Thomas' Long Ball Lifts Buckeyes Over Mountaineers

Saturday, March 16

Morgantown, WV

4:00 PM

Ohio State

9-8

West Virginia University

11-8

Ohio State

West Virginia

Thomas' Long Ball Lifts Buckeyes Over Mountaineers

3/16/2024 8:37:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – A two-run home run from Hank Thomas lifted the Ohio State baseball team (9-8) over West Virginia (11-8), 7-4, on Saturday and evened the teams' series at one game apiece.

Game Recap

The Buckeyes got off to a quick start, with Trey Lipsey singling to third base to lead off the game. A double from Matthew Graveline put two runners in scoring position. Tyler Pettorini stepped up to the plate, singling to left field to send Lipsey home and give Ohio State a 1-0 lead. Joseph Mershon reached base after being hit by a pitch. Graveline scored on a West Virginia error and Mershon scored on an RBI single from Nick Giamarusti to give Ohio State a 3-0 advantage in the top of the first.
In the top of the third, with two outs on the board, Mershon and Mitchell Okuley hit back-to-back singles. Giamarusti drew a walk to load the bases, but all three runners were stranded.
The Mountaineers tied the score, 3-3, in the bottom of the fourth inning after an RBI groundout and a two-run home run.
West Virginia took the lead, 5-4, in the fifth inning after plating a run on a wild pitch.
In the top of the fifth, Giamarusti walked to lead off the inning and then swiped the bag at second. Thomas, who entered the game as a pinch hitter, came up big, sailing a ball over the wall in right center field to plate two runs, including the game-winner, and put Ohio State back in the lead, 5-4.
Mershon singled to lead off the seventh frame, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout from Okuley. Pinch hitter Isaac Cadena reached base on a fielder's choice and he scored after Josh Stevenson doubled down the left field line to put Ohio State ahead by two, 6-4. Thomas, who was up next, came in clutch again, singling to left field to score Stevenson and give the Buckeyes a three-run lead, 7-4.
Cadena singled to right field with two outs in the top of the ninth and advanced to third base on a single from Stevenson. Cadena was thrown out at third base, however, and the Buckeyes were ahead, 7-4, with West Virginia coming up to bat one more time.
Closer Justin Eckhardt entered the game for the Buckeyes in the bottom of the ninth. After giving up a lead-off single, a fielder's choice on the next play eliminated one runner. The final Mountaineer batter hit into a 4-6-3 double play and Ohio State secured the 7-4 win.

Buckeyes by the Numbers

Thomas, Graveline, Mershon and Stevenson led the Buckeyes with two hits each. Henry Kaczmar also had a hit, extending his hitting streak to an impressive 16 games.
Thomas batted in a team-high three runs.
Gavin DeVooght (2-1) earned the victory on the mound. He struck out one and allowed one run on one hit in a 1.1-inning relief appearance.
Zach Brown made a strong appearance out of the bullpen, striking out two and allowing just two hits in 2.2 innings tossed.
Eckhardt earned his fourth save of the season.

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