Riga Outduels Rosa in 1-0 Series Finale Win at Rutgers – Ohio State Buckeyes

Sunday, March 29

Piscataway, N.J.

Ohio State

18-7, 4-2

Rutgers

8-16, 3-3

Ohio State

Rutgers

Riga Outduels Rosa in 1-0 Series Finale Win at Rutgers – Ohio State Buckeyes

3/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 29, 2015

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Ryan Riga was in the zone once again for the Buckeyes on Sunday. The senior lefty pitched a complete-game shutout to lead the Ohio State baseball team to a 1-0 series finale win over Rutgers at Bainton Field. The native of Fairfield, Ohio, Riga broke the Ohio State scoreless innings streak record during his shutout performance (29.0 IP), passing former Buckeye Bob Spears’ 1995 mark of 22.1.

“Ryan Riga was A+ today,” head coach Greg Beals said. “Our senior goes out and throws a gem for us and it was exactly what we needed. We were only able to get one run from the offense, but Riga was phenomenal.”

With the victory, Ohio State improves to 18-7 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play, while Rutgers falls to 8-15 and 3-3 in the conference after the second week of league play.

Riga’s defense helped close out the team’s second series victory of the season. Right fielder Pat Porter threw out the tying run in the bottom of the ninth on a strong throw to Aaron Gretz at home plate, while left fielder Ronnie Dawson had a diving catch in left field to claim the final out of the game. Gretz also threw out a runner rounding second base after a bunt in front of the plate for the first out too.

“Pat is a fabulous defensive player and I knew he was going to make an accurate throw,” Beals said. “We always talk about his hitting, but defensively he is just as strong. We made all the plays today. Great pitching and defense will keep you in ball games. I told the guys that performance is championship baseball.” Riga improves to 5-1, limiting the Scarlet Knights’ bats to six hits with no walks and five strikeouts. After giving up a single in the top of the first, Riga sent down the next 18 batters until allowing a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh.

Both pitchers were dealing in the finale, but Riga’s offense got the timely hitting. Rutgers starting pitcher Gaby Rosa threw seven innings and allowed just two hits on one run with three walks and two strikeouts. Rosa falls to 1-2 in 2015. The first five innings went scoreless as just a combined three batters reached base safely against the tough pitching. Riga broke Spears’ mark in the bottom of the third on the second out of the frame.

“Their pitcher really attacked the strike zone and hit the top of the zone consistently with his fastball,” Beals said. “We weren’t able to get on top of him and drive the ball. Give him credit, he competed very well also.”

With a 3-2 count and two outs, Pat Porter plated the only run of the game in the top of the sixth vs. Rosa with his team-best fourth triple of the year, scoring Troy Montgomery from first base. Porter broke the OSU all-time triples record in the win on Friday and now has 15 in his career.

Ohio State will next begin a 10-game homestand at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday against Ohio.

GAME NOTES · Ryan Riga broke the Ohio State record for scoreless innings pitched (currently 29.0 IP), breaking the 20-year old record held by former Buckeye Bob Spears (22.1) in 1995. · It was the first complete-game shutout by an OSU pitcher this year. · Pat Porter batted .364 in the series with two runs scored, one double, two triples, five RBI and two walks. · Troy Montgomery scored his team-best 20th run scored on Sunday. · Troy Kuhn extended his reached-base streak to 12-consecutive games, while Ronnie Dawson’s eight-game hit streak was snapped in the win over the Scarlet Knights.