Eric Boggs
The Ohio State baseball team kicked off Big Ten Conference play with a bang over the weekend, clinching a hard-fought 2-1 series victory against the Purdue Boilermakers.
Entering the series, Purdue boasted a commendable 16-10 (1-2) record for the season, while Ohio State, still smarting from a previous home series sweep by Georgetown, stood at 10-11 overall.
The Buckeyes wasted no time making their mark in the series opener on Friday night, securing an impressive 8-2 triumph. Starting pitcher Landon Beidelschies took center stage with a stellar seven-inning performance, striking out seven batters while only surrendering five hits, boosting his season record to 3-4 on 2024 campaign.
Saturday’s showdown saw Ohio State mount a thrilling comeback. Trailing 10-7 as they entered the bottom of the eighth inning, the Buckeyes summoned their resilience, scoring a pair of runs in the eigth. The defining moment came in dramatic fashion when leadoff batter Trey Lipsey smashed a walk-off three-run homer, propelling Ohio State to a 12-10 victory.
Although Purdue managed to stave off a sweep by claiming a 7-1 win in Sunday’s matchup, Ohio State’s weekend performance still marked a positive beginning to conference play.
With the series win, the Buckeyes now stand at 12-12 overall and hold a 2-1 record in the Big Ten. Looking ahead, Ohio State is set to face in-state rival Kent State in a quick home-and-home series on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then, they hit the road next weekend for a conference clash against Nebraska.
