Ohio State Drops Game 2 to Iowa, 9-8, in 10 Innings – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Iowa tied the score with a four-run ninth inning and then added a run in the 10th to stun the Buckeyes, 9-8, in the second game of this three game series. Iowa improves to 20-27 overall and 9-11 in the Big Ten while Ohio State falls to 22-24 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten.
“This one stings a little bit but we’re in control of our own destiny,” head coach Greg Beals said. “We need to put this one away and come back and get a win tomorrow to get back above .500 in conference play.”
Greg Solomon hit what appeared to be a game-changing three-run home run in the seventh inning to break a 4-all tie. Another run in the eighth extended the lead to 8-4. But the Hawkeyes scored four runs off Ohio State closer Josh Dezse to tie the score and force extra innings. The Hawkeyes scored a run off two hits in the 10th and the Buckeyes were not able to match.
Ohio State scored a run in the first on singles by Wetzel and Josh Dezse. A throwing error by the third baseman allowed Wetzel to score on Matt Streng’s grounder.
The Hawkeyes tied it at 1-all in the second inning on a sac bunt by Phil Keppler. The ball bounded in front of the plate and pitcher Brett McKinney secured in time for the throw home. But it appeared as if he couldn’t get it out of his glove and instead had to go to first for the out.
Iowa scored three more runs in the fourth inning – all with two out – to build a 4-1 lead. Keppler and Kurt Lee had big, RBI doubles in the inning.
Ohio State came right back with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth to close the deficit to one. Streng singled and came around to score on a sac fly by Brad Hallberg in the fifth. And Brian DeLucia scored from third off a single by Cypret.
Both starters pitched well. Buckeye starter Brett McKinney scattered eight hits and allowed four runs through six innings of work. He struck out the side in the first and fifth inning on his way to a career-high nine strikeouts.
Iowa started a lefty for the second consecutive game, and Matt Dermody pitched equally as well as McKinney through six innings before he was relieved in the seventh. He scattered six hits and gave up the three runs, two of them earned. He walked one and struck out four.
Ohio State tied the score at four on another Cypret single in the seventh inning off Iowa reliever Zach Kenyon. Coming around to score on the play was Wetzel, who singled and scored for the second time on the day in the inning.
After walking Dezse, Kenyon was relieved by Tim Fangman with two men on base. But after getting the second out of the inning, Fangman served up a three-run home run off the bat of Greg Solomon – his first of the year – that gave the Buckeyes their first lead of the weekend at 7-4.
A Hallberg single, Engle double and Cypret grounder increased the lead to 8-4. And then came the Iowa ninth.
Fangman picked up the win to move to 2-1 for Iowa while Theron Minium fell to 0-1 with his first loss of the season for the Buckeyes.
Random Thoughts from the Ball Park:
- Greg Solomon’s home run in the seventh inning was his first as a Buckeye. He leads the team with 14 doubles and is second to Brian DeLucia (four) with three triples.
- It was nice to see all the baseball alumni at the game and as part of “Baseball Alumni” weekend. The deck outside of the Bill Davis Stadium baseball offices was packed with alumni the entire game.
- Special thanks to the Buckeye Diamond Club for, once again, hosting their annual barbecue. All donations to the Diamond Club’s efforts directly support the Ohio State baseball program. Call 614-292-1075 for information about joining.
