Buckeyes Defeat Broncs, 7-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Wednesday, March 18

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

12-5

Rider

3-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Rider	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	1
Ohio State	2	4	0	0	0	1	0	0	X	7	11	0

Buckeyes Defeat Broncs, 7-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes

3/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 18, 2015

Box Score

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Junior left-handed pitcher John Havird struck out eight, while the OSU offense collected 11 hits with a season-high six stolen bases for a 7-2 win over Rider to sweep the Broncs in a midweek, two-game series Wednesday at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. The Buckeyes improve to 12-5 overall heading into their first Big Ten series of the year against Michigan State Friday-Sunday in Columbus.

After the Broncs plated two runs on four hits vs. Havird, Ohio State answered quickly with two runs of their own to tie it, 2-2. Troy Montgomery worked a lead-off walk and stole second before Pat Porter drove in his team-best 14th run of the year with a single to left. Ronnie Dawson tied the game when he singled up the middle to plate Porter.

The Scarlet and Gray notched a four-run, six-hit second inning vs. Rider starter Paul Sparano. Troy Kuhn doubled to begin the momentum. Craig Nennig then continued his hot hitting at the plate with a RBI single to center to give OSU the 3-2 lead. A RBI double by Montgomery and RBI groundout by Connor Sabanosh extended it to 5-2. History was then made when Porter, a native of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, sent a deep fly ball over the head of Rider’s centerfielder for a one-run triple. The triple was his 13th of his career, which ties the OSU all-time career record. The triple scored Montgomery, who has a team-best 14 runs scored in 2015.

Ohio State plated a seventh and final run in the bottom of the sixth when Dawson took a 0-2 pitch the other way for a liner to left to push Porter around home plate.

Meanwhile, Havird settled down on the mound after giving up two runs in the first. The junior transfer from Mesa, Ariz., Havird sent down 12 of the next 13 batters he faced, fanning a season-high eight batters. He claimed the victory to improve to 2-0, throwing five innings on two runs, five hits and no walks. The OSU bullpen continued to throw scoreless innings vs. the Broncs. Adam Niemeyer pitched the sixth and had a strikeout, while Seth Kinker tossed the seventh and sent Rider down in order with a strikeout. Lefty Michael Horejsei threw a scoreless frame in the eighth with one strikeout. Shea Murray threw the ninth and allowed no runs with a walk and two strikeouts.

Offensively, Porter went 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored, walk and triple, while Dawson was 2-for-4 with two RBI, a walk and two stolen bases. Nick Sergakis also had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4.

GAME NOTES ? Montgomery and Nennig extended their hit streaks to nine-consecutive games. ? Montgomery has reached base safely in 12-consecutive contests (team-high), while Sabanosh (11) and Nennig (10) also extended their reached-base streaks. ? With a triple in the bottom of the second, Porter tied the OSU all-time career triples record with 13. He needs one more to pass former Buckeyes Jacob Howell (2004-07), Steve Caravati (2001-05) and Drew Anderson (2002-04) for the all-time triples record. ? Montgomery claimed his seventh stolen base of the season, which is third-most in the Big Ten.