Eric Boggs
The Ohio State baseball team endured a tough opening series in Phoenix, falling to Arizona State in all three matchups. Despite showing resilience and offensive firepower, the Buckeyes were unable to secure a victory against the Sun Devils.
In the series finale on Sunday, Ohio State jumped out to an early lead as Trey Lipsey led off with an infield single, stole second, and advanced to third on a Sun Devil error. Matthew Graveline capitalized with an RBI triple to right-center field, and Tyler Pettorini followed with a double to drive in another run, giving the Buckeyes a quick 2-0 advantage. However, Arizona State responded in the bottom of the inning with a run on a Buckeye error and back-to-back solo home runs to seize a 3-2 lead.
The Sun Devils extended their advantage to 4-2 with an RBI single in the second before breaking the game open with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth, pushing their lead to 10-2. Ohio State attempted a comeback, cutting the deficit to 10-7 in the seventh inning after a rally sparked by Ryan Miller, Lee Ellis, and Nick Giamarusti. The Buckeyes closed the gap even further in the eighth with back-to-back home runs from Graveline and Pettorini, bringing the score to 13-10. However, Arizona State’s offense proved relentless, adding four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to seal the 17-10 victory. Pettorini led Ohio State with three hits and two RBIs, while Graveline contributed two hits and three RBIs. Jake Michalak took the loss on the mound, allowing four runs in two innings of work.
Saturday’s contest saw Ohio State fight until the final inning in a narrow 7-6 defeat. Pettorini got things started with a first-inning double, scoring on a single by Marc Stephens to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead. The Sun Devils responded with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame to move ahead 2-1. In the second, Lee Ellis launched a 408-foot solo home run—his first as a Buckeye—to tie the game at 2-2. Ryan Miller later scored on an Arizona State error, putting Ohio State back on top, 3-2.
The Buckeyes added to their lead in the fifth when a sacrifice fly by Lipsey brought home Giamarusti for a 4-2 advantage. However, the Sun Devils clawed back, tying the game at 4-4 in the sixth and again at 5-5 in the seventh after Ohio State briefly regained the lead on a wild pitch. In the eighth, Giamarusti manufactured a run with his speed, drawing a walk, stealing two bases, and scoring on another wild pitch to give the Buckeyes a 6-5 edge. Unfortunately, Arizona State delivered the final blow with a two-run double in the ninth, walking off with the 7-6 win. Pettorini led the offense with three hits, while Chase Herrell struck out four over six innings in a no-decision. Nik Copenhaver suffered the loss, allowing two runs in 1.2 innings.
Friday’s Opening Day matchup set the tone for the competitive series, with Ohio State coming up just short in a 9-8 battle. The Buckeyes wasted no time, as Pettorini walked in the first and was driven home by a double from Stephens. Eckelman followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. Arizona State capitalized on an Ohio State error in the bottom half and launched a two-run homer to take a 3-2 lead. The Buckeyes quickly answered in the second when Giamarusti doubled home Miller to tie the game at 3-3, but another three-run homer from the Sun Devils in the third gave them a 6-3 advantage.
Miller responded with a towering 449-foot home run in the fourth to bring Ohio State within two. A strong seventh inning saw the Buckeyes regain the lead, 8-6, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Pettorini and a two-run double by Eckelman. The Sun Devils, however, proved difficult to put away, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh to reclaim a 9-8 advantage. Ohio State had a chance in the ninth with Graveline drawing a walk and Stephens singling to put the go-ahead run on base, but a double play ended the game. The Buckeyes finished with 11 hits, with Lipsey, Stephens, Eckelman, Miller, and Giamarusti each collecting two. Eckelman led the team with three RBIs, while Hunter Shaw took the loss after allowing three runs over three innings.
Ohio State now looks to regroup as they head to the Jax College Baseball Classic next weekend, where they will face NC State on Friday, Coastal Carolina on Saturday, and Alabama on Sunday. The Buckeyes will aim to turn their early-season lessons into results as they continue their 2024 campaign.
