Ohio State Drops Opening Game at No. 24 Nebraska, 5-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Friday, April 17

Lincoln, Neb.

Ohio State

24-10, 7-3

No. 24 Nebraska

29-11, 6-4

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

Ohio State Drops Opening Game at No. 24 Nebraska, 5-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes

4/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

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April 17, 2015

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State baseball team suffered a 5-2 loss at No. 24 Nebraska Friday afternoon at Hawks Field. With the loss, the Buckeyes fall to 24-10 overall and 7-3 in Big Ten play, while the Huskers improve to 29-11 and 6-4 in conference action.

The Huskers plated five runs on nine hits vs. the Scarlet and Gray pitching. Ohio State made a lot of noise at the plate and hit the ball hard, but could only tally a run in the sixth and eighth innings, respectively, leaving 10 runners on base in the opening contest of the three-game road conference series in front 3,337 fans at Hawks Field. The game was pushed up to an earlier start time due to predicted weather Friday evening.

The Huskers plated two runs in the bottom of the third with two outs to take the 2-0 advantage vs. Ohio State starting pitcher Tanner Tully. A double by Tanner Lubach off the wall in right made it 1-0. Pat Porter tried to make a feet-first diving play in right on the following at-bat, but couldn’t come up with the grab to plate a second Husker run.

The Buckeyes cut the Husker lead in half in the top of the sixth, collecting four hits vs. Nebraska starter Chance Sinclair, who kept the Scarlet and Gray off the board in the first five frames. Troy Montgomery and Connor Sabanosh both singled to begin the OSU at-bat. A RBI single up the middle by Pat Porter plated Montgomery to make it 2-1. Aaron Gretz then loaded the bases with a single to right field to end Sinclair’s day on the mound. But the Huskers kept the lead when reliever Jeff Chesnut got Craig Nennig to swing on the first pitch and ground out to third base to leave them loaded.

In the seventh, Tre’ Gantt reached third base with one out on the board, but Ohio State failed to capitalize. Back-to-back called strike threes by Chesnut kept it 2-1. The Huskers regained a two-run lead in the bottom half when Nebraska’s ninth-hitter posted a lead-off home run vs. Tully.

The Buckeyes clawed back to cut the lead to a one run-score, 3-2, in the top of the eighth. Gretz grounded out to third base to allow Porter to cross the dish after he led off the inning with his second single. Nebraska closer Josh Roeder pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his 11th save of the year. Sinclair improves to 5-5, throwing 5.2 innings on six hits, one run, two walks and six strikeouts.

Nebraska threatened to strike in the bottom of the first, but Ronnie Dawson was able to hold on to a catch in deep left field after tumbling to the ground on a sharp liner by Ben Miller. Ohio State made some noise early in the contest, but couldn’t cross the plate vs. Sinclair. In the top of the second, Nennig knocked a two-out to left field, but Dawson was caught off the bag on the third base on a fake throw and was tagged out for the final out. In the third, L Grant Davis reached third base, but was left there as Sinclair induced a fly out. Dawson got aboard for the second in the top of the fourth, but was thrown out at second base on an attempted steal for the final out.

Tully had a quality start, but received loss to fall to 3-2. He threw seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Kyle Michalik threw to one batter in the eighth, while Michael Horejsei tossed 0.1 innings and allowed two hits on one run. Seth Kinker threw the final two outs.

UP NEXT
The Buckeyes and Huskers meet for game two at 2:05 p.m. CT Saturday at Hawks Field. The game will be streamed on BTN Plus ($) and broadcasted on NET (Nebraska Sports Network). RHP Travis Lakins (1-2, 3.83 ERA) squares off vs. LHP Kyle Kubat (4-1, 2.22 ERA). The game will also be on the radio on AM 1460 ESPN.

GAME NOTES:

Nebraska has now won six-consecutive games vs. Ohio State.
Troy Montgomery extended his hit streak to eight-consecutive games and reached-base streak to 11 straight contests.
Pat Porter notched his 12-multi hit contest of the season (team-best)