Buckeyes Even Series with 9-1 Win at Illinois Saturday – Ohio State Buckeyes

Saturday, April 23

Champaign, Ill.

Ohio State

25-13-1, 5-6

Illinois

19-17, 5-6

Ohio State

Illinois

Buckeyes Even Series with 9-1 Win at Illinois Saturday – Ohio State Buckeyes

4/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 23, 2016

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Ohio State baseball team pounded out 15 hits, while senior left-hander John Havird and freshman right-hander Ryan Feltner limited the Illini bats to one run in a crucial 9-1 victory in game two of a three-game series at Illinois Saturday afternoon at Illinois Field in Champaign, Ill. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 25-13-1 overall and 5-6 in Big Ten play, while the Fighting Illini drop to 19-17 and 5-6 in conference action.

“Today was exactly what the doctor ordered and we needed to respond,” head coach Greg Beals said. “We responded in a strong way – on the mound, our defense and the offense too. It was good to see those bats. Hitting is a confidence thing and to knock out 15 hits was great to see. We had seven extra-base hits and we need to roll that confidence into tomorrow. We came to win a series and that opportunity is now on the board.”

Ronnie Dawson went 4-for-5 at the plate with a double, home run, two runs scored, two RBI and stolen base, while Jalen Washington had 2-for-2 day with two RBI. Nick Sergakis drove in two runs with two doubles. Craig Nennig and Troy Kuhn added to the box score with two base hits each.

On the mound, Havird improved to 4-1. He threw five innings and allowed one run on five hits with three walks. Feltner tossed the final four innings and kept the Illini bats off the board, scattering a pair of hits with two walks and four punch outs to claim his first collegiate save.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Ohio State got the first run on the afternoon on a two-out RBI single by Washington. He dialed in on a 2-2 pitch for a RBI single to left field vs. Illini left-handed starter Doug Hayes in the top of the second. Tre’ Gantt singled to right field to help set up the scoring play in the inning. The Buckeyes extended their lead to two runs in the top of the fourth on another RBI single by the co-captain catcher. Washington pushed a single out to right center to plate Ryan Leffel, who had a stand-up double earlier in the inning. The Scarlet and Gray made it 3-0 when Sergakis’ ground ball on a fielder’s choice scored Jacob Bosiokovic, who reached on a fielding error at shortstop. Dawson legged out a double on a chopper through the right side to set up the opportunity.

Ohio State answered with a run in the top of the seventh when Sergakis lined an opposite field double into the gap in right center to score Dawson. Troy Montgomery pushed home the Buckeyes’ fifth run on a sacrifice fly to deep left in the top of the eighth to score Gantt. Dawson then sent a moonshot, two-run home run over the Illinois Field scoreboard on a 1-1 hanging breaking ball for the 7-1 advantage. The Buckeyes added a pair of runs in the top of the ninth on a wild pitch and RBI double by Montgomery, respectively.

HAVIRD’S SCORELESS STREAK SNAPPED
A native of Mesa, Ariz., Havird’s scoreless innings streak was snapped in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by the Illini to cut the lead to 3-1. Havird tossed a career-high 22.0-consecutive scoreless innings in a combined four starts dating back to his final two innings in a win over Bethune-Cookman April 3 in Columbus.

PLAY(S) OF THE GAME
Ohio State had two fantastic defensive plays in the game. Troy Kuhn made a diving play on a hard hit ball up the middle with no down in the bottom of the fourth. After a lead-off walk by Havird, Dan Rowbotttom looked like he had a single, but Kuhn dove behind second base and shoveled the ball over to Craig Nennig for the force out for a fielder’s choice.

In the bottom of the fifth, Gantt made a circus catch at the warning track in right field to rob extra bases for the Illini. Doran Turchin sliced a deep fly ball down the line, but Gantt leaped in front of the track and stretched out his glove across his body and held on to the catch after hitting the ground with force.

RUBBER MATCH
Ohio State and Illinois conclude the three-game set at 2 p.m. ET Sunday at Illinois Field. Right-hander Adam Niemeyer (3-1, 3.23 ERA) squares off vs. right-hander Cole Blair (1-2, 3.05 ERA). The contest will be streamed on BTN Plus ($). Fans can also listen on AM 1460 ESPN or on OhioStateBuckeyes.com ($).

WORTHY NOTES

Ohio State is now 104-101-2 all-time vs. Illinois. The Buckeyes are 48-55 in Champaign, claiming their first win on at Illinois since April 22, 2012.
The Scarlet and Gray improve to 5-6 in Big Ten play and pick up their first B1G road victory of the year.
The Buckeyes’ snap a five-game losing streak vs. the Illini today.
Ohio State leads the Big Ten with 87 doubles and 39 home runs in 2016.
Dawson extended his career-high reached base streak to 16-consecutive games. Sergakis extended his reached base streak to 10 in a row. Kuhn’s reached base streak moves to eight straight games, while Montgomery’s is at seven straight contests.
Dawson’s hit streak extends to eight in a row to tie his season-high.
Sergakis leads the Big Ten with 16 doubles.
Sergakis has a team-best 17 multi-hit games, while Dawson has collected 12 multi-hit performances. Three other Buckeyes had multi-hit days: Washington (11). Kuhn (10) and Nennig (7).
Feltner claimed his first collegiate save.
Ohio State had four players with multi-RBI afternoons: Sergakis (11), Montgomery (6), Dawson (6) and Washington (4).