Ohio State Edged by Kansas State, 3-2

Sunday, February 19

Osceola, Fla. - Osceola County Stadium

Ohio State

2-2

Kansas State

3-1

Kansas State

Ohio State

Ohio State Edged by Kansas State, 3-2

2/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 19, 2017

Box Score

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Fifth-year senior right-hander Jake Post scattered two runs on five hits in six innings of work, but the Ohio State baseball team was edged by Kansas State, 3-2, Sunday afternoon to conclude play at the 2017 Sunshine State Classic Series in Kissimmee, Fla. The Wildcats (3-1) plated the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth and held on to the one-run lead for the victory as the Buckeyes fall to 2-2 on the season.

“Losses are never good, but it was our first time out this weekend and we did a lot of positive things,” head coach Greg Beals said. “The shining light on the day for me was Jake Post. It was great to see him back on the mound and he gave us a quality start. We need to work on our quality at-bats and be more prepared defensively. We need to get better at the little things and we will.”

KANSAS STATE SCORES FIRST
The Wildcats scored the first run of the afternoon when Josh Rolette knocked a two-out RBI single off Post in the top of the first. The OSU hurler limited the damage with a ground out to first base to leave two on base.

OHIO STATE EVENS THE TIDES
Ohio State plated two runs on three hits vs. left-hander Parker Rigler to tie the game at two through five frames. In the bottom of the fifth, Shea Murray sent a deep fly ball down the right field for a triple to start the rally. After a walk to Jacob Barnwell, Tre’ Gantt roped a RBI single over the second baseman’s glove for the Buckeyes’ first run of the day. Jalen Washington followed with a shot to the gap in left center on a 1-0 count to tie the game at 2-all. A little unlucky though. The ball bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double, putting Gantt back at third base. The following play went as fielder’s choice as Gantt was caught between third and home and was tagged out. KSU reliever Nick Jones then kept the score tied when he induced a ground out at shortstop.

THE RETURN OF POST
Fifth-year senior Jake Post had a great return to the mound after missing last season following Tommy John surgery. The native of Chesterton, Ind., scattered two runs on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts in six innings of work in a no decision performance.

BUCKEYE DEBUT
Freshman right-handed pitcher Jake Vance made his collegiate debut, relieving Post in the seventh. Vance, from Canton, Ohio, got out of a jam with runners on the corners to keep the score knotted at two apiece. Washington made a strong throw on a ground ball in the hole from the left side and Ratcliff handled the short hop to retire the side. Vance finished his debut with three hits, one run and two walks in 1.2 innings and received the loss to fall to 0-1.

WILDCATS GO BACK ON TOP
Kansas State scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth when Jake Scudder knocked a RBI single to center field, scoring Jake Wodtke. Left-handed pitcher Joe Stoll relieved Vance with runners on the corners and two down. The fifth-year senior fanned Hanz Harker on a fastball to strand two runners in scoring position and maintain the one-run deficit.

OPPORTUNITY MISSSED
Ohio State had a chance to get back to even in the bottom of the eighth vs. right-hander Jordan Floyd, but couldn’t find a run. Back-to-back hits by Ratcliff and Brady Cherry led to a passed ball, moving pinch runner Nate Romans and Cherry forward a base. However, Harker tracked down a slicing fly ball down the left field line to kill the chance. Right-handed pitcher Seth Kinker threw a scoreless eighth with one strikeout.

UP NEXT
Ohio State travels west to participate in the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge Feb. 23-26 in Surprise, Ariz. The Buckeyes will play No. 8 Oregon State and Utah twice at Surprise Stadium over the course of the four days.

GAME NOTES

The Buckeyes are now 2-3 all-time vs. Kansas State.
Ohio State finishes the Sunshine State Classic Series with a 2-2 record.
Post made his first start since the 2014 campaign and first appearance since 2015 after missing last season with a medical redshirt.
Ratcliff finished an impressive first weekend, batting .438 (7-for-16) with five runs scored, one double, two home runs, six RBI, one walk and .875 slugging percentage.
Washington registered a hit in three of the four games over the weekend. He recorded his second multi-hit game of the weekend. He batted .385 (5-for-13) with three runs scored, two doubles, two RBI, four hit by pitches and .529 on-base percentage.
Vance made his collegiate debut today.