Eric Boggs
The 2025 season came to a close for the Ohio State baseball team with little fanfare in the standings, as the Buckeyes finished dead last in the Big Ten with a conference record of 5-25 and an overall record of 13-37. The opening campaign under new head coach Justin Haire fell well short of expectations, with the team ultimately missing out on postseason play. It was a season filled with inconsistency, defensive miscues, and growing pains, but it ended on a high note that offered a small glimmer of hope for the future.
Despite the team’s struggles throughout the season, the Buckeyes closed out their final series with a thrilling 11-10 walk-off victory over Illinois on Senior Day, giving fans one last memorable moment. The game was a rollercoaster of momentum swings, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times. Before the first pitch, the program honored the Class of 2025—Trey Lipsey, Nick Giamarusti, Ryan Miller, Will Carpenter, Jaylen Jones, Tyler Pettorini, and Spencer Hill—for their contributions.
In the finale, Ryan Miller and Nick Giamarusti launched back-to-back home runs in the second inning to jumpstart Ohio State’s offense. The Illini responded with six runs in the third, only for the Buckeyes to battle back with a bases-clearing double by Maddix Simpson to narrow the gap. Giamarusti’s second homer of the day in the fifth inning brought Ohio State within one again, and the game ultimately went to extra innings. Down 10-9 in the bottom of the tenth, Lipsey and Giamarusti pulled off a double steal before Pettorini sealed the win with a walk-off double down the right field line.
Though the win was purely symbolic, it was a needed moment of celebration in an otherwise frustrating year. Miller led the team with three hits, while Simpson recorded a career-high four RBIs. Douglas Bauer secured the win on the mound to finish his season with a 3-1 record.
The rest of the series, however, served as a sobering reminder of the team’s larger struggles. In the opener, the Buckeyes lost a tight 4-3 battle in a game where early promise fizzled late. Trey Lipsey’s solo home run and Pettorini’s RBI in the third gave Ohio State a brief lead, but defensive lapses and a critical error in the ninth allowed Illinois to secure the win. Sal Mineo and Reggie Bussey sparked a late rally, but it fell just short. Sahil Patel delivered a solid start with six strikeouts over four innings, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Illini.
Game two was even rougher, as Illinois dismantled the Buckeyes 18-9 in a high-scoring affair. Giamarusti, Lipsey, and Pettorini continued to fight at the plate, with Lipsey blasting a three-run homer and tallying three RBIs. Despite offensive highlights, the Buckeye pitching staff was unable to contain Illinois, allowing a crushing eight-run eighth inning that put the game out of reach. Jake Michalak took the loss, falling to 1-7 on the year.
Throughout the weekend and the season as a whole, Lipsey, Pettorini, and Graveline were consistent bright spots, showing leadership and resilience in an otherwise challenging year. Still, the numbers paint a clear picture—this team has significant work ahead if it hopes to climb back into Big Ten contention under Coach Haire.
The final walk-off win may not change the record books, but it offered a glimpse of the grit this team will need to build on moving forward. With a core of returning players and a full offseason under Haire’s leadership, the focus now shifts to development, recruiting, and restoring Ohio State baseball to its winning ways.
