Ohio State Clipped by Illinois in 15 Innings, 1-0 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Friday, April 22

Champaign, Ill.

Ohio State

24-13-1, 4-6

Illinois

19-16, 5-5

Ohio State

Illinois

Ohio State Clipped by Illinois in 15 Innings, 1-0 – 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 fell, 1-0, in 15 innings Friday night in game one of a three-game series at Illinois at Illinois Field. After more than three hours and 56 minutes of scoreless baseball, the Fighting Illini (19-16, 5-5 B1G) plated the game-winning run on a two-out wild pitch in the bottom of the 15th inning. The Buckeyes drop to 24-13-1 overall and 4-6 in Big Ten play.

Kyle Michalik received the loss to drop to 1-1, tossing 0.2 innings on one run, two hits with one strikeout. Charlie Naso received the win, improving to 1-1, throwing the final inning with a pair of strikeouts.

STRONG PITCHING FOR BOTH SIDES
It wasn’t exactly a hitter’s night in Champaign. The batters on both teams struggled against two strong pitching staffs on a chilly and breezy evening with temperatures dropping into the low 40s by extra innings. Ohio State starting pitcher Tanner Tully tossed nine scoreless innings on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk, while Illinois starter Cody Sedlock threw an impressive 10.2 scoreless innings and struck out 14 on five hits and one walk. The two dominant starters, though, both received no decisions. In all, there were a combined 33 strikeouts from both teams. Ohio State left nine on base, while the Illini left 11 stranded in the series opener.

OTHER MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Buckeyes put some pressure on Sedlock in the top of the second, but couldn’t push any runs home. Nick Sergakis led off the inning with a single to center. After Troy Kuhn walked, Sergakis was caught off the bag on second base for the first out. Tre’ Gantt singled up the middle, but the two Buckeyes were left stranded as Sedlock fanned the last out of the inning. Tully got out of a jam in the bottom half when he helped turn a double play on a chopper back to the mound.

Both squads had trouble vs. the aces through the next four frames. Tully left two runners on in the bottom of the seventh after a pair two-out singles. Troy Montgomery made a challenging over-the-shoulder catch look easy at the wall in center for the first out before Ronnie Dawson snagged a running catch on a liner in left to end the seventh.

In the top of ninth, Ohio State got a runner on second base with one down vs. Sedlock, but failed to strike the scoreboard. Jalen Washington led off the inning with a single through the left side and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. But Sedlock continued to work and struck out the next two OSU hitters to keep it knotted zeros.

The Illini had the winning run with runners on the corners and two down in the bottom of the ninth, but Tully stayed focused and induced a ground out to Craig Nennig to force extra innings. Washington knocked a two-out single in the bottom of the 11th to end Sedlock’s day, but was caught stealing second base.

The Scarlet and Gray loaded the bases in the top of the 12th, but still couldn’t find a run. Ryan Leffel reached base on a strikeout and wild pitch and was pinch run by Shea Murray. Illini reliever Nick Blackbun then had issues with control and loaded the bases with a pair of walks, but then fanned Nennig to leave it loaded.

The 13th inning went scoreless. Ohio State loaded the bases for the second time on the evening in the 14th, but once again, could not push home a run. Montgomery had a lead-off walk and stole second followed by a hit by pitch on L Grant Davis. With one down, Sergakis was intentionally walked to load the bases. However, Blackburn claimed two straight punch outs to keep it scoreless.

TULLY TALK
The 2014 Big Ten Freshman of the Year was pretty masterful on the bump vs. the Illini. He equaled his career high with nine innings pitched, scattering seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts. He threw 106 pitches in the contest with 71 strikes and was relieved by right-hander Seth Kinker to start the bottom of the tenth.

TO THE BULLPEN
Kinker retired the first two outs of the tenth inning. He fielded a swinging bunt down the third base line smoothly and fired a fastball to first base for the second out before being replaced by left-hander Michael Horejsei. The OSU senior lefty dropped a hammer on a 1-2 count to get lead-off hitter Jack Yalowitz to chase for the strikeout and end the side. In the 11th, Horejsei kept it scoreless with a 1-2-3 frame. He reacted well on a line drive back to the hill to move the game into the 12th inning. Right-hander Yianni Pavlopoulos pitched the next three frames and left a runner on in the 12th and 13th, respectively. He got out of bases-loaded jam in the 14th with his second strikeout of the night. Michalik came in to start the bottom of the 15th and struck out a batter before allowing two singles and a wild pitch to end the game.

ANOTHER PLAY BY @SURGIEEBABY
It seems like every game now the senior co-captain is adding a defensive play at the hot corner to his Buckeye highlight reel. In the bottom of the sixth, Sergakis dove to his left on a one-hopper and leaped to his feet quickly and fired a strike to Bosiokovic at first base to retire the side in the fifth.

UP NEXT
Ohio State and Illinois meet in game two ET Saturday at Illinois Field. Senior left-hander John Havird (3-1, 2.80 ERA) squares off vs. left-hander Doug Hayes (5-2, 3.25 ERA). The contest will be streamed for free on fightingillini.com. Fans can also listen on AM 1460 ESPN or on OhioStateBuckeyes.com ($).

WORTHY NOTES

The game was the second-longest of the year for the Buckeyes. It was the first time Ohio State played a 15-inning game since April 11, 2004 in a 5-4 loss at Purdue.
Ohio State is now 103-101-2 all-time vs. Illinois. The Buckeyes are 47-55 in Champaign.
The Scarlet and Gray drop to 4-6 in Big Ten play and are tied for 10th place in the standings.
Dawson extended his career-high reached base streak to 15-consecutive games. Sergakis extended his reached base streak to nine in a row, while Kuhn has reached base in seven straight contests.
Dawson’s hit streak extends to seven games.
Tully tied his career-high with nine innings of work.
Washington registered his 10th multi-hit game.
Kinker made his team-high 20th appearance of the year, while Horejsei and Pavlopoulos pitched in their 18th game of the year.
There were a combined 33 strikeouts by both teams.
Montgomery moved to sole possession fifth in career stolen bases with his 12 swipe of the year. He passes former Buckeye Mike Rabin (2002-05) with 51 career steals.