
Ohio State Splits Twin Bill at Michigan State
4/8/2023 6:27:00 PM | Baseball
LANSING, Mich. – The Buckeyes (15-15, 2-7 Big Ten) closed out their series at Michigan State (18-10, 6-3 Big Ten) with a doubleheader split on Saturday.
Game 1: Ohio State 13, Michigan State 2 (7 innings)
Game Recap
- Trey Lipsey drew a walk to lead off the first inning. Kade Kern was next up to bat and he doubled to right center, plating Lipsey to give Ohio State a 1-0 lead. An RBI single from Matthew Graveline scored Kern and put the Buckeyes ahead of the Spartans, 2-0, early.
- In the top of the third, Kern reached base on a Michigan State error and then stole both second and third. A single from Cole Andrew drove in Kern to extend Ohio State's lead, 3-0.
- The Spartans scored one in the bottom of third but Ohio State remained ahead by two, 3-1.
- Nick Erwin hit a long double to lead off the fourth inning for the Buckeyes. He advanced to third on a single from Lipsey and then scored on a Michigan State error to put OSU back ahead by three, 4-1.
- Michigan State scored once in the bottom of the fourth but Ohio State stayed ahead, 4-2.
- In the top of the fifth inning, Tyler Pettorini hit a one-out single. With two outs on the board, Graveline got ahold of one, homering over the fence in left field to give the Buckeyes a four-run lead, 6-2.
- Erwin singled to right field to lead off the sixth frame. Josh McAlister reached base on an error and advanced to second base, with Erwin advancing to third. Kern walked to load the bases. Pettorini was also walked, sending Erwin home to put OSU in the lead, 7-2.
- In the top of the seventh, Graveline led things off with a beauty of a bunt towards the third base line. Henry Kaczmar reached base on a Michigan State error to put two runners on. Erwin then doubled down the left field line to score Graveline and put OSU ahead, 8-2. Mitchell Okuley followed that up with a triple to right center, driving in two runs to give the Buckeyes a commanding eight-run lead, 10-2. But the Buckeyes didn't stop there; an RBI single from Pettorini, a score from McAlister on a bases-loaded walk and a sac fly from Graveline in his second at bat of the inning gave Ohio State an 11-run advantage, 13-2.
- The Buckeyes held the Spartans off and the game was called after seven innings with Ohio State earning the 13-2 victory.
Buckeyes by the Numbers
- Graveline and Erwin led the Buckeyes in hits with three each. Pettorini added two hits.
- Graveline batted in a team-high four runs and Pettorini batted in two.
- Kern led the team in stolen bases with two.
- Gavin Bruni improved to 2-0 on the season after another strong outing. In 5.0 innings pitched, he fanned five while allowing two runs on four hits.
- Jonah Jenkins tossed the final two innings for Ohio State. He struck out one and gave up just one hit.
Game 2: Michigan State 16, Ohio State 3 (7 innings)
Game Recap
- The Spartans got off to an early 6-0 lead after a monster first inning.
- Graveline and Kaczmar hit back-to-back singles to open the second inning. Erwin reached back on a fielder's choice and Graveline advanced to third base. A sac fly from Okuley scored Graveline to leave the Buckeyes trailing by five, 6-1.
- A two-run homerun from Michigan State in the bottom of the second inning extended its lead over Ohio State, 8-1.
- Lipsey singled to lead off the third and then stole second. He advanced to third on a fly out from Kern. An RBI single from Pettorini scored Lipsey to put the Buckeyes back within six runs of the Spartans, 8-2.
- Michigan State scored one run in the third to get back ahead by seven, 9-2, and added three runs in the fourth to take a 10-run lead, 12-2.
- Okuley singled through the right side to lead off the fifth, but there was nothing else doing for the Buckeyes as they remained behind by 10, 12-2.
- The Spartans extended their lead over the Buckeyes, 16-2, in the bottom of the fifth inning.
- Pettorini opened the sixth inning with a triple to right center field. A sac fly from Andrews plated Pettorini to put the Buckeyes down by 13, 16-3.
- The run rule came into effect in the second game as well as the Spartans won, 16-3, in seven innings.
Buckeyes by the Numbers
- Pettorini recorded a team-best two hits.
- Lipsey and Kern each had on swiped bag.
- Josh Timmerman (0-1) took the loss. He was responsible for five runs on two hits in less than one inning pitched.
- Jake Johnson fanned two in 0.2 innings out of the bullpen.
Up Next
- The Buckeyes return to Bill Davis Stadium to host Akron on Tuesday, April 11 at 6:00 p.m. and Bowling Green on Wednesday, April 12 at 6:00 p.m.
#GoBucks
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bruni, Gavin (2-0)
L: Larry (3-2)

Batting:
2B: Kern, Kade 1 ; Pettorini, Tyler 1 ; Erwin, Nick 2
3B: Okuley, Mitchell 1
HR: Graveline, Matthew 1
RBI: Kern, Kade 1 ; Pettorini, Tyler 2 ; Andrews, Cole 1 ; Kaiser, Caden 1 ; Graveline, Matthew 4 ; Erwin, Nick 1 ; Okuley, Mitchell 1
SF: Graveline, Matthew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lipsey, Trey 1 ; Kern, Kade 3 ; Pettorini, Tyler 1 ; Graveline, Matthew 2 ; Kaczmar, Henry 1 ; Erwin, Nick 3 ; Okuley, Mitchell 1 ; McAlister, Josh 1
SB: Kern, Kade 2
CS: Lipsey, Trey 1
HBP: McAlister, Josh 1

Batting:
2B: Miller 1
3B: Kohn 1
RBI: Gibbs 1 ; Miller 1
SH: Hunt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hubbard 1 ; Kohn 1
PO: Gibbs 1