Lakins Fires a 10-Inning Gem in 2-1 Win at No. 24 Nebraska – Ohio State Buckeyes

Saturday, April 18

Lincoln, Neb.

Ohio State

25-10, 8-3

No. 24 Nebraska

29-12, 6-5

Ohio State

Nebraska

Lakins Fires a 10-Inning Gem in 2-1 Win at No. 24 Nebraska – Ohio State Buckeyes

4/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

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April 18, 2015

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LINCOLN, Neb. — Travis Lakins was in the zone on Saturday. The Buckeye sophomore right-hander pitched a 10-inning, two-hit complete-game performance to guide the Ohio State baseball team to a 2-1 victory at No. 24 Nebraska Saturday afternoon at Hawks Field. With the victory, the Buckeyes snap a six-game losing streak vs. the Huskers and improve to 25-10 overall and 8-3 in Big Ten play, while Nebraska falls to 29-12 and 6-5 in conference action.

“It was a great win for us and Travis Lakins was really good today,” head coach Greg Beals said. “We ran his pitch count just a little bit higher than normal but he had command of the game and was competing so well that it would of have been a fist-fight if I tried to take him out of the game. When your horse is running like that, you keep him running. He pitched very well and we got a clutch hit when we needed it.”

After allowing a solo home run in the bottom of third, Lakins began to deal. He sent down the next 21 Husker batters, throwing 121 pitches overall, including 85 strikes. He improves to 2-2 in 2015 with seven strikeouts and two walks. Nebraska left-handed starter Kyle Kubat received the tough-luck loss, throwing nine innings on seven hits, two runs and five strikeouts.

“All four of my pitches were working today,” Lakins said. “I was locating my changeup very well and was hitting command with my fastball. They are a great hitting-team and I knew if I competed and let my defense play behind me, that we would have a chance to win.”

With the score tied 1-1, the Buckeyes claimed the go-ahead run when freshman Tre’ Gantt sent a two-out single up the middle vs. closer Josh Roeder to plate pinch runner Jake Brobst. Ryan Leffel began the rally with a lead-off single vs. Kubat before Ronnie Dawson placed the sac bunt down to move Brobst to second base.

Lakins then went out for his final inning in the bottom of the tenth. After getting a fly out, Lakins allowed his first walk of the day. Pinch runner Elijah Didlay then stole second base before Lakins surrendered his second walk in the inning. Pitching Coach Mike Stafford then went out to talk things over to his sophomore pitcher and it worked. Lakins claimed back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

“He [Coach Stafford] just told me I’m one pitch away from ending this game, get a double play,” Lakins said. “I wanted to get the strikeouts and get out of here. I knew they put me out there in the tenth for a reason and I just did my job.”

Both starting pitchers filled the strike zone early in the counts and got quick outs as the score remained tied at 1-all through nine. Nebraska plated a run in the third frame on a solo home run, while Ohio State evened the tides with a run in the fifth on a RBI groundout.

Jake Placzek sent the first pitch vs. Lakins just over the wall in left in the bottom of the third. In the top half of the fourth, Troy Montgomery and Pat Porter both singled vs. Kubat, but a 6-4-3 double play killed the potential OSU rally.

Ohio State got on the board to tie it at 1-1 in the top of the fifth. Dawson doubled off the bottom of the center field wall to lead off for the Buckeyes. He reached third base on a groundout and crossed home plate on a RBI grounder by Gantt.

“We came here to win a series,” Beals said. “I told them to enjoy the victory today, but make sure we are locked in tomorrow to win a series.”

SERIES FINALE
The Buckeyes and Huskers will close out the three-game series at 1:05 p.m. CT Sunday at Hawks Field. LHP Ryan Riga (5-2, 1.76 ERA) will face off vs. RHP Derek Burkamper (4-2, 3.47 ERA).

GAME NOTES

Travis Lakins’ 10-inning performance marked the first time an OSU pitcher tossed 10 innings since 2008 when Jake Hale threw 10 innings in a 4-3 win (11) vs. Michigan State (April 11, 2008).
Troy Montgomery extended his hit streak to nine-consecutive games and his reached base streak to 12 straight contests.
Ronnie Dawson picked up his 12th multi-hit game of the year.
Tre’ Gantt claimed a season-best two RBI.