Ohio State Downs Illinois 5-1 for Todd’s 300th Career Big Ten Win – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 2, 2004
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – 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 Friday night at Bill Davis Stadium. The victory was the 300th by the Buckeyes under 17th year head coach Bob Todd.
Newman, who struck out nine batters in the first three innings of his last start March 24 at Florida Atlantic, struck out six Illini batters through three innings Friday. The senior from Wheelersburg, Ohio (Wheelersburg) gave up a lead-off double in the second and a one-out home run in the third by catcher Chris Robinson 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 in throwing 123 pitches.
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. Drew Anderson (Jr., Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) reached on a two-base throwing error by shortstop Eric Eymann. Jacob Howell (Fr., Ashland, Ohio/Ashland) singled to shallow left field to put runners at the corners for Steve Caravati (Jr., Dover, Ohio/Dover), who fouled out for the second out of the inning.
Jedidiah Stephen (So., Caldwell, Ohio/Shenandoah) doubled down the left-field line to score Anderson. Howell was waved home, but was thrown out at the plate. However, Illinois third baseman Chad Frk was called for obstruction as he nudged Howell rounding third. The interference allowed the run to score and gave the Buckeyes a 2-1 lead. Stephen reached third on the throw home and scored on a double down the right field line by Paul Farinacci (Jr., Westlake Village, Calif./Agoura). 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. Illinois right fielder Vince DiMaria dove for the ball and got a glove on the shot from Anderson, but the ball got past him allowing Brett Garrard (Sr., Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) to score from third and Mike Rabin (Jr., West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East) to score from second. Garrard had boarded on a one-out bunt for base hit and then Illinois starter Joe Ziemba hit Rabin. Both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Derek Kinnear (Sr., Kenton, Ohio/Kenton).
The Buckeyes rebounded from a two-hit effort in the home opening loss to Eastern Michigan Wednesday night to put 11 hits on the scoreboard against Illinois. Four different players each had two hits. Anderson and Howell each finished 2-for-5, while Farinacci was 2-for-4 and Ronnie Bourquin (Fr., Canton, Ohio/Canton South) was 2-for-3. Anderson delivered two RBI, while Stephen and Farinacci provided the other two.
Ziemba got the loss for the Illini, which fell to 6-11 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten. He fell to 1-3 on the season, allowing all five runs (three earned) on nine hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Jeff Paarlberg pitched the eighth inning and allowed two hits. Eymann was 2-for-4 to lead Illinois hitters.
Ohio State (8-10, 1-0) and Illinois continue Big Ten play with a doubleheader Saturday at 4:05 p.m. before concluding the series Sunday with a single game at 1:05 p.m.
