Eric Boggs
Ohio State got back into the win column Tuesday night, shaking off a tough weekend series sweep at the hands of Indiana with a dominant 14-7 victory over the Miami RedHawks at Bill Davis Stadium. The win provided a much-needed boost for the Buckeyes (6-12) as they prepare to return to Big Ten play later this week.
Miami struck first in the opening inning, pushing a run across on an RBI fielder’s choice. But any early momentum for the RedHawks quickly vanished in the bottom half, as Ohio State’s bats exploded for a seven-run frame. Trey Lipsey and Tyler Pettorini started things off with back-to-back singles, and after a walk to Matthew Graveline, Mason Eckelman took one for the team, getting hit by a pitch to bring in the tying run. Ryan Miller followed with a two-run single, and after another walk reloaded the bases, Reggie Bussey delivered a clutch double to right center, driving in two more. A wild pitch brought another run home before Maddix Simpson’s RBI fielder’s choice capped off the dominant inning, putting the Buckeyes ahead 7-1.
Ohio State continued to pile on, extending the lead in the second when Graveline legged out an infield single to bring home Lee Ellis, who had led off the inning with a double and stolen third. Then, in the fourth, Lipsey provided the highlight of the night, crushing a ball off the wall in right center and turning on the jets for an electric inside-the-park home run, pushing the Buckeye advantage to 9-1.
Miami tried to chip away, scoring twice in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly, but Bussey answered in a big way in the bottom half, launching his first career home run—an emphatic three-run shot that stretched the lead to 12-3. The Buckeyes tacked on two more in the sixth via consecutive bases-loaded walks, making it 14-3. Miami managed to add a pair of two-run homers late, but the deficit was too large to overcome as Ohio State secured the win.
Bussey had a breakout night, driving in a career-high six runs, while he, Lipsey, Pettorini, Eckelman, Graveline, and Miller all tallied two hits apiece. On the mound, Gavin Kuzniewski (3-1) earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits while striking out two. Nik Copenhaver added 1.2 shutout frames, and Blaine Wynk and Drew Erdmann each recorded a pair of strikeouts.
With the bounce-back victory secured, the Buckeyes now shift their focus to a crucial conference series on the road against Iowa, with first pitch set for Friday.
