Home Runs by Cherry, Nennig Lift Buckeyes past Xavier, 11-6 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Tuesday, March 22

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

12-6-1

Xavier

7-13

Xavier

Ohio State

Home Runs by Cherry, Nennig Lift Buckeyes past Xavier, 11-6 – Ohio State Buckeyes

3/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 22, 2016

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A grand slam by freshman Brady Cherry and first-career home run by senior Craig Nennig highlighted an 11-6 comeback victory over Xavier Tuesday night at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. With their fifth-consecutive win, the Buckeyes improve to 12-6-1, while the Musketeers fall to 7-13 in 2016.

“Their starter was hitting with his off-speed pitches and kept us off-balance early on,” head coach Greg Beals said. “We didn’t get the big two-out hit in the first five innings, but we were able to get those big hits in the last four. Brady Cherry, you got to like the kid. He’s a great competitor and coming through for us in clutch situations. Craig was in here early today hitting and working on his game. I was real happy for him to get the base hit earlier and to get the big home run was great to see. His early work and being prepared for the game tonight paid off for us when we needed it.”

The Buckeye bats were kept off the scoreboard through the first four innings vs. Xavier left-hander starter Brad Kirschner until the squad unleashed a two-run fifth, four-run sixth, three-run seventh and two-run eighth to improve to 4-0 at home. Cherry, a native of Pendleton, Ind., went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and five RBI, while Nennig, a native of Wrightstown, Wis., was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, home run and three RBI. Junior center fielder Troy Montgomery was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks too.

On the mound, the OSU bullpen limited the Xavier hitters to one run on four hits in the final 4.2 innings. Redshirt sophomore right-hander Austin Woodby received the win to improve to 3-1 in his first season with the Buckeyes.

“I like what our offense was able to do tonight and fight those negative thoughts early on,” Beals said. “We trained for games like this in the offseason for that positive response. We kept the winning streak rolling into conference play and protected our home turf vs. an in-state opponent.”

Moments before Brady Cherry launched a game-tying grand slam in the sixth inning

HOW IT HAPPENED
Down 5-0 in the fifth, RBI singles by Cherry and junior left fielder Ronnie Dawson trimmed the deficit to three runs. In the sixth, a lead-off walk to junior co-captain catcher Jalen Washington, single by Nennig and walk to Montgomery loaded the bases for the OSU rookie. And on a 1-0 pitch with two down, No. 1 did not miss. Cherry crushed a fastball deep over the wall in left center to tie the contest at 6-all vs. Xavier reliever Trey Schramm.

“I was telling the guys in the dugout that was a once in a season pitch,” Cherry, who notched his fourth home run of the year, said. “It was a fastball right down the middle of the plate. The perfect spot and I got a good swing on it. There wasn’t that much of a feeling when you barrel a ball like that. “

In the seventh, Ohio State continued its momentum when senior first baseman Troy Kuhn doubled and Washington worked a second walk to set up the memorable moment for Nennig. He belted a 1-0 pitch vs. reliever right-hander Taylor Williams over the wall in left for the 9-6 advantage with two down. Nennig did get to the ball park early today and like Beals said, it paid off for him and the Buckeyes.

“We went in the cages and made some little adjustments,” Nennig said. “We worked on getting my foot down and finding my pitch to hit. I was able to do that tonight. That’s baseball. You just need to keep working hard and be a team player no matter what. We’re anxious to get Big Ten play going this weekend.”

Ohio State plated two more runs in the eighth on a RBI single by senior co-captain infielder Nick Sergakis and a single by Kuhn and error allowed an 11th run to score.

HOW THE MUSKETEERS SCORED
The Musketeers came out swinging, tallying four runs on seven hits in the opening three stanzas. A RBI double to left center by Joe Gellenbeck and two-run home run to left by Andre Jernigan plated three runs in the top of the first. In the top of the third, a two-out single to left center by Morton pushed it to 4-0. Gellenbeck kept a ball fair down the field line for a RBI double in the top of the fifth. The Musketeers plated a sixth run on a two-out solo shot to left center by lead-off hitter Will Larue in the top of the sixth.

LET’S TALK PITCHING
It wasn’t an easy day to be on the mound with winds gusting up to 25 mph straight out to left center field. Ohio State starter Ryan Feltner tossed 4.1 innings and allowed five runs on 10 hits with a walk and four strikeouts in a no decision. Redshirt junior left-hander Joe Stoll tossed the next 1.2 innings and gave up one run on two hits. Senior left-hander Daulton Mosbarger pitched 0.2 innings and gave up one hit and a walk. Woodby pitched two scoreless frames and limited the XU bats to one hit and a walk before senior left-hander Michael Horejsei closed the door in the ninth with two down on a strikeout.

“Feltner did get us deep in the ball game to where our bullpen could do its normal workload,” Beals said. “Give him credit for that. Obviously not his best start, but he did get us five deep. He has a great arm and is a very good athlete. He’ll bounce back.”

UP NEXT
Ohio State opens the Big Ten schedule with a three-game home series vs. Northwestern Friday-Sunday at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. First pitch Friday is at 6:35 p.m. ET. The series finale at Noon ET Sunday will be broadcasted live on BTN. All three games will also be broadcasted on ESPN 1460AM. Play-by-play announcer Paul Keels and analysis Bob Spears and Brian Mannino will be on the call. Fans can also listen on OhioStateBuckeyes.com.

WORTHY NOTES

With the win, the Buckeyes are now one win shy of 2,500 victories all-time in program history.
Ohio State improved to 31-19 all-time vs. the Musketeers.
The Buckeyes are 4-0 at home this season.
Cherry had a season-high five RBI and notched his first career grand slam and second Buckeye grand slam of the season.
Ohio State leads the Big Ten with 21 home runs through 19 games.
Nennig picked up his first career home run and had a season-high three RBI.
Sergakis has reached base safely in all 19 games.
Several Buckeyes also extended their reaches streaks, including Montgomery (10), Dawson (8) and Washington (4).
Cherry (5), Montgomery (3), Kuhn (3) and Nennig (2) each had multi-hit games.
Cherry collected his third multi-RBI game of the year, while Nennig picked up his second of the season.
Brobst notched his first career double in the bottom of the second.
Dawson registered his team-best 22nd RBI of the year, while Cherry now has 17 RBI (second-most).
The game marked the first of 19 home games streamed live on BTN Plus ($).