Ohio State Claims Walk-Off Win in Home Opener – Ohio State Buckeyes

Wednesday, March 11

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

8-4

Northern Kentucky

2-12

Northern Kentucky

Ohio State

Ohio State Claims Walk-Off Win in Home Opener – Ohio State Buckeyes

3/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 11, 2015

Box Score

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – An exciting home opener ended with an unusual play as the Ohio State baseball team defeated Northern Kentucky, 4-3, on a walk-off hit by pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday evening at Nick Swisher Field in Bill Davis Stadium. With the victory, the Buckeyes improve to 8-4 overall, while the Norse drop to 2-12 in 2015.

Tied at 3-3 with the bases loaded, Connor Sabanosh was hit by a 3-2 pitch from NKU reliever Tyler Miller to push around pinch runner Tre’ Gantt for the gamewinning run. Ohio State has now won four-consecutive games heading into their first home series vs. Evansville Friday-Sunday in Columbus.

“We played great defense and got a quality start out of Jacob Niggemeyer,” head coach Greg Beals said. “The rookie gets the ball for the first time in his career in a home opener and gave us six innings with two earned runs. The bullpen held their own tonight as well. We got the big hit from Dawson early in the ball game. He’s a dynamic offensive player and gave us the lead again late in the game. It was anti-climactic at the end, but I thought it was a good ball game and I give Northern Kentucky credit. They played very well tonight.”

The Buckeyes got another quality start by a starting pitcher. In front of his hometown support, Niggemeyer, a native of Powell, Ohio, pitched six innings and allowed two runs on eight hits with two walks in a strikeout in his collegiate debut. Offensively, Ronnie Dawson was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI and a home run, while Pat Porter was 2-for-3 with a walk.

Ohio State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Dawson launched a one-out, two-run homer off the scoreboard in right center. Sabanosh was on first base after he singled up to center field vs. NKU starter Matt Jefferson.

However, the Norse tied the contest after a run in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively. NKU made it a one-run game in the top of the fourth after Ryan Lefevers hit a two-out RBI double to left center vs. Niggemeyer to cut the OSU lead to 2-1. The next fame, the nation’s leader in doubles, Cole Bauml, pulled a pitch down the right field line for his 15th two-bagger of the year to tie it at 2-2. Niggemeyer kept it even when he claimed his second strikeout and a groundout to first base.

Ohio State left two runners on base in the sixth inning vs. the Norse. With two on and nobody out, Sabanosh placed a bunt down, but was called out for catcher’s interference. NKU reliever Evan Korson then came into the game and got back-to-back outs to keep it at two runs apiece.

In the seventh, Ohio State went to its bullpen. Lefty Michael Horejsei worked quickly and left a runner on first base after his first strikeout in his second appearance of 2015. The Buckeyes then loaded the bases in the bottom half, but could not push around the go-ahead run after Korson got Troy Montgomery to strikeout.

The Norse claimed a one-out double in the top of the eighth vs. reliever Jake Post. But a heads-up play by shortstop Craig Nennig threw out the lead-runner at third base. Montgomery then tracked down a ball in right center to end the top half.

Dawson then gave the Scarlet and Gray a 3-2 advantage in the bottom of the eighth using his speed. On an attempted steal, Korson tried to pick off the OSU sophomore, but a poor throw allowed Dawson to sprint around the bases and slide across home plate for the go-ahead run.

The Norse would not go away quietly, though. NKU second baseman Kyle Colletta singled through the left side with two down to tie the game, 3-3, vs. Ohio State closer Trace Dempsey in the top of the ninth.

But a one-out double by Nennig, a walk to Ryan Leffel and a single by Montgomery in the bottom half set up the weird ending to the first home game of 2015. Dempsey claimed the win and improves to 2-0, throwing one inning, allowing two hits and one earned run with a walk. Post also threw an inning and allowed no runs on one hit with a strikeout.

GAME NOTES: ?Sabanosh extended his reached-base streak to six-consecutive games. ?Dawson tallied his second home run of the season and sixth of his career. ?Montgomery extended his reached base streak to seven straight games. ?Niggemeyer made his collegiate debut vs. NKU. ?Gantt scored his second run off the bench in the last two games.