Buckeyes Upset No. 4 Louisville in 2-0 Shutout Win – Ohio State Buckeyes

Tuesday, April 14

Columbus, OH

Ohio State

24-9

No. 4 Louisville

27-9

Louisville

Ohio State

Buckeyes Upset No. 4 Louisville in 2-0 Shutout Win – Ohio State Buckeyes

4/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 15, 2015

RELATED INFO · Follow the Buckeyes on Facebook and Twitter · Box Score · Season Stats · VIDEO: Coach Beals Postgame Interview
· VIDEO: Niemeyer Postgame Interivew
· VIDEO: Sergakis Postgame Interview

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Buckeye baseball clubhouse was all smiles on Tuesday night and for good reason. For the first time in six years, the Ohio State baseball team defeated a Top 5 opponent, shutting out fourth-ranked Louisville, 2-0, to conclude an eight-game homestand at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. Junior Nick Sergakis also had the No. 1 play on SportsCenter. Not a bad night at all.

“It is a big win,” head coach Greg Beals said. “Let me say it’s kudos to Louisville and their baseball program. Their staff and their players have put this baseball team on the college baseball map. I give our opponents credit for making it that type of ball game.”

The win for the Buckeyes (24-9, 7-2) marked the first victory over the Cardinals (27-9, 16-2 ACC) since the 1992 season, snapping a nine-game losing streak.
The defense stood strong behind redshirt freshman pitcher Adam Niemeyer, who made his first career start. Sergakis had the play of the night (watch above). Literally. It was SportsCenter’s No. 1 play. In the top of the second, Sergakis made an amazing diving stop down the third base line and fired a laser off one knee across the diamond for the putout. It received 65 percent of the vote on Twitter, beating out Mets’ left fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis’ sliding catch at the warning track.

“It’s called the hot corner for a reason and today lived up to its name,” Sergakis said. “Louisville is a team that move down the base line so I knew I had to get rid of it. Didn’t really have a chance to get up to both feet, so I just let loose from one knee and got it over there. I grew up watching SportsCenter and it’s an honor to be No. 1 on Top 10.”

Ohio State was 0-4 at home all-time against the Cardinals coming into the contest, but tonight was different with a mixture of new faces in new places in the lineup.
“I was excited,” Niemeyer said. “It was a good opportunity to have my first start against a national-caliber team like Louisville. I was lucky enough to make throw some strikes and my defense made a lot of big plays. Nick (Sergakis) made a diving play, and Troy (Montgomery) caught the fly ball at center and threw the guy out at first. That was huge as far as momentum goes and it got me rolling from there.”
Niemeyer had a lot to stomach in his first career start in the team’s first game vs. a ranked opponent this year on national television. But he never seemed to be rattled, tossing five scoreless innings and limiting the Cardinal bats to two hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Freshman Tre’ Gantt made his first career start and went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while senior co-captain Connor Sabanosh made his first collegiate start at first base as the team committed zero errors.
“We have that depth,” Beals said. “Our four-spot hitter is out and can’t play and we were able to fill that hole. I think that says something about our team depth and development. It’s not development just at the top shelf; it’s across the entire 35 man roster.”
Niemeyer underwent Tommy John surgery and received a medical redshirt last year as a true freshman and admitted there were some butterflies before the game.
“I was nervous heading into today but once I took the field and was around the rest of the guys and the team it was just like any other game,” Niemeyer said. “It’s been a long process but I’ve tried to stay positive. I knew I was in good hands here at Ohio State. Everyone has taken care of each other. I knew when I came back I would have an opportunity to show what I could do.”
The bullpen continued where Niemeyer left off as four different pitchers pitched four shutout frames, while not walking a batter.
“When you’re going to play a team like this on a national level, you have to play clean as we both did. Both teams pitched the ball well and played defense. We found a way to score two runs and that’s all it really took tonight.”
Kyle Michalik threw one inning on one hit in the sixth, while Michael Horejsei and Jake Post combined to throw the next two and scattered three hits, leaving three Louisville runners on base. Senior co-captain catcher Aaron Gretz threw out a runner at second and had the final putout in front of home plate on a swinging bunt in the top of the eighth.Trace Dempsey pitched the ninth inning and fanned two batters to pick up his fifth save of the year and seal Niemeyer’s first career win.
Despite leaving 12 runners on base, a two-run third inning would be all the OSU bats would need to produce in the nightcap. Troy Montgomery singled in Gantt, while a Louisville throwing error on a Sabanosh sac bunt allowed L Grant Davis to cross the dish for the 2-0 score.
A big weekend is now up next for the Buckeyes in Big Ten play as the team heads to No. 24 Nebraska for a three-game series in Lincoln. First pitch Friday is set for 7:35 p.m. ET.

“The fact that we let one slip over the weekend, today was an opportunity to bounce back,” Beals said. “To get this win, to roll us into Nebraska is critical. We were very high, slip and lost a series then got some juice back into us as we head to Nebraska.”
GAME NOTES · The win marked the first victory over a Top 5 opponent in six years when the Buckeyes defeated No. 2 Miami, 7-1, March 25, 2009, in Coral Gables, Fla. · The victory snaps a nine-game losing streak vs. the Cardinals and first since the 1992 season. The Buckeyes also improve to 1-4 at home vs. Louisville. · Pat Porter’s career-high 12-game hit streak was snapped Tuesday night. · Adam Niemeyer claimed his first career win with a career-high five innings pitched. · L Grant Davis had a season-high three-hit performance. · Troy Montgomery extended his reached-base streak to 10-consecutive contests, while improving his hit streak to seven in his 10th multi-hit game of 2015. · Ronnie Dawson tallied his team-best 11th multi-hit game of the year.