Ohio State Tops No. 5 Oregon State Friday, 6-1

Friday, February 24

Surprise, Ariz.

Ohio State

3-3

Oregon State

5-1

Ohio State

Oregon State

Ohio State Tops No. 5 Oregon State Friday, 6-1

2/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 24, 2017

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Yianni Pavlopoulos threw six shutout innings, while Brady Cherry went 2-for-4 with a home run to upset No. 5 Oregon State, 6-1, Friday afternoon at Surprise Stadium in Surprirse, Ariz. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 3-3 on the year, while the Beavers drop to 5-1 in 2017.

“It was really clean game of baseball,” head coach Greg Beals said. “Today was a confidence booster for us. We are capable of playing that type of baseball against that type of opponent. We have some inexperience, but we are still learning how to play together. Today was a great example of how we need to go out and compete. Yianni was solid. He was able to pitch ahead in the count and had good action on his fastball as well as hit with his breaking ball. He was very good today.”

THE GREEK GETS THE WIN
Redshirt junior right-hander Yianni Pavlopoulos bounced back in a great fashion on Friday in his second career start to improve to 1-0 in 2017. He tossed six scoreless innings vs. the nationally-ranked Beavers, scattering three hits with four strikeouts and three walks. The native of Homer Glenn, Ill., Pavlopoulos left five Beavers on base, including four in scoring position.

“It feels great to get the win,” Pavlopoulos said. “The defense behind me was great and the offense was fantastic. I just tried to keep attacking their hitters. Today was a solid win against a very good team.”

BUCKEYES JUMP OUT ON TOP
After a tough opening day at the ball park on Thursday night, the Buckeyes found some momentum early on vs. the Beavers. Ohio State scored a run on two hits in the first vs. right-hander Bryce Fehmel. Tre’ Gantt led off the first at-bat of the day with a double to right field. After an infield single by Noah McGowan, Fehmel threw an off-target pick-offf attempt to allow Gantt to cross the plate.

CHERRY BOMB
Sophomore third baseman Brady Cherry extended the lead to three runs in the fifth when he launched his second home run of the year over the left field wall vs. Fehmel. Zach Ratcliff hit a sharp liner back on the mound for an infield single before the long ball. Cherry and Ratcliff each have two home runs on the year.

INSURANCE RUNS BY COWLES
The Buckeyes added on to their lead, scoring once in the seventh and twice in the ninth. Tyler Cowles knocked a RBI single in the seventh, while an error allowed the fifth run to score in the ninth before Cowles singled again to push McGowan home.

THE BUCKEYE STOPPER
Right-hander Seth Kinker relieved Pavlopoulos in the seventh and gave up a run on a RBI double by Cadyn Grenier, but limited the damage with a 6-4-3 double play to retire the side. He received his second save of the season, tossing three innings on one run, two hits, one strikeout and one walk.

UP NEXT
Ohio State faces Utah at 9:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Surprise Stadium.

GAME NOTES

Ohio State improves to 1-0 vs. nationally ranked opponents in 2016.
Pavlopoulos claimed his first win of the season, while Kinker picked up his secon save on the year.
Ohio State is 2-4 all-time vs. Oregon State.
Washington, Gantt, Cowles, Cherry and Barnwell each had multi-hit games.
Gantt, Cowles and Cherry have reached base safely in five straight games.
Cherry leads the Buckeyes with two home runs on the year.
Cherry and Ratcliff each extended their hit streaks to four straight contests.