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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State baseball team fell, 13-5, against Northwestern in its Big Ten home opener Friday night at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. The Wildcats capitalized on four OSU errors, including two Buckeye miscues in the eighth to give the road squad the lead. Tied at 5-all, Northwestern scored two runs in the seventh, two in the eighth and six runs in the ninth. Ohio State falls to 16-14 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten play, while the Wildcats improve to 12-14 overall and 2-2 in conference action. Quinn Lavelle claimed the win to improve to 3-3 on the year, tossing seven innings, while Ohio State right-handed pitcher Bayden Root received the loss to drop to 2-2. Junior right fielder Dominic Canzone had a three-hit game in the loss.
NORTHWESTERN SCORES FIRST
The Wildcats plated the first run of the game in the top of the first when David Dunn singled to center field to score his brother, Jack Dunn.
BUCKEYES TAKE THE LEAD
Ohio State scored four times on six hits vs. NU left-handed starting pitcher Quinn Lavelle to take a 4-1 lead. Brady Cherry tied the game on a RBI single before Dezenzo ripped a 2-1 pitch into the gap in right center for a bases-clearing double.
⬇️3⃣ | Bases-clearing double for @ZachDezenzo. Big time by the rookie. The boys take the lead. 😃
😼 1, 🌰 4 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/hUgBLNbB4a
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) April 5, 2019
MISCUES IN THE FOURTH
The Wildcats made it a one-run game in the top of the fourth after two errors in a wild pitch. Michael Trautwein singled to plate one before a fielding error and throwing error from center allowed a second run to cross the dish. A wild pitch put it to a 4-3 score. Ohio State got one back in the bottom when Cherry barreled his second hit of the game for a RBI single.
STARTER TALK
Burhenn claimed his fourth straight quality start tonight vs. the Wildcats in a no decision. He worked six innings and scattered four hits on three runs, two earned, with four walks and five strikeouts. After allowing nine hits through four innings, Lavelle sent down 10 straight Buckeye hitters in the victory for Northwestern.
NORTHWESTERN TIES THE GAME
Northwestern plated two runs on four hits in the top of the seventh vs. the Buckeye bullpen to make it a 5-5 contest. Alex Erro had sent a sac fly with the bases loaded to make it a 5-4 game. A RBI double by Shawn Goosenberg knotted the score, but the Buckeye relay combo of Cherry, Dezenzo and Dingler kept it a 5-5 score with Dingler applying the tag at the plate.
MORE MISCUES IN THE EIGHTH
Northwestern gained two-run lead in the top of the eighth after two OSU errors and a passed ball. Bourbon, who knocked a lead-off double, scored on a field error at first base. With a runner on third, a passed ball made it a 7-5 deficit. The Wildcats opened the game in the ninth with six runs, including a grand slam by Casey O’Laughlin.
BULLPEN LINES
Right-handed reliever Will Pfennig allowed two runs, both earned, on four hits in one inning of work. Root gave up five runs, three earned, on three hits in 1.2 innings. Left-handed reliever Mitch Milheim gave up three runs on three hits with one strikeout in 0.1 innings of work.
Gunnery Sergeant James Hopper threw out our ceremonial first pitch. 💪
A strike right over the plate!
Thank you for your service. 👏#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/xFqGQ6SgpC
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) April 5, 2019
MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT
The series opener was Military Appreciation Night at Bill Davis Stadium. The Buckeyes wore their digital camo uniforms for the first time this year. Twenty-two Central Ohio Marine Corps enlistees were sworn in the enlistment ceremony administered by Marine Captain Matthew Wolf. The game also featured a ceremonial first pitch as Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant James Hopper was recognized. Gunnery Sergeant Hopper has completed two tours to Iraq. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Distinguishing Device for Valor in Combat. Thank you all for your service!
Pretty cool moment pregame.
2️⃣2️⃣ Central Ohio Marine Corps enlistees were sworn in tonight.
Thank you to all who serve our great country. 🇺🇸#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/TicwuslxRU
— Ohio State Baseball (@OhioStateBASE) April 5, 2019
UP NEXT
Ohio State and Northwestern meet at 3:05 p.m. Saturday at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium. Redshirt freshman left-handed pitcher Seth Lonsway (4-2, 3.76 ERA) squares off vs. freshman right-handed pitcher Mike Doherty (2-0, 6.60 ERA). The game will be streamed on BTN Plus ($) and can be heard on AM 1460 ESPN.
GAME NOTES
