Ohio State Takes on Michigan, Western Michigan and Villanova at Snowbird Classic – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/29/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 29, 2012
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State baseball team travels to Florida this weekend for the Snowbird Classic. The Buckeyes take on Michigan in a non-conference matchup at 6 p.m. Friday at Charlotte Sports Park before a doubleheader against Western Michigan at Noon Saturday at North Charlotte Regional Park. The weekend concludes with a matchup with Villanova at Noon Sunday, also at North Charlotte Regional Park.
Ohio State is 3-3 after the first two weeks of the season, taking one of three games last weekend at No. 10 Georgia Tech.
THE OPPONENTS
Michigan is 5-2 on the season after taking two of three games last weekend against Iona. Michael O’Neill leads the Wolverines with a .464 batting average, six doubles and two home runs. The Buckeyes, who swept the Wolverines in Columbus last season, trail the all-time series with Michigan, 96-160-2.
Western Michigan is 1-5 on the season. Jack Scanlon leads with Broncos with a .381 average and five walks. The Buckeyes went 3-1 last season against Western Michigan but trail the all-time series, 40-57-1.
Villanova is 3-3 on the season after sweeping Norfolk State last weekend. Kevin Wager leads the Wildcats with a .391 average and seven RBI. Sunday will mark the first meeting all-time between Ohio State and Villanova.
DEZSE TIES RECORD
Josh Dezse tied an Ohio State single-game record with three home runs Feb. 24. The feat was last accomplished by Chad Ehrnsberger on May 3, 1998 against Indiana. Dezse gave the Buckeyes the early lead in the top of the second, added a mammoth shot to left in the sixth and tied the record with one to right field in the seventh.
The sophomore leads the Big Ten in home runs (4) and slugging percentage (.960) and sits second with a .480 batting average.
DEZSE BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Josh Dezse, a 1B/RHP on the Ohio State baseball team, was named Big Ten Player of the Week, the conference office announced Feb. 20.
Dezse went 7-for-14 on the weekend with a home run, five RBI and four runs scored as the Buckeyes went 2-1 in the Big Ten/Big East Challenge. The Powell, Ohio, native had multi-hit games in all three contests Feb. 17-19, highlighted by a three-hit performance Friday against USF and a 2-for-4 effort with a home run and four RBI Feb. 19 against Connecticut.
NEWCOMERS STEPPING UP
Over their first two weekends in a Buckeye uniform, pitchers Trace Dempsey, Brian King and Jaron Long have combined to allow just four earned runs while striking out 18 over 21.1 innings pitched.
DEZSE PICKS UP PRESEASON HONORS
Ohio State sophomore 1B/RHP Josh Dezse has been named an NCBWA third team preseason All-American and a third team preseason All-American by CollegeSportsMadness.com. Dezse also was named to the watch list for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the top amateur baseball player in the country.
The Powell, Ohio, native led the Buckeyes with a .332 batting average and 42 runs batted in. He tied for the team lead with four home runs while going 4-2 with a team-high six saves and 32 strikeouts in 27.2 innings pitched. Dezse led the Buckeyes with 12 multiple RBI games and tied for third on the team with 17 multi-hit games.
Dezse became the 10th Buckeye to garner Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors after earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurels four times during the season and Player of the Week honors twice. In addition, he was named a Freshman All-American by the NCBWA and Louisville Slugger.
A NEW LOOK
The Ohio State baseball program honored Nick Swisher with a field dedication ceremony Nov. 3 at the newly-renovated Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. Current Buckeyes, fans and media were on hand to recognize Swisher for his generosity in giving the program $500,000 to help install a new turf field.
Selected by the Oakland Athletics with the 16th overall pick of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft, Swisher also spent time with the White Sox before heading to his current home with the New York Yankees where he was a part of the 2009 World Champion team and named an American League All-Star the following season. In his professional career, the Columbus native has seen action in 1,061 games and has amassed 185 home runs.
The current Buckeyes open the 2012 home campaign March 16 against Austin Peay in the first game at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium.
HEAD COACH Greg Beals
Head coach Greg Beals is just the 11th head coach in Ohio State history and only the fourth in the last 60 years. He has a 272-232 career record and is in his 10th season as a collegiate head coach.
16th SEASON AT BILL DAVIS STADIUM
Ohio State is 246-122 all-time at Bill Davis Stadium for a fine .670 winning percentage. Ohio State is 142-79 vs. the Big Ten Conference at home.
UP NEXT
The Buckeyes take on Marist, Coastal Carolina and Toledo March 9-11 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
