Buckeyes Bounce Back, Earn 8-2 Victory Over Gonzaga

Sunday, February 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

2:00 pm

Ohio State

3-5

Gonzaga

1-7

Ohio State

Gonzaga

Buckeyes Bounce Back, Earn 8-2 Victory Over Gonzaga

2/26/2023 7:23:24 PM | Baseball

Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Buckeyes (3-5) closed out their four-game Arizona trip with a dominant 8-2 victory over the Gonzaga Bulldogs (1-7) on Sunday.

Game Recap

Marcus Ernst had the first hit of the day for the Buckeyes, singling through the left side in the top of the first. A two-out single from Hank Thomas put two runners on and Cole Andrews was walked to load the bases, but the Zags got the final out to keep the Bucks off the board early.
Ohio State did, however, get on the board first after a lead-off homerun from Ernst in the top of the third to put the Buckeyes ahead, 1-0.
Tyler Pettorini led off with a triple in the fourth, which was followed by back-to-back walks to load the bases for the Buckeyes. An RBI ground-out from Caden Kaiser gave Pettorini time to score to put OSU ahead, 2-0. Henry Kaczmar then doubled to right center, driving in two runs to extend the Ohio State lead, 4-0.
With one runner on in the bottom of the fourth, the Bucks turned their fourth double play of the season to end the inning and stay ahead, 4-0.
Kaiser and Kaczmar each had base knocks for the Buckeyes in the top of the fifth inning, but the Buckeyes did not add to their lead.
In the top of the seventh, Kade Kern and Thomas were walked back-to-back and then executed a double steal to both get into scoring position. Andrews was walked again to load up the bases. Pettorini was the fourth straight walk of the inning and Kern scored to put OSU ahead, 5-0. With bases still loaded, Nick Erwin hit an RBI single, extending the Buckeye lead, 6-0. Another bases-loaded walk and a sac fly from Kaiser gave Ohio State a commanding 8-0 lead after six and a half innings.
A two-RBI single from the Bulldogs in the bottom of the seventh put them on the board, but Ohio State led comfortably, 8-2.
The Buckeyes had the bases loaded one more time in the top of the ninth, but the runners were stranded.
With two outs on the board in the bottom of the ninth inning, one runner got on base for the Zags after a single up the middle, but the Bucks got the final out on a fly to right center to win the ball game, 8-2.

Buckeyes by the Numbers

Ernst leads the team in homeruns with two on the season so far.
Ernst and Kaczmar had a team-best two hits each and Ernst and Kaiser led OSU in RBIs with two apiece.
Pettorini scored a team-high two runs.
George Eisenhardt tossed four scoreless innings in his first start of the season. He struck out two and did not give up any hits; he walked just one batter.
Blayne Robinson (1-0) earned the win; he fanned three and allowed just two hits in 1.2 scoreless innings pitched.
Jonah Jenkins also fanned three. Jenkins gave up one earned run on three hits in 2.1 innings pitched.
Jaylen Jones closed out the game for the Buckeyes; he struck out one and allowed one hit.

Up Next

Ohio State heads to Frisco, Texas to compete in the Frisco Classic Friday, March 3-Sunday, March 5. The Buckeyes will face Mississippi State on Friday, Cal on Saturday, and Oklahoma on Sunday.

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