WINS
With his win at Purdue April 9, Josh Newman moved into fourth place on the Ohio State career wins list with his 29th victory with the Buckeyes. The senior from Wheelersburg, Ohio, who was drafted in the 31st round of the 2003 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, will tie Pete Perini (1947-50) for third with his next victory. 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 319.0 career innings ranks fourth all-time. He now needs 25.1 innings to move past Perini, who is third with 344.0 career innings and 61.0 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. Josh Newman 2001-present 29 5. Scott Klingenbeck 1990-92 28 Tom Schwarber 1987-91 28
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 319.0 5. Chris Granata 1991-94 295.1
NEWMAN CLIMBING STRIKEOUT LIST
Josh Newman’s 14 strikeouts against Illinois last Friday now give him 241 career strikeouts, which puts him in ninth place on the school’s all-time list. He moved past E.J. Laratta (1999-2002) and Scott Klingenbeck (1990-92) with his career high against the Illini. The 14 strikeouts were three better than his all-time best off 11 against Michigan in 2001. Keep an eye on Newman in his next outing as he needs only 10 strikeouts to crack the Top 5.
Scott Lewis, who returned to action April 11 following a 10-month, 25-day layoff after he tore his ulnar collateral ligament at Minnesota the final weekend of the 2003 regular season. Lewis, who had Tommy John surgery on May 29, 2003, returned to strikeout six batters in a five-inning start at Purdue.
OHIO STATE CAREER 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. Josh Newman 2001-present 251 6. Mark Dempsey 1977-80 250 7. Paul Semall 1974-77 247 8. Matt Beaumont 1992-94 245 9. Tom Schwarber 1987-91 244 10. Scott Klingenbeck 1990-92 238 11. E.J. Laratta 1999-02 234 12. Scott Lewis 2002-present 224
ANDERSON A TRIPLE THREAT
Ohio State second baseman Drew Anderson tripled three times in a span of five games (games 14-18) to move into a second-place tie on the school’s all-time triples list. The figure is within one of the record set by Jason Driscoll (1997-2000).
TRIPLES 1. Jason Driscoll 1997-00 12 2. Drew Anderson 2002-present 11 Scott Meadows 1985-88 11 Tim Kauffman 1975-78 11 5. Mark Carek 1995-98 10 Christian Snavely 2001-03 10
ANDERSON FIFTH IN STEALS
Drew Anderson has 44 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 fourth place with Wade Manning (1976-78) and six to tie Bo Rein (1965-67) for third. Anderson is a perfect 6-for-6 this season after one steal against Eastern Michigan March 31. 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. Drew Anderson 2002-present 44 Wade Manning 1976-78 44
OSU FALLS 2-1 IN PITCHERS DUEL
Ohio State took a no-hitter into the seventh inning but Eastern Michigan starting pitcher George Biddle allowed only two hits in 8.2 innings as the Eagles came back to score two runs in the final two innings to steal the Buckeyes’ home opener by a score of 2-1.
Having just gotten a one-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, Biddle took a one-hitter into the bottom of the inning. Jacob Howell, the potential tying run, reached base on a two-out fielding error by the Eastern Michigan second baseman, who dropped a pop up just beyond the infield dirt. Steve Caravati singled to left field to put two runners on base. That prompted a pitching change as the Eagles went with Ryan Vandenbussche in to face perhaps the Buckeyes’ hottest hitter of the moment, Jedidiah Stephen, but Stephen flew out to center to end the game.
Biddle ended up with three strikeouts against the two hits. After giving up a hit to his second batter of the game, he retired the next 13 batters before his second walk. He than sat down the next 12 before the ninth inning error and Caravati base hit.
Trent Luyster fell to 0-3 in his eighth appearance of the season and the fourth in relief. He gave up the winning run on three hits with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings. Dan DeLucia made his first career start and went four hitless innings before turning the reins over to Mike Madsen, who added two hitless innings. Trey Fausnaugh pitched the seventh and gave up three hits in 1 2/3 innings.
BUCKEYES SPLIT FOUR GAMES IN BOCA RATON
Ohio State won the first two games during its spring break trip to Boca Raton, Fla. to even its record to 7-7, but back-to-back losses to No. 19 Florida Atlantic dropped the Buckeyes back below .500. Ohio State opened by beating Rider 8-3 March 19 at FAU Field and then picked up a 6-4 victory against Rutgers March 20. Following a two-day layoff, the Buckeyes returned to action at Florida Atlantic, dropping 6-4 and 7-6 decisions as two comeback bids fell short.
Ohio State scored four runs in the fourth inning to overcome a 3-1 deficit and went on to defeat Rider 8-3. Jedidiah Stephen and Derek Kinnear provided two hits apiece as the Scarlet and Gray out-hit the Broncs 11-4. Josh 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.
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. Garrard had singles in his first three at bats and then doubled to left field in his final at bat to score 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 and Stephen each finished 2-for-5, while Howell was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Mike Madsen threw 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.
Ohio State pulled within one run of No. 19 Florida Atlantic in the top of the eighth inning, but allowed two runs in the bottom of the inning as the Owls handed the Buckeyes a 6-4 loss March 23 at FAU Field. The Buckeyes got within a 4-3 score in the eighth, but Florida Atlantic scored 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. Stephen and Anderson were both 2-for-4 for the Buckeyes, which were out-hit 12-8. Madsen got the loss for Ohio State.
Ohio State scored once in the top of the ninth and left two runners on base as a second straight comeback bid fell short against No. 19 Florida Atlantic March 24. 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. 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.
Garrard batted .538 in the four games getting seven hits in 13 at bats. He had a double and three RBI and scored four runs. Kinnear also had a strong spring break, batting .462 with six hits in 13 at bats. He added a pair of doubles, scored twice and knocked in three runs.
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.
ON THE RADIO
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
UP NEXT…
Ohio State will travel to East Lansing, Mich. for a four-game series against Michigan State this weekend. The teams will play a single game Friday at 3:05 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday at 1:05 p.m. before the series finale Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Ohio State returns to Bill Davis Stadium next Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. when it plays host to Wright State.
