Ohio State
2-0
Delaware
0-2
Buckeyes Split Saturday Doubleheader in Florida
2/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 19, 2017
Photo cred: Press Pros Magazine
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KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Ohio State baseball team split a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla. The Buckeyes (2-1) rallied with 11 runs in the final two innings to win 15-10 over Delaware in game one before dropping game two to Pitt, 7-2.
“It was a tale of two opportunities today,” Beals said. “The first game today, it looked grim. They scored some runs and got up on us big, but our guys fought back. I loved the fight with our guys and was very proud on how we competed in the first game. The second game was the exact opposite. We came out flat. Give Pitt’s pitcher credit, he kept the ball in the bottom of the zone on us. We gave up too many free bases to win a ball game. The beautiful thing about baseball is we have another one tomorrow. We have to get some rest and respond tomorrow to go for three out of four on the weekend.”
Ohio State (2-1) concludes the Sunshine State Classic Series at 11 a.m. Sunday against Kansas State in Osceola County Stadium.
A LAUNCH PAD AT OSCEOLA COUNTY STADIUM: OHIO STATE 15, DELAWARE 10
Sixty-seven miles east of the Buckeyes’ game vs. the Blue Hens, a rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center was scheduled for liftoff, but was delayed due to technical difficulties. That wasn’t the case at Osceola County Stadium Saturday afternoon. The two teams combine to launch five home runs, including three grand slams as the Scarlet and Gray scored 11 times in the final two innings to win, 15-10. Fifth-year senior Zach Ratcliff had a career day, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, walk, four runs scored and six RBI. Junior Noah McGowan and sophomore Brady Cherry each rocketed grand slams. In all, Ohio State blasted eight extra-base hits to improve to 2-0 on the young season. On the bump, Freshman Gavin Lyon was credited with his first career win, while junior Dustin Jourdan picked up his first career save.
“I was very happy for Zach today,” Beals said. “He’s been through a lot and has been around for five years now. He’s got some experience and maturity and we need that. He has the ability to be productive and give some thump to our lineup. We need him to continue to do that this season.”
RATTY RAKES!
Welcome back, Zach Ratcliff. The fifth-year senior launched a two-run home run deep over the 390 sign in left field vs. right-hander Nick Spadafino to give the Buckeyes an early 2-0 lead in the second. It was a welcoming sight to see as the native of Blacklick, Ohio, missed the majority of last season after receiving a medical redshirt. Down 7-2, the Buckeye designated hitter answered again with his second home run of the day off Spadafino with a shot over the wall in left to cut the deficit to three runs in the bottom of the fourth. He wasn’t done. Following the grand slam by McGowan, Ratcliff doubled to right center to give the team the lead, 11-10, in the bottom of the seventh. He also walked and hit a single, while crossing the plate four times. “Ratty” is back.
“It was a good day for sure,” Ratcliff said. “It definitely felt good to show up today with a clear mind after yesterday and see some balls hit the grass and go over the fence. I was just trying to see the ball up and take a good swing at it. We made some adjustments with coach Beals and coach Angle this morning. It felt good to take the rust off. I saw the ball well.”
TWO BUCKEYE GRAND SLAMS
For the first time in 23 years, two Buckeyes hit a grand slam in the same game. On a 1-2 count, McGowan, from Houston Texas, crushed a pitch off Ron Marinaccio to make the score, 8-7, in the bottom of the seventh. In the bottom of the eighth, a sophomore third baseman put the cherry on top of a wild comeback win. Cherry, from Pendleton, Ind., sent his second career grand slam over the wall in left center to make the score, 15-9. The Buckeye duo became the first to each hit a grand slam in the same game since former Buckeyes Brian Mannino and Mike Repasky each hit grand slams in an 18-5 win over Dayton April 27, 1994, in Columbus.
Photo Cred: Press Pros Magazine
BLUE HENS ANSWER
Delaware came right back with six runs on five hits in the top of the third to take the lead. Ohio State starting right-handed pitcher Yianni Pavlopoulos, who made his first career start today, tallied the first out on a fly out, but then ran into trouble. A double, single and back-to-back walks cut lead in half, 2-1. The big blow was when preseason All-American Tyler Glover hit a grand slam over the wall in left to give his squad a 5-2 advantage. A double down the left field line made it 6-2. The Blue Hens added a seventh run in the fourth on a double by Glover to left center. The relay to the plate cut down a potential eighth run to end the frame. In the fifth, the Blue Hens plated two more runs with two down after a RBI triple by James Meeker and RBI single by Jeremy Ake for a 9-4 lead.
THE COMEBACK BOYS
The boys were down 9-4, but not out. In the seventh, the Scarlet and Gray batted around, crossing the plate seven times to jump back on top on the board, 11-9. The big rally started after sophomore Jacob Barnwell and Tre’ Gantt each walked before senior Jalen Washington was hit by a pitch. That set up McGowan who fouled off two pitches straight behind home plate before launching his first home run as a Buckeye for a grand slam. Down 8-7, Tyler Cowles kept the momentum going with his second double of the game. After Bo Coolen was hit by a pitch, Ratcliff’s double scored both runners, sending the OSU dugout into a frenzy. A sac fly by Dominic Canzone then pushed it to 11-9.
In the bottom of the eighth, Washington led off with a single to left field. A walk to Cowles and single by Ratcliff set the scene for Cherry. The OSU third baseman crushed a 2-2 pitch off right-hander Jordan Hutchins to push four more runs home.
Photo Cred: Press Pros Magazine
BIG DOUBLE PLAY
Defensively, the biggest play of the afternoon came in the top of the eighth with Delaware runners on the corners and no down. Glover lined a pitch off Jourdan straight to McGowan at second base who snagged it and fired over to Coolen for the clutch double play. Jourdan then induced a foul out to keep it a two-run game.
