Ohio State Set to Begin Big Ten Play with Series at Purdue – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/21/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 21, 2013
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State baseball team travels to Purdue for a three-game set to begin Big Ten play this weekend in West Lafayette, Ind. The opener is slated for 7 p.m. Friday before a 2 p.m. game Saturday and the finale at 1 p.m. Sunday at Alexander Field.
Fans can find links to live stats, a radio link and a video stream on the schedule page at OhioStateBuckeyes.com or follow at Twitter.com/OhioState_BASE.
ON THE BUMP
Fri.: RHP Jaron Long (3-1, 2.36)
vs. RHP Brad Schreiber (1-2, 5.25)
Sat.: RHP Brad Goldberg (2-0, 1.52)
vs. LHP Jordan Minch (2-2, 5.76)
Sun.: LHP Brian King (3-2, 3.03)
vs. RHP Robert Ramer (2-1, 5.22)
OHIO STATE OF LATE
Ohio State went 2-1 over the weekend against Bryant. The Buckeyes picked up a 4-1 win Friday, dropped a tight 3-2 decision Saturday and won the rubber game, 6-4, Sunday at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium.
Jaron Long allowed one earned run while striking out five over 7.0 to pick up the win Friday while Trace Dempsey earned the save in both victories. Pat Porter finished the weekend 4-for-10 with a triple, three runs scored and an RBI.
SCOUTING PURDUE
Purdue is 7-11 on the season after winning a series at Evansville last weekend. Infielder Jake Hansen leads the Boilermakers with a .365 average to go along with a double, a triple, nine runs scored and five RBI while catcher Sean McHugh has tallied a .297 average with five doubles, a triple and 11 RBI.
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Purdue, 138-60-1.
BUCKEYES IN THE BIG TEN
Entering Big Ten play, Ohio State has the fourth-best record in the Big Ten at 12-6. The Buckeyes rank highly in several offensive categories including triples (6, t-2nd), slugging percentage (.385, 2nd), home runs (7, 2nd), stolen bases (36, 3rd), doubles (32, 4th) and runs scored (102, 4th). Ohio State also ranks among the leaders on the mound, including strikeouts (137, 2nd), earned-run average (2.52, 2nd), opponent batting average (.232, 2nd) and saves (8, 1st).
Individually, Joe Ciamacco and Tim Wetzel are tied for the Big Ten lead with eight stolen bases while Ciamacco rankes 10th with a .367 average and a .446 on-base percentage. Pat Porter is tied for fifth with a pair of home runs, tied for second with two doubles, and sits 10th in RBI and slugging percentage while Aaron Gretz sits tied for second with seven doubles and seventh with a .457 on-base percentage. Jacob Bosiokovic is tied for second in the conference with three long balls and 10th with 14 RBI while Kirby Pellant is tied for second with two triples.
Brad Goldberg leads the Big Ten with 29 strikeouts, sits fourth with a 1.52 ERA and is second with a .176 opponent bating average. Jaron Long is tied for sixth with 24 strikeouts while Brian King is tied for ninth with 22. Long and King are tied for third with three wins while all three members of the Buckeyes’ starting rotation rank in the Top 10 in the conference in innings pitched. Closer Trace Dempsey leads the Big Ten and is tied for second nationall with seven saves.
BUCKS EARN B1G WEEKLY HONORS
Jacob Bosiokovic – FOW (3/11)
Aaron Gretz – PlOW (2/25)
Brad Goldberg – PiOW (2/25)
Troy Kuhn – FOW (2/25)
Brad Goldberg – PiOW (2/18)
BRYANT SERIES NOTES
• Pat Porter led the Buckeyes offensively, going 4-for-10 with a triple, three runs scored and an RBI.
• Jaron Long allowed one earned run on eight hits while striking out five over 7.0 innings to earn with win Friday to move to 3-1 on the season.
• The Ohio State pitching staff posted a 2.00 team ERA in the three games while allowing Bryant to hit just .202.
• The Ohio State bullpen’s scoreless streak was snapped at 26.2 innings when the Bulldogs scored in the ninth inning of Saturday’s game. The Buckeye relievers had not allowed an earned run dating back to the ninth inning against Connecticut March 1.
• That was the only run the Ohio State bullpen allowed as it struck out seven and allowed five hits over 9.0 innings pitched over the weekend.
• Trace Dempsey earned the save in both wins over the weekend, striking out four over 2.0 innings pitched.
• Kirby Pellant went 2-for-4 with an RBI Saturday in his first at-bats since getting hit by a pitch at Stetson March 2.
SOME MORE NOTES
• Aaron Gretz has a team-high seven doubles this season after tallying three as a freshman a season ago. In addition, the sophomore has walked a team-high 12 times while striking out 10.
• Ohio State is getting quality starts out of its rotation of Long, Goldberg and King. The trio has averaged over six innings per start and posted a 2.33 ERA.
• The Buckeyes are 9-1 when leading after six innings and 8-2 when they score first.
• Ohio State is 12-2 when scoring more than two runs.
• The Buckeyes have buckled down with runners on base, allowing opponents to hit just .209.
• Trace Dempsey is tied for second nationally and leads the Big Ten with seven saves. He’s posted a 0.75 ERA while striking out 13 in 12.0 innings pitched. Dempsey has not allowed an earned run over his last 9.0 innings.
• David Fathalikhani has not allowed a run over his first seven appearances.
• Joe Ciamacco is a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts in 2013 to move his career total to 24-for-24.
• Brett McKinney has tossed 19.1 innings over his last six appearances, allowing two earned runs on 14 hits while striking out 19.
• Ryan Riga has allowed just one earned run while striking out nine over his first 10.1 innings pitched in nine appearances.
DEZSE OUT AT LEAST TWO MONTHS
Josh Dezse will sit out at least the first two months of the 2013 season with a stress reaction in his lower back, head coach Greg Beals announced Feb. 11.
Dezse finished second on the team with a .306 batting average and five home runs to go along with nine doubles, 33 RBI and 31 runs scored a season ago. The Powell, Ohio, native also made 24 appearances on the mound, going 1-2 with a 2.86 ERA and tied for third in the Big Ten with seven saves as he allowed opponents to hit a paltry .188.
BUCKS PICKED FOURTH IN PRESEASON POLL
Ohio State was selected fourth in the Big Ten preseason coaches’ poll, the conference office announced Feb. 12. In addition, Josh Dezse, Brad Goldberg and Jaron Long have been named players to watch.
Indiana enters the season as the conference favorite followed by Nebraska, Michigan State, Ohio State, Minnesota and Illinois.
TRIO NAMED CAPTAINS FOR 2013
Seniors Ryan Cypret, David Fathalikhani and Brett McKinney have been named captains of the 2013 Ohio State baseball team, head coach Greg Beals announced Nov. 8.
HEAD COACH Greg Beals
Head coach Greg Beals is the 11th head coach in Ohio State history and only the fourth in the last 60 years. He has a 315-262 career record and is in his 11th season as a collegiate head coach.
17th SEASON AT BILL DAVIS STADIUM
Ohio State is 265-131 all-time at Bill Davis Stadium for a fine .670 winning percentage. Ohio State is 150-82 vs. the Big Ten Conference at home.
UP NEXT
Ohio State hosts Toledo at 5 p.m. March 26 before traveling to Athens to face Ohio at 6 p.m. March 27.
