Buckeyes Close out California Trip with Comeback Win Over the Titans

Wednesday, March 13

Fullerton, CA

9:00 PM

Ohio State

8-7

California State University at Fullerton

7-8

Ohio State

Cal State Fullerton

Buckeyes Close out California Trip with Comeback Win Over the Titans

3/14/2024 1:42:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

FULLERTON, Calif. – The Ohio State baseball team (8-7) erased a six-run deficit two times to earn a come-from-behind 13-10 victory over Cal State Fullerton (7-8) on Wednesday night to close out its five-game California road trip.

Game Recap

With one out on the board in the top of the first, Henry Kaczmar singled to left field, extending his hitting streak to 14 games. Next up was Matthew Graveline and he singled through the right side, advancing Kaczmar to third base to put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly from Tyler Pettorini plated Kaczmar and gave the Buckeyes the early 1-0 lead over the Titans.
The Titans, however, had a big bottom of the first, scoring seven runs to take the lead, 7-1.
In the top of the second Joseph Mershon walked to lead-off the inning and then advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Zach Fjelstad also drew a walk to put two runners on. With two outs on the board, Trey Lipsey hit an infield single to load the bases. Kaczmar stepped up to the plate next and he was hit by a pitch, sending Mershon home to cut the Titan lead to five, 7-2.
The Titans got another run across in the bottom of the second inning to get back ahead by six, 8-2.
Pettorini and Mitchell Okuley hit back-to-back singles to lead off the third inning and Mershon was hit by a pitch to load up the bases for the Buckeyes. Fjelstad, playing in front of his hometown crowd, then doubled to right field, plating two runs to cut the Fullerton lead to four, 8-4. A sacrifice fly from Josh Stevenson sent Mershon home and put the Buckeyes within three runs of the lead, 8-5. Fjelstad scored on a passed ball to put Ohio State down by just two runs, 8-6.
Kaczmar doubled to lead off the fourth and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly from Okuley scored Kaczmar and put the Buckeyes within one run of the Titans, 8-7.
In the top of the sixth, Kaczmar was walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a single up the middle from Graveline. Pettorini was then walked to load the bases with no outs on the board. Okuley stepped up to the plate and came up big, slapping a double into right center and sending all three runners on base home to give the Buckeyes the lead, 10-8. Okuley, who advanced to third on a single from Fjelstad, scored on a Titan error to put Ohio State ahead by three, 11-8.
With two outs on the board in the top of the ninth, Graveline was walked and then swiped the bag at second. A single through the right side from Pettorini plated Graveline and put Ohio State ahead by four, 12-8. Okuley then singled up the middle to give the Buckeyes a five-run lead, 13-8.
The Titans added two runs in the ninth on an RBI double and an RBI single, but closer Justin Eckhardt fanned the final two batters to cement the Buckeye victory.

Buckeyes by the Numbers

Okuley, Pettorini and Graveline led the Buckeyes with three hits each. Kaczmar, Fjelstad and Stevenson each added two hits.
Okuley batted in a career-high five runs. Pettorini and Fjelstad each had two RBIs.
Graveline and Pettorini each had two swiped bags.
Jake Michalak struck out a career-high three batters in a 2.1-inning relief appearance.
Jacob Morin (1-0) earned his first victory as a Buckeye. He struck out one and gave up just one hit in 2.1 innings pitched.

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