Ohio State Falls In Saturday Night Game Against Utah

Saturday, February 25

Surprise, Ariz.

Ohio State

3-4

Utah

5-1

Utah

Ohio State

Ohio State Falls In Saturday Night Game Against Utah

2/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 26, 2017

SURPRISE, Ariz. – A late-inning rally fell short against Utah as the Buckeyes fell, 6-4, Saturday evening at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz. With the loss, the Buckeyes drop to 3-4 overall, while the Utes improve to 5-1 in 2017. Utah plated six runs on 14 hits and was led by right-handed starting pitcher Ryan Ottesen, who limited the Buckeye bats to one run on three hits in six innings.

UTAH SCORING PLAYS
The Utes plated two runs in the opening stanza vs. right-hander Ryan Feltner. Utah’s red-hot hitter Dallas Carroll drove in the first run on a single to left field. A RBI single by Simmons push the lead to two runs. DaShawn Keirsey Jr., reached base safely on a throwing error to begin the inning.

In the fourth, back-to-back doubles by Chandler Anderson and Alex Isola pushed the Buckeyes’ deficit back to two runs. Utah took advantage of runners on the corners to make it 4-1 when Keirsey Jr. blooped a single over the head of shortstop Jalen Washington. A Buckeye fielding error followed after the two Ute doubles. Utah registered a run in the fifth Isola knocked in Josh Rosh with two down vs. Feltner. In the seventh, a RBI single by Ellis Kelly made it 6-1.

OHIO STATE SCORING PLAYS
The Buckeyes answered in the bottom of the first with one run on one hit and one Utah error. Tre’ Gantt led off the at-bat with a single to the gap in left center vs. Utah starter Ryan Ottesen. Gantt reached third base when he stole second and moved up 90 feet on a poor throw to the bag. Washington chalked the run with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Zach Ratcliff scored the Buckeyes’ second run in the bottom of the seventh. He roped a double down the right field line to lead off the inning. A wild pitch and throwing error allowed the fifth-year senior to touch the dish.

In the eighth, Ohio State found some momentum. Washington reached on a dropped ball in left field before advancing to third on a stolen base and throwing error. After pinch-hitter Dominic Canzone walked, Bo Coolen knocked a single up the middle off Utah closer Drachler to make it a 6-3 contest. Ratcliff jammed the bases on a single to left field before Canzone was pushed home when the Utes’ left fielder bobbled the ball. Ohio State had a big chance with the bases loaded following a single by Brady Cherry, but Drachler induced a ground out to retire the side. Jacob Barnwell led off the bottom of the ninth with a double, but was left stranded.

ON THE MOUND
Feltner dropped to 0-2 on the year, allowing five runs on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout. Left-hander Joe Stoll relieved him with one out in the fifth and threw the next 1.1 innings. Stoll gave up one run on a pair of hits with one walk. Right-hander Jake Vance pitched 1.2 innings with three hits, two walks and one strikeout. Kyle Michalik finished the game with 1.1 innings and gave up one hit.

For the Utes, Ottesen limited the Buckeyes to one run, scattering three hits with four strikeout and two walk in six innings of work and improves to 1-0. Drachler picked up his second save.

UP NEXT
Ohio State concludes play the Pac-12/B1G Challenge at 11 am ET Sunday against fifth-ranked Oregon State at Surprise Stadium.

GAME NOTES

Ohio State falls to 2-2 all-time vs. Utah.
The Buckeyes are 14-15 all-time in games played in the state of Arizona, including an 8-3 mark in neutral-site contests.
Gantt and Cowles have reached safely in seven straight games.
Ratcliff extended his hit streak to five-consecutive games.
Utah left 14 on base, while Ohio State stranded eight runners.