Eric Boggs
The Ohio State baseball team endured a rough trip to Iowa City, suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of the Hawkeyes. The series culminated in an 18-2 loss on Sunday, as the Buckeyes struggled to keep pace with a powerful Iowa offense. The losses dropped Ohio State to 6-15 overall and 0-6 in Big Ten play, while Iowa improved to 14-8 and 7-2 in conference action.
Ohio State showed flashes of fight, particularly in Saturday’s contest, but the Hawkeyes’ offensive firepower proved too much across the series. The Buckeyes will need to regroup quickly with No. 9 Oregon coming to Columbus next weekend.
Iowa wasted no time setting the tone in Sunday’s series finale, scoring three runs in the first inning on an RBI double and a two-RBI single. The Buckeyes responded in the second when Mason Eckelman led off with a walk, setting the stage for Ryan Miller to launch a 472-foot home run, cutting the deficit to 3-2. However, that would be Ohio State’s lone offensive highlight of the day. Iowa exploded for seven runs in the third, five more in the fourth, and continued to pile on until the game ended in seven innings via run rule at 18-2. Miller and Tyler Pettorini recorded the only two hits for Ohio State, while starting pitcher Jake Michalak took the loss after allowing nine runs in 2.1 innings.
Saturday’s game offered more promise, as the Buckeyes battled early before ultimately falling 12-5. Iowa took a commanding 5-0 lead in the first inning, but Ohio State responded with back-to-back home runs from Eckelman and Miller in the second. A Lee Ellis RBI single in the third and a two-RBI hit from Ellis in the fourth kept the Buckeyes in contention at 8-5. However, Iowa pulled away in the fifth with four runs, including two bases-loaded walks, and the Buckeyes couldn’t recover. Ellis led Ohio State with two hits and three RBIs, while Miller also recorded two hits. Blaine Wynk suffered the loss, giving up five runs in less than an inning of work.
The series opener on Friday saw the Buckeyes blanked in a 12-0, seven-inning defeat. The Hawkeyes capitalized on three home runs in the first two innings to build a 6-0 lead, and Ohio State’s offense never found its rhythm. Nick Giamarusti led the Buckeyes with two hits, but the team managed just four in total. Ryan Butler took the loss, surrendering nine runs in three innings.
The Buckeyes now turn their attention to a difficult home series against No. 9 Oregon from March 28-30 at Bill Davis Stadium. Ohio State will look to bounce back and find some consistency as Big Ten play continues.
