Ohio State
7-5-1
UNLV
6-7
Ohio State Bats Erupt in 20-3 Win at UNLV – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2016
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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Ohio State baseball team had a season-high 21 hits in a 20-3 win at UNLV in game two of the four-game series Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas, Nev. The Buckeye offense erupted for 20 runs, while redshirt sophomore starting pitcher Adam Niemeyer limited the UNLV bats to two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in six innings of work. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 7-5-1, while the Rebels drop to 6-7 in 2016.
“This was a game that defines character,” head coach Greg Beals said. “We didn’t play well yesterday. We had a lot of chances and didn’t take of it. I challenged the guys and they showed up today. This offense is very capable and talented. Hopefully this was a bust-out game for us and we are able to keep it moving forward. We played error free and ran the bases extremely well and that set up the extra-base hits. We need to stay with the competitive mentality we showed today.”
The Scarlet and Gray bats notched two runs in the first, five in the third, sixth in the fourth, one run in both the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, four more in the seventh and one final run in the ninth to snap a four-game losing skid. Niemeyer mixed his pitches well throughout the contest, fanning seven UNLV hitters to improve to 1-1 this season.
“Niemeyer threw a bunch of strikes and commanded the bottom of the zone,” Beals said. “It’s challenging for a pitcher to sit like he did during a ball game even when our offense was scoring. He handled it well.”
Brady Cherry posted a season-high four RBI in win over Rebels
LOCKED IN AT THE DISH
Ohio State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead vs. UNLV right-handed starter Dean Kremer in the top of the first. After a lead-off single by junior center fielder Troy Montgomery, freshman third baseman Brady Cherry struck the first pitch he saw vs. Kremer into the gap in right center for his first career triple. Both runs scored on the play when a poor throw on the relay got passed the UNLV third baseman. The scoring was just beginning.
In the third, the Scarlet and Gray posted five runs to end a short outing for Kremer. Six straight hits to be exact. With the bases juiced, junior co-captain catcher Jalen Washington hit his fourth double of the year to right center to score a pair of Buckeyes. Sophomore designated hitter Tre’ Gantt followed with a double down the left field line, while senior first baseman Troy Kuhn singled through the left side to push the lead to 6-1. A sacrifice fly by senior second baseman L Grant Davis made it a six-run advantage.
The fourth inning saw six more runs cross the plate. Gantt knocked his second double of the afternoon in the top of the fourth for the team’s eighth run. A wild pitch and sac fly made it 10-2. Montgomery doubled down the left field line to plate the 11th before Cherry sent a sac fly to center for the 10-run advantage. A poor throw allowed the OSU lead-off hitter to cross the plate to extend it to 13-2. Senior pinch hitter Jake Brobst registered a RBI ground out in the fifth before a fielding error by the UNLV shortstop made it a 15-2 contest. Brobst followed up with a RBI single in the seventh to begin a four-run frame. After a wild pitch scored one, Cherry collected his third and fourth RBI of the day when he pulled a ball down the left field line for the 19-2 line.
BUSY BOX SCORE
In all, Ohio State boasted 10 extra-base hits, including nine doubles, while seven different Buckeyes picked up multi-hit performances. Montgomery was 4-for-6 with four runs scored, one RBI, two doubles and a walk, while Cherry was 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, walk and four RBI. Sergakis had another strong day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a hit by pitch. Washington, Gantt and Kuhn each had two RBI and two doubles, while Brobst was 1-for-3 with two RBI off the bench.
BULLPEN TALK
Ohio State left-handed redshirt junior reliever Joe Stoll pitched the seventh and allowed no runs or hits with one strikeout, while freshman left-hander Connor Curlis limited the UNLV bats to one run on two hits with two strikeouts in the eighth. Redshirt junior right-hander Shea Murray pitched the ninth inning and left two runners on base with two strikeouts. In all, the OSU pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts in the big win.
UP NEXT
The Buckeyes and Rebels meet for game three at 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday in Las Vegas, Nev.
GAME NOTES
- The Buckeyes tallied season highs in hits (21) and runs (20).
- Ohio State posted the most runs in a single inning today vs. the Rebels (five, third inning; six, fourth inning).
- The Buckeyes got the lead-off man aboard in seven of nine innings.
- Sergakis has reached base safely in all 13 games following his team-best eighth multi-hit game of 2016.
- Cherry had a season-high four RBI.
- Brobst had a career-high two RBI in the win.
- Montgomery (2), Cherry (2), Washington (3), Dawson (4), Gantt (1) and Kuhn (1) each collected multi-hit games.
- Cherry picked up his first career triple. He notched his second multi-hit game of the season and
- Jacob Barnwell made his first career appearance, while Brobst and Murray made his first appearance of the season. Freshman Andrew Fishel saw his second game of action of his young career, while Connor Curlis made his second appearance on the hill. Gantt started for the second time this season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Niemeyer, Adam (1-1)
L: KREMER, D. (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Montgomery, Troy 2 ; Dawson, Ronnie 1 ; Washington, Jalen 2 ; Gantt, Tre' 2 ; Kuhn, Troy 2
3B: Cherry, Brady 1
RBI: Montgomery, Troy 1 ; Cherry, Brady 4 ; Sergakis, Nick 1 ; Washington, Jalen 2 ; Gantt, Tre' 2 ; Kuhn, Troy 2 ; Brobst, Jake 2 ; Davis, L 1
SF: Cherry, Brady 1 ; Kuhn, Troy 1 ; Davis, L 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Montgomery, Troy 4 ; Cherry, Brady 2 ; Dawson, Ronnie 1 ; Sergakis, Nick 2 ; Washington, Jalen 3 ; Gantt, Tre' 3 ; Kuhn, Troy 1 ; Mosbarger, Daulton 1 ; Brobst, Jake 1 ; Davis, L 1 ; Leffel, Ryan 1
HBP: Sergakis, Nick 1 ; Davis, L 1
Batting:
2B: ISBEL, K. 1 ; ANDERSON, A. 1
RBI: ALLEN, K. 1 ; AMES, N. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ISBEL, K. 1 ; VANMEETREN,A 1 ; ANDERSON, A. 1
HBP: VANMEETREN,A 1
