Buckeyes Beat No. 19 Michigan, 3-2, in Series Opener – Ohio State Buckeyes

Friday, May 13

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

33-16-1, 11-8

Michigan

34-14, 12-6

Michigan

Ohio State

Buckeyes Beat No. 19 Michigan, 3-2, in Series Opener – Ohio State Buckeyes

5/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 13, 2016

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Junior center fielder Troy Montgomery made a game-winning, diving catch in the top of the ninth as the Ohio State baseball team held on for a 3-2 win over No. 19 Michigan Friday night in the series opener at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. Junior left-hander Tanner Tully tossed another gem on the mound, while the Buckeyes answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth in route to their second-consecutive Top 20 victory this week.

The Buckeyes improve to 33-16-1 overall and 11-8 in Big Ten play, while the Wolverines drop to 34-14 overall and 12-6 in Big Ten play. Down 3-1, the Wolverines clawed back with a run on a two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth to cut their deficit to one run. After a walk to put the go-ahead run on base, Dominic Jamett sent a sharp line drive out to center field, but Montgomery made a great read off the bat and came in strong with a diving snag from the right side of his body to claim the team’s B1G-best 20th home win of the season and fourth straight victory vs. the Wolverines in Columbus.

“We had Troy bumped back a little bit with the go-ahead run on first base,” head coach Greg Beals said. “We didn’t want the ball hit over our heads and give up the lead. This time of year, your big time players have to make big time plays. Give Montgomery credit, he got beat at the plate tonight, but comes up with a big time play. That was the difference in the ball game.”

Besides the exciting finish and postgame fireworks, the 1,604 fans in attendance witnessed some good pitching by Tully and clutch hitting by the Buckeye offense in the series opener.

Tully limited the Wolverine bats to one run with eight strikeouts to improve to 7-3 in 2016, while redshirt sophomore right-hander Yianni Pavlopoulos held on for his 11th save of the season. Senior left-hander Michael Horejsei also struck out one batter for the first out of the ninth. At the dish, co-captain catcher Jalen Washington knocked the game-tying home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth, while co-captain third baseman Nick Sergakis had the go-ahead, two-run single later in the inning in a 2-for-3 day with a walk.

“Pitch, play defense and get a hit when you need one,” Beals said. “Nick Sergakis with a big two-run single just when we needed it. Tanner threw a bunch of strikes tonight, hit with his changeup and mixed them well throughout the game. He’s a competitor.”

SCORING PLAYS
Michigan scored the first run of the game in the second when Johnathan Engelmann scored on a wild pitch after advancing to third base on a one-out double followed by a deep fly out to right center. Tully limited the damage when Sergakis snagged a line drive down at the hot corner to retire the side.

With Tully locked in on the mound, the Buckeye hitters continued to battle vs. left-hander starter Brett Adcock and finally got the hit they were looking for in the bottom of the fifth. On a 2-0 pitch, Washington blasted a lead-off home run over the wall in left off Adcock to tie the game at 1-all. It didn’t stop there. Freshman Brady Cherry doubled down the line before Tre’ Gantt walked to keep the pressure on the Wolverine starter. Adcock, who didn’t allow a home run all year coming into the game, then had to deal with runners on second and third after an obstruction call was called at first base to advance both Cherry and Gantt. Sergakis, who leads the team with 43 RBI, then lined a 1-1 pitch to center field to give Ohio State the 3-1 advantage.

TULLY TALK
After allowing a run to score on a wild pitch, Tully, the 2014 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, kept competing and sent down 16-consecutive Wolverine hitters after the UM scoring play in the second. The Wolverines got a baserunner aboard on a lead-off single by Michael Brdar in the top of the eighth, but Tully fanned his eighth batter of the game before Washington caught Brdar off the bag for the double play. The following batter would pop-up to retire the side. Tully struck out eight Wolverines on the night with no walks, five hits and one run to claim his fourth-consecutive quality start of the year and eighth overall.

OTHER CHANCES
The Buckeyes had two aboard in the bottom of the first, but couldn’t push any runs home vs. Adcock. Craig Nennig singled up the middle before Troy Kuhn worked a two-out walk. However, Adcock struck out a batter to strand both runners. The Scarlet and Gray threatened with two runners in scoring position and one down on the board in the third. Gantt and Sergakis both knocked base hits and were moved up on a sac bunt by Nennig. But the Wolverines got the second out when UM catcher Harrison Wenson made a heads-up play behind the dish on a passed ball and threw out Gantt at the plate with Adcock covering. Ronnie Dawson reached base on a two-out walk, but Michigan got out of the inning on a sneaky 2-1-5 pickoff play at third base.

TO THE BULLPEN
Horejsei struck out the only batter he faced in the top of the ninth before being relieved by Pavlopoulos, who allowed one run on two hits with a walk and strikeout, but held out for his 11th save of the year.

UP NEXT
Ohio State and Michigan meet in game two at 3:05 p.m. ET Saturday at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. The contest will be streamed on BTN Plus ($). Fans can also listen along on AM 1460 ESPN or on OhioStateBuckeyes.com (4).

WORTHY NOTES

Ohio State improves to 99-163-1 all-time vs. the Wolverines. The Buckeyes have won six of the last eight meetings, including four straight in Columbus.
The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten with 20 home wins, which is tied for eighth-most all-time in school history.
The Scarlet and Gray improve to 11-8 in conference play.
The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten with 48 home runs and 108 doubles in 2016.
Sergakis leads the team with 19 multi-hit games and 13 multi-RBI performances. He’s reached base safely in 48 of 50 games this season, while also notching his season-high 12th stolen base of the season.
Washington posed his second home run of the season.
Nennig extended his hit streak to three-consecutive games. He also stole his season-high ninth bag of the year.
Bosiokovic has reached base in seven straight games, while Dawson has reached base in six straight contests.
Pavlopoulos is fourth on the OSU single-season saves list with 11.