Buckeyes Clinch Series with 3-0 Victory over Iowa Sunday – Ohio State Buckeyes

Sunday, May 8

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

31-16-1, 10-8

Iowa

22-23, 8-10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Iowa	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	1
Ohio State	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	X	3	6	2

Buckeyes Clinch Series with 3-0 Victory over Iowa Sunday – Ohio State Buckeyes

5/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 8, 2016

ICYMI: @OhioState_BASE scored a 3-0 win over Iowa on Sunday afternoon. https://t.co/ldf2v1wIMm

— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) May 8, 2016

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Behind strong pitching and defense, the Ohio State baseball team claimed a series win over Iowa with a 3-0 shutout victory Sunday afternoon at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. The Buckeyes (31-16-1, 10-8 B1G) plated three runs in the first inning and protected their lead turning a season-high four double play to earn their second shutout of the weekend over the Hawkeyes (22-23, 8-10 B1G).

“I thought we did a great job as a staff leaving 11 runners on base and turning a bunch of double plays today,” head coach Greg Beals said. “Craig Nennig made a big time play for the first out in the eighth and the double play in the first inning was obviously huge to get out of that situation. It was a very competitive performance by our pitchers.”

A combined four Buckeye hurlers kept Iowa off the board on a beautiful afternoon on the banks of the Olentangy. Right-hander Seth Kinker earned the win to improve to 5-1, while Yianni Pavlopoulos picked up his 10 save of the season. At the dish, Ronnie Dawson led the way with a 2-for-4 outing with a run scored, while driving in a pair of Buckeyes. Tre’ Gantt was 1-for-3 with a RBI, while Troy Montgomery had a pair of walks and run scored.

IN THE TOP 8
With the two weekend wins, the Buckeyes (10-8) are in the Top 8 in the standings with Maryland (10-8) and Penn State (10-8) with two weekend series left to go. Indiana (13-5) sits on top followed by Minnesota (12-5), Michigan (12-5), Michigan State (11-5) and Nebraska (10-7). Ohio State hosts the Wolverines next weekend in Columbus before traveling to Minnesota to take on the Gophers May 26-28 in Minneapolis. The Top 8 teams advance to the 2016 Big Ten Tournament held May 25-29 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Buckeye defense turned a crucial double play in the opening Iowa at-bat and took the momentum to the plate. Ohio State secured a 3-0 lead on two runs in the bottom of the first vs. right-hander Nick Gallagher. Dawson punched a 1-1 pitch down the left field line for a two-run double after Montgomery and Craig Nennig both reached base on walks. Gantt knocked a two-out infield single to push the lead to three runs. That’s all the runs the Scarlet and Gray would need to get the big series victory and their conference-best 18th home win.

ON THE MOUND
Just like Tully on Friday, starting pitcher right-hander Ryan Feltner worked out of a grueling first-inning, 30-pitch frame and settled down on the mound behind a strong Buckeye defensive unit. The OSU rookie right-hander pitched four scoreless frames on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Kinker came in for Feltner in the fifth and threw the next 1.2 innings on four hits with one strikeout followed by left-hander Michael Horejsei who threw 2.1 frames on a pair of hits with two walks and a strikeout. Right-hander Yianni Pavlopoulos closed the door on the Hawkeyes with a scoreless ninth to pick up his 10th save of the year.

ELITE DEFENSE
The Buckeyes turned a season-high four double plays vs. Iowa in the series finale. Craig Nennig and L Grant Davis turned double plays in the first and third innings. Troy Kuhn twisted a double play with Davis after a lead-off single in the fifth. In the sixth, after another lead-off single by the Hawkeyes, Nennig fielded a chopper up the middle, stepped on the bag and fired to Jacob Bosiokovic for the fourth double play of the game. Davis was a wall from the right side all game, including a fancy spin move and putout for the second out of the fourth. In the seventh with the bases loaded, Kuhn stepped on the bag at third to keep the shutout intact. Nennig made a web gem in the eighth on a hard ground ball up the middle when he dove to his left, got to his feet and fired a pill over to first base to take a hit away from the Hawkeyes. In all, the Ohio State defense left 11 on base to help the OSU pitching staff to its second shutout in three days.

BUCKEYE GRADUATES
Spring commencement was held this afternoon at Ohio Stadium and four Buckeyes received their degrees before first pitch. L Grant Davis (sport industry), Michael Horejsei (Construction and Systems Management), Ryan Leffel (Logistics Management) and Nick Sergakis (Logistics Management) were each recognized in front of family and friends alongside head coach Greg Beals and Vice President and Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith at home plate.

UP NEXT
Ohio State welcomes No. 17 FAU Tuesday-Wednesday at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium.

GAME NOTES

Ohio State improves to 73-51-1 all-time vs. the Hawkeyes and 41-25-1 in Columbus all-time.
The Scarlet and Gray are now 18-4 on their home turf.
The Buckeyes tied a B1G season record with four double plays today.
Dawson collected his 15th multi-hit game and ninth multi-RBI performance.
Dawson scored his 100th career run today and leads all active Buckeyes with 94 career RBI. He leads the Big Ten with 103 total bases.
Reached base streaks extended: Bosiokovic (5) and Dawson (4).
Bosiokovic has a hit in his last four games.
Montgomery is second in the league with a team-high 41 walks.
Feltner made his 10th start of the season and had a 3.38 ERA in 54.0 innings pitched.
Appearances: Kinker (25), Horejsei (23) and Pavlopoulos (21).
Horejsei has struck out 30 batters to six walks and hasn’t allowed a run in 8.2 consecutive innings.
Kinker has fanned 30 hitters to seven walks and extended his scoreless streak to 14 straight innings.
Pavolopoulos is tied for second in the league with 10 saves this year.
Kuhn’s career-high 16-game reached base streak was snapped today.