Ohio State Drops Series Finale at No. 21 Georgia Tech

ATLANTA, Ga. – The Ohio State baseball team fell to No. 21 Georgia Tech, 12-2, in its series finale Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium. With the loss, the Buckeyes drop to 2-4 on the year while the Yellow Jackets improve to 6-1.

The Buckeyes travel to Nashville for a three-game series at Lipscomb starting Friday. The opener is slated for 5 p.m. ET Friday before a 3 p.m. Saturday middle game and the finale at 2 p.m. Sunday.

BUCKEYES OPEN THE SCORING IN THE SECOND
Conner Pohl was hit by a pitch and Sam Wilson walked to put Buckeyes at first and second before an Archer Brookman single to left loaded the bases with one down. Georgia Tech starter Zach Maxwell was able to respond by striking out Noah West but the right-hander then uncorked a wild pitch to plate Pohl with the opening run of the game.

YELLOW JACKETS ANSWER IN THE BOTTOM HALF
After tossing a scoreless first, Ohio State starter Griffan Smith ran into trouble in the second. The left-hander issued a leadoff walk to Drew Compton before Stephen Reid homered to right-center. Smith retired the next two batters but Austin Wilhite followed with a solo shot to left to push the lead to 3-1 after two.

OHIO STATE STYMIED BY YELLOW JACKET PITCHING
While Georgia Tech added two more in the third along with single runs in the fourth and fifth, Maxwell and reliever Dalton Smith were keeping the Buckeyes off the board. Maxwell allowed the one run on one hit in five innings before giving way to Smith, who worked around singles from Pohl and Zach Dezenzo to toss a scoreless sixth. Three more Yellow Jacket relievers combined to limit Ohio State to one run the rest of the way.

Notes
– Pohl made his first-career start in right field. The senior made the start at second base Saturday for the first time since his freshman season. Pohl started all 62 games at first base a season ago.
– Pohl reached base three times and has now reached safely in the last five games.