Eric Boggs
The No. 7 Ohio State baseball team (29-25) lost to No. 3 Indiana (32-22-1) with a score of 14-7 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday. With this loss, the Buckeyes move into the elimination bracket.
Indiana took an early lead, scoring five runs in the second inning with the help of a sacrifice fly and three doubles. Ohio State started to fight back in the bottom of the third inning. Matthew Graveline was hit by a pitch, and Ryan Miller walked, putting two runners on base. Another walk to Josh Stevenson loaded the bases. Indiana’s error allowed Graveline and Miller to score. Isaac Cadena’s groundout sent Stevenson home, and Henry Kaczmar, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, scored on a balk, making the score 5-4.
Ohio State tied the game 5-5 in the fourth inning. Joseph Mershon led off with a single and then stole second base. Graveline walked, and a single from Miller drove Mershon home. Stevenson’s single loaded the bases, but the Buckeyes couldn’t score more.
Indiana regained the lead in the fifth inning with a couple of runs, making it 7-5. They added another run in the sixth inning to increase their lead to 8-5.
In the seventh inning, Ohio State had the bases loaded again but could not score. Indiana extended their lead further in the eighth inning, scoring four more runs to make it 12-5.
In the bottom of the eighth, Ohio State tried to rally. Walks to Miller, Stevenson, and Trey Lipsey loaded the bases. Kaczmar’s single brought in Miller, and Cadena’s groundout allowed Stevenson to score, cutting Indiana’s lead to 12-7. However, the Buckeyes left the bases loaded once again.
Indiana scored two more runs in the ninth inning, making the score 14-7. In the bottom of the ninth, Ohio State loaded the bases with one out but couldn’t score any more runs, ending the game with a 14-7 loss.
Ohio State set a Big Ten Tournament record by drawing 13 walks in the game. Stevenson was walked four times, also a tournament record. Kaczmar and Mershon each had two hits, and Cadena had two RBIs. Starting pitcher Gavin DeVooght struck out one and allowed five runs on four hits in 1.2 innings. Blaine Wynk (2-1) took the loss, giving up seven runs (three earned) on seven hits in 3.2 innings.
The Buckeyes will play No. 2 Nebraska in an elimination game on Friday, May 24 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
