Ohio State
4-3
Arizona State University
4-3
Buckeyes Hit Five Home Runs in 13-4 Win Over Arizona State
2/24/2024 9:36:00 PM | Baseball
Game Recap
- Trey Lipsey singled to right center to open the game and then promptly swiped the bag at second. With two outs, an RBI single from Tyler Pettorini sent Lipsey home to give Ohio State the 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
- In the bottom of the first, the Sun Devils took a 2-1 lead, scoring on an RBI single and a bases-loaded walk.
- Joseph Mershon belted his first home run as a Buckeye out of the park in the top of the fourth frame to tie the score, 2-2.
- Arizona State, however, quickly reclaimed the lead, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to get back ahead by one, 3-2.
- An RBI single from the Sun Devils in the bottom of the sixth gave them a two-run lead over Ohio State, 4-2.
- The Buckeye bats, however, came alive in the top of the seventh. Henry Kaczmar singled to right field to lead off the inning. Matthew Graveline was next up and he hit his first home run of the season, sending two runs across to tie the score, 4-4. Pettorini followed that up with another home run for Ohio State, his first of the season, to give the Buckeyes their first lead, 5-4, since the first inning. With one out on the board, Mitchell Okuley doubled down the left field line. Hank Thomas was then hit by a pitch and the runners executed a double steal to get into scoring position. An infield single from Nick Giamarusti scored Okuley and gave Ohio State a two-run lead, 6-4.
- All was calm until the top of the ninth, a monster half-inning for the Buckeyes. Mershon kicked things off, leading off with a triple. Okuley and Thomas then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. A single from Josh Stevenson sent Mershon home, to put the Buckeyes up by three, 7-4, and keep the bases loaded. Giamarusti stepped up to the plate and he delivered, hitting a grand slam over the left field fence to extend the Ohio State lead over the Sun Devils, 11-4. With one out on the board, Kaczmar singled to right field and advanced to second on an Arizona State error. Graveline was next up and he went yard for the second time, plating two more runs to give the Buckeyes the 13-4 advantage.
- Ohio State held the Sun Devils off in the bottom of the ninth to come away with the victory and take a 2-1 series lead.
- The Buckeyes have hit 10 total home runs in their series against the Sun Devils.
- Ohio State recorded a season-high 17 hits. Okuley led the Buckeyes with three hits. Lipsey, Kaczmar, Graveline, Pettorini, Mershon, Stevenson and Giamarusti each had two hits.
- Graveline's two home runs are a career-high and his four RBIs tie his career-best.
- Giamarusti led the Buckeyes in RBIs with five.
- Gavin Bruni struck out five and gave up three runs on five hits in a 4.1-inning no-decision.
- Zach Brown (1-0) earned his first career win on the mound. He struck out one and allowed one run on four hits in 2.1 innings pitched.
- Ohio State wraps up its four-game series against the Sun Devils on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brown, Zach (1-0)
L: Omlid, H. (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Okuley, Mitchell 1
3B: Mershon, Joseph 1
HR: Graveline, Matthew 2 ; Pettorini, Tyler 1 ; Mershon, Joseph 1 ; Giamarusti, Nick 1
RBI: Graveline, Matthew 4 ; Pettorini, Tyler 2 ; Mershon, Joseph 1 ; Stevenson, Josh 1 ; Giamarusti, Nick 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Lipsey, Trey 1 ; Kaczmar, Henry 2 ; Graveline, Matthew 2 ; Pettorini, Tyler 1 ; Mershon, Joseph 2 ; Okuley, Mitchell 2 ; Richard, CJ 1 ; Stevenson, Josh 1 ; Giamarusti, Nick 1
SB: Lipsey, Trey 2 ; Pettorini, Tyler 1 ; Okuley, Mitchell 1 ; Thomas, Hank 1 ; Giamarusti, Nick 1
CS: Pettorini, Tyler 1
HBP: Thomas, Hank 1 ; Stevenson, Josh 1
Batting:
2B: Williams, H. 1 ; Karstetter 1 ; Compton, B. 1
HR: Ondina, S. 1
RBI: Karstetter 1 ; Compton, B. 1 ; Ondina, S. 2
SH: Mendoza, E. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Campos, Ryan 1 ; Tobias, J. 1 ; Compton, B. 1 ; Ondina, S. 1
CS: Williams, H. 1
