Post, Ratcliff Lead Buckeyes to 7-1 Win at Campbell

Saturday, March 4

Buies Creek, N.C.

Ohio State

4-6

Campbell

5-4

Ohio State

Campbell

Post, Ratcliff Lead Buckeyes to 7-1 Win at Campbell

3/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 4, 2017

cred: Bennett Scarborough

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Ohio State baseball team rebounded with a 7-1 win over Campbell Saturday afternoon at Jim Perry Stadium in Buies Creek, N.C. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 4-6 in 2017, while the Fighting Camels drop to 5-4. Fifth-year senior Jake Post improved to 1-1 on the season with a career-high eight strikeouts to guide the Buckeyes to their first true road victory of the year. Zach Ratcliff had another big day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, two runs scored, walk and three RBI. Jalen Washington was 2-for-5 with two runs scored, home run, two RBI and stolen base, while Bo Coolen went 2-for-4 with a run scored, RBI and walk.

“We had a big first inning and we really responded well,” head coach Greg Beals said. “We didn’t do what we wanted to do last night and our guys responded and put a big number on them early. Jake Post did a great job. He was able to hit with his breaking ball and moved his fastball in and out, which is going to make him tough on opposing hitters. But we left 11 guys on base today, so we still need to work on finding that two-out hit late in an inning. We need to play clean tomorrow and respond again.”

“HOTCAKES” GETS THE WIN
Fifth-year senior right-hander Jake Post had a memorable day on the mound to claim his first victory in almost two years. Post, who missed last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery, gave up just one run and scattered five hits with a career-high eight strikeouts and one walk in six innings of work. It marked the first win for the native of Chesterton, Ind., since March 9, 2015, in a win at Western Kentucky.

“I was just happy to help the team bounce back after Friday,” Post said. “I was able to spot up the fastball pretty well today. My curveball was working too. I was just focused on executing my pitches and that’s it. It’s a great feeling to know you helped the ball club win a game again.”

THE BOYS BAT AROUND IN THE FIRST
The Buckeyes came out with a five-run first inning, ending Campbell starter Andrew Witczak’s day on the mound right after it began as the left-hander failed to record an out in his second start of the season. The Buckeyes batted around in the opening frame, plating five runs on four hits highlighted by two-run home runs by Jalen Washington and Zach Ratcliff. After a lead-off walk to Tre’ Gantt, Washington connected on a 3-2 pitch for a two-run blast over the wall in left to make it 2-0. A walk to Noah McGowan set up Ratcliff, who crushed the first pitch he saw from Witczak onto the top of the roof of the Camels’ hitting facility located about 50 feet behind the left field wall for a 4-0 advantage. Back-to-back base hits by Bo Coolen and Brady Cherry forced Campbell to make the change on the bump. A walk to Tyler Cowles loaded the bases before Jacob Barnwell pushed Coolen home on a sacrifice fly to right center.

CAMELS PLATE A RUN IN THE SECOND
Campbell found a run in the bottom of the second when Matthew Barefoot knocked a RBI double down the left field line. Post kept it a four-run game with back-to-back strikeouts to leave a runner on third base.

MORE BUCKEYE RUNS
Washington scored the team’s sixth run of the game in the top of the fourth. He lined a single to center field for his second hit of the game before stealing second base. An error and two walks scored Washington for the 6-1 lead. In the sixth, Ratcliff launched his second home run of the day off CU reliever West Noble to make it a six-run game.

ALSO ON THE MOUND
Right-hander Dustin Jourdan relieved Post in the bottom of the seventh. He worked out of some trouble, fanning two hitters leave two Camels on base. Jourdan threw two scoreless innings, allowing three hits with two strikeouts. Right-hander Curtiss Irving made his 2017 debut, tossing a scoreless ninth on one hit and no runs.

UP NEXT
Ohio State and Campbell conclude the three-game series at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Right-hander Ryan Feltner (0-2, 5.23 ERA) gets the ball for the Buckeyes, while right-hander Ryan Kirk (1-0, 7.71 ERA) is on the mound for the Fighting Camels.

GAME NOTES
Ohio State is 2-1 all-time vs. Campbell.

The victory marked the first true road win for the Buckeyes this year.
Post struck out a career-high eight batters in the win. It marked his first win as a Buckeye starting pitcher since April 6, 2014, at Nebraska.
Ratcliff tallied his second multi-home run game of the year and leads the team with four home runs. He has nine career home runs to lead all active Buckeyes.
Gantt and Cherry have each reached base in all 10 games this year (career-highs).
Coolen has reached base in a season-high four straight games after recording his first multi-hit game as a Buckeye.
Washington knocked his first home run of the season.
Jourdan made his third appearance of the season.
Irving saw the mound for the first time since the 2014 campaign.
Multi-RBI games: Ratcliff (2), Coolen (2) and Washington (1).
Multi-hit games: Ratcliff (5), Washington (4) and Coolen (1).
Washington has a team-best three stolen bases this season and has 21 in his career.
Ohio State tied its season-high with 10 walks at the dish.

? Jake Post was all smiles after the game and was just glad to help the boys to a win today. #GoBucks https://t.co/ICLXx56aIA

— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioState_BASE) March 5, 2017