Eric Boggs
The Ohio State baseball team endured a frustrating weekend, dropping all three games of a Big Ten series to archrival Michigan. With losses of 23-1, 11-4, and 13-3, the Buckeyes were overmatched in nearly every phase of the game and fell to 11-33 overall and 3-21 in conference play. Despite some strong individual efforts, Ohio State couldn’t slow down Michigan’s hot bats or capitalize on the few offensive opportunities they managed to create.
The series opened on Saturday with a lopsided 23-1 loss in seven innings. After a scoreless first, Michigan erupted for 16 runs in the fourth inning alone, breaking the game wide open. Ohio State was only able to plate a single run in the bottom of the sixth when Mason Eckelman reached on a fielder’s choice to score Trey Lipsey. Maddix Simpson doubled in the fifth, and Sal Mineo had a team-high two hits, but those bright spots weren’t nearly enough to keep pace. Starting pitcher Drew Erdmann took the loss, giving up five runs in just over three innings.
Sunday’s doubleheader didn’t yield better results for the Buckeyes. In game one, Ohio State actually took an early 3-0 lead in the third inning, powered by a monster 400-foot homer from Ryan Miller and clutch hits from Tyler Pettorini and Lee Ellis. The Buckeyes briefly regained a 4-3 advantage in the fourth, but Michigan responded quickly and forcefully. The Wolverines scored eight unanswered runs over the next four innings, ultimately cruising to an 11-4 win. Gavin Kuzniewski recorded the loss but matched a career-high with four strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
In game two, after a lengthy lightning delay, Michigan struck early and often, building a 9-0 lead by the seventh inning. Ohio State showed a flicker of life in the bottom of the seventh, when Simpson singled home two runs after a double from Miller, narrowing the gap to 9-3. But Michigan answered right back, tacking on four more runs in the eighth to seal a 13-3 mercy-rule win in eight innings. Jake Michalak pitched five innings and struck out seven but was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs.
Maddix Simpson was a consistent contributor throughout the series, notching multiple hits and driving in a pair of runs in the final game. Ryan Miller and Lee Ellis also showed sparks at the plate, but offensive production was far too scarce to challenge Michigan’s relentless scoring.
The Buckeyes will try to regroup and regain some footing as they head to Evanston to face Northwestern. With the season winding down, Ohio State will look to salvage pride and build momentum for the future, even as this weekend’s sweep to the Wolverines stings deeply for fans and players alike.