ON THE MOUND
Pavlopoulos received a no decision in his first nod on the mound. He threw 2.1 innings and allowed six runs on four hits with a strikeout and two walks. Right-hander Kyle Michalik relieved Pavlopoulos in the third and allowed one hit in 0.2 innings. Right-hander Reece Calvert’s debut was in long relief for the Scarlet and Gray. He tossed 3.2 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Lyon, from Westerville, Ohio, gave up one hit in the seventh in 0.1 inning of work and was credited with the win. Jourdan, from Austin, Texas, finished the last two innings and allowed one run on four hits with a strikeout to claim the save.
GAME ONE NOTES
- The Buckeyes are now 1-1 all-time vs. Delaware.
- Ratcliff had his first multi-home run game of his career with a career-high four hits, four runs and six RBI. He also doubled and walked. He has seven career home runs.
- McGowan and Cherry each hit their first home runs of the year for grand slams. Cherry has two grand slams in his career.
- Cowles’ first hit as a Buckeye was a double deep to center in the second inning. He finished with two doubles and one walk.
- Ohio State registered eight extra base hits vs. the Blue Hens.
- Ratcliff’s two home runs marked the first time a Buckeye had multiple home runs in a game since Nick Sergakis hit two home runs in an 8-3 win over Michigan in the opening game of the 2016 Big Ten Tournament May 25 in Omaha, Neb.
- Cherry tied his career high with three hits.
- Lyon made his collegiate debut today vs. the Blue Hens and picked up his first career win.
- Jourdan earned his first career save in his first appearance as a Buckeye.
- Calvert made his OSU debut today in the fourth inning.
- Pavlopoulos made his first career start on the mound today.
MISCUES COSTLY IN GAME TWO: OHIO STATE 2, PITT 7
High off an emotional win in game one, the Buckeyes couldn’t keep it rolling in game two vs. the Panthers. Ohio State fell, 7-2, in the night cap, making four defensive errors, while Pitt right-handed pitcher Josh Falk limited the OSU bats to one run on three hits in eight innings of work.
BUCKEYES STRIKE FIRST
Ohio State jumped out to a 1-0 lead when McGowan sent a sacrifice fly to center to push Gantt home. Gantt hit a ground-rule double to center to set up the scoring chance.
PITT TAKES THE LEAD
The Panthers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second on a two-run double. An error and sac bunt led to the Pitt opportunity. In the third, a RBI single by Manny Pazos made it 3-1. Pitt advanced its lead to three runs when a hard-hit groundball to first base pushed a fourth run across. The play was set up after a throwing error on a steal attempt allowed the Pitt runner to move to third base. In the seventh, a sacrifice fly made it 5-1. The Buckeyes walked five Pitt batters in the eighth to expand their deficit to six runs.
ON THE MOUND
Sophomore right-hander Ryan Feltner made his 2017 debut in the nightcap and fell to 0-1. He allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 5.2 innings of work. Fifth-year senior left-hander Joe Stoll relieved Feltner in the sixth and gave up one run on one hit with a strikeout in 0.2 innings. Michalik came in sixth with one down and gave up no runs with a punch out. Redshirt junior right-hander Austin Woodby made his first appearance of the year and walked two batters, giving up two runs. Freshman left-hander Andrew Magno recorded two outs in the eighth on two strikeouts with three walks. Lyon recorded the final out of the eighth on a strikeout.
GAME 2 NOTES
- Ohio State falls to 20-2 all-time vs. Pitt, snapping a five-game win streak vs. the Panthers.
- Noah West, Shea Murray, Andrew Magno, Austin Woodby, Nate Romans, Matt Carpenter and Joe Stoll made their 2017 debuts tonight.
- Washington started for the first time behind the dish after making 59 starts at catcher in 2016.
- Murray’s first career hit was a double to lead off the third inning.
- Gantt hit his first double of the season to lead off the game.
- The Buckeyes scored a run in the ninth on a bases loaded walk by Murray, who registered his first career RBI.
UP NEXT
Ohio State concludes the Sunshine State Classic Series at 11 a.m. Sunday against Kansas State in Kissimmee, Fla. Right-hander Jake Post makes his return to the mound for the Buckeyes, while left-hander Parker Rigler gets the ball for the Wildcats.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lyon, Gavin (1-0)
L: Vila (0-1)
S: Jourdan, Dustin (1)
Batting:
2B: Glover 1 ; Trimble 1 ; Ake 1
3B: Meeker 1
HR: Glover 1
RBI: Tierno 1 ; Glover 5 ; Nardo 1 ; Meeker 1 ; Ake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mohollen 2 ; Baker 1 ; Tierno 1 ; Glover 1 ; Patten 1 ; Trimble 2 ; Meeker 1 ; Ake 1
SB: Trimble 1
PO: Nardo 1
Batting:
2B: Cowles, Tyler 2 ; Ratcliff, Zach 1 ; Cherry, Brady 1
HR: McGowan, Noah 1 ; Ratcliff, Zach 2 ; Cherry, Brady 1
RBI: McGowan, Noah 4 ; Ratcliff, Zach 6 ; Cherry, Brady 4 ; Canzone, Dominic 1
SF: Canzone, Dominic 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vance, Jake 1 ; Foppe, Kobie 2 ; McGowan, Noah 1 ; Cowles, Tyler 1 ; Murray, Shea 1 ; Coolen, Bo 3 ; Ratcliff, Zach 4 ; Cherry, Brady 1 ; Barnwell, Jacob 1
CS: Foppe, Kobie 1
HBP: Foppe, Kobie 2 ; Coolen, Bo 1 ; Barnwell, Jacob 1
