Ohio State
17-6, 3-1
Rutgers
7-15, 2-2
Seven-Run Fourth Propels Ohio State to 13-4 Win at Rutgers – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 27, 2015
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Highlighted by a seven-run, fourth inning, the Ohio State baseball team took down Rutgers 13-4 Friday afternoon in Piscataway, N.J. The victory for the Buckeyes (17-6, 3-1 B1G) in the inaugural Big Ten game at Bainton Field snaps a 16-game home win streak for the Scarlet Knights (7-15, 2-2 B1G).
“It’s big to get a win on the road in the first game of a series and I thought we swung the bats extremely well,” head coach Greg Beals said. “It was critical for our left-handed hitters to handle their left-handed starter and we got some big hits from Dawson and Porter today in the fourth inning. We were able to move baserunners and manufacture runs against them too.”
Offensively, sophomore Ronnie Dawson was 3-for-4 with a home run, triple, single, walk, two runs scored and three RBI, while senior Pat Porter was 2-for-4 with a triple, double, four RBI, one walk and two runs scored. The native of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Porter posted his 14th career triple on a drive to left center in the third inning to break the Ohio State school record. Troy Kuhn (3 HBP), Craig Nennig (2-for-4) and Ryan Leffel (3-for-4) each had two runs scored as well. The Buckeyes have now won five-consecutive games.
The Buckeyes struck first in the top of the third with two runs on three hits vs. Rutgers starter Mark McCoy. After Nennig doubled to right center and stole third base, Leffel slapped a single up the middle to make it 1-0. Porter then made history to extend the lead to 2-0. He posted his third triple of the season and 14th of his career to break the Ohio State school record, finishing off the play with head first dive into third base to plate Leffel.
The Scarlet Knights had the bases loaded in the bottom half, but a solid 4-6-3 double play turn by Nick Sergakis and Nennig ended the inning to keep it 2-0. The Buckeye bats would do the rest.
“That was a critical play in the game,” Beals said. “To get that hitter to roll over and hit into a double play set the tone for the rest of the game.”
Ohio State then registered a season-high, seven-run fourth inning vs. McCoy to open the game, 9-0. Ronnie Dawson had a productive fourth frame with two extra base hits as the Buckeyes batted around. Dawson crushed the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for his fifth home run of the year for the 3-0 lead. A sac fly by Leffel made it 4-0. Porter then cleared the bases with a three-run double to left center for the 6-0 advantage. Dawson followed with an opposite field, two-run triple to left center to open the game, 9-0. The OSU sophomore has homered in three of the last four games.
Ohio State added four more runs vs. the Scarlet Knights – all on sac flies. L Grant Davis scored Porter in the sixth for his fourth RBI of 2015. Connor Sabanosh made it 11-2 on a sac fly to right to push Leffel home. Pinch hitter Zach Ratcliff and Nennig each picked up sac flies in the eight to give Ohio State a 13-4 lead.
Rutgers plated four runs vs. Ohio State starter Tanner Tully (three earned). The OSU sophomore improves to 2-1, throwing a season-high seven innings on eight hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Redshirt freshman Adam Niemeyer threw two scoreless frames with two strikeouts.
“Tanner wasn’t his best today, but he gave us seven strong innings and limited them to three earned runs for another quality start,” Beals said. “That’s what you need out of your Friday starter and he gave us a chance to win today.”
The Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights return the field at 1 p.m. Saturday. RHP Travis Lakins (1-2, 4.37 ERA) takes on LHP Howie Brey (1-3, 4.08 ERA) in game two. The contest will be streamed on BTN Plus ($) and can also listen on AM 1460 ESPN.
GAME NOTES · The game today marked the beginning of the first Big Ten series held at Rutgers. · Ohio State has scored nine runs or more in the last three games and has won five straight. · The Buckeyes are 8-0 vs. LHP starters. · Pat Porter broke the OSU all-time triples record (14), passing former Buckeyes Jacob Howell (2004-07), Steve Caravati (2001-05) and Drew Anderson (2002-04). He tied his career high with four RBI. · Ronnie Dawson had a career-high eight total bases and tied his career-best with three RBI and two runs scored. He’s now tied for the Big Ten lead with five homers. · Dawson extends his hit streak to seven games, while Nennig has a five-game hit streak. · Troy Kuhn was hit by a pitch three times. He’s tied for first in the Big Ten with eight and extended his reached base streak to 10. · Troy Montgomery’s hit streak (14) and reached base streak (17) was snapped today. · Ryan Leffel tied his career high with three hits.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tully, Tanner (2-1)
L: McCoy (0-5)
Batting:
2B: Porter, Pat 1 ; Nennig, Craig 1 ; Leffel, Ryan 1
3B: Porter, Pat 1 ; Dawson, Ronnie 1
HR: Dawson, Ronnie 1
RBI: Sabanosh, Connor 1 ; Porter, Pat 4 ; Dawson, Ronnie 3 ; Davis, L 1 ; Ratcliff, Zach 1 ; Nennig, Craig 1 ; Leffel, Ryan 2
SF: Sabanosh, Connor 1 ; Davis, L 1 ; Ratcliff, Zach 1 ; Nennig, Craig 1 ; Leffel, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sabanosh, Connor 1 ; Porter, Pat 2 ; Kuhn, Troy 2 ; Dawson, Ronnie 2 ; Sergakis, Nick 1 ; McDonough, Jordan 1 ; Nennig, Craig 2 ; Leffel, Ryan 2
SB: Nennig, Craig 1
HBP: Kuhn, Troy 3 ; Davis, L 1
Batting:
2B: Marcinczyk 1 ; Folinusz 1
HR: Zarrillo 1
RBI: Carter 1 ; D'Annunzio 1 ; Zarrillo 1 ; Suseck 1
SH: Freeman 1
Base Running:
RUNS: D'Annunzio 1 ; Zarrillo 1 ; Folinusz 1 ; Freeman 1
