Eric Boggs
The No. 7 Ohio State baseball team’s season came to a close on Friday with a 12-5 loss to No. 2 seed Nebraska in a Big Ten Tournament elimination game. The Buckeyes, who ended the season with a 29-26 record, were unable to repeat their earlier success against the Huskers, whom they had defeated 15-2 in the first round of the tournament.
Nebraska took an early lead with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, putting them up 3-0. Mitchell Okuley managed the first hit for Ohio State with a two-out single in the top of the second, but the Buckeyes couldn’t capitalize further in the inning.
In the bottom of the second, Nebraska added another run with an RBI single, extending their lead to 4-0. Ohio State got on the board in the third inning when Ryan Miller, who was walked and advanced on a wild pitch, scored on a single by Trey Lipsey, making it 4-1. However, Nebraska quickly responded with an RBI double in the bottom of the third, pushing their lead back to four, 5-1.
The Buckeyes showed some fight in the fourth inning. Tyler Pettorini doubled to center field, stole third, and scored on a groundout by Hunter Rosson, cutting the lead to 5-2. In the fifth, Lipsey walked and advanced to third on a double by Henry Kaczmar. Lipsey then scored on a Nebraska error, bringing Ohio State within two runs at 5-3.
Nebraska’s solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning extended their lead to 6-3. Ohio State had a chance to score in the sixth, but Matthew Graveline’s two-out infield single did not lead to any runs.
The Huskers widened the gap significantly in the seventh inning, scoring three runs with an RBI double and a two-RBI single, making it 9-3. They added three more runs in the eighth with another RBI single and a two-RBI single, bringing the score to 12-3.
In a final effort in the ninth inning, Okuley walked, Graveline singled, and pinch hitter Nick Giamarusti walked to load the bases. Lipsey singled to score Okuley, and a groundout by Kaczmar brought Graveline home, but the Buckeyes couldn’t close the gap further, ending the game at 12-5.
Trey Lipsey and Matthew Graveline led Ohio State in hits, each recording two. Lipsey also had a team-high two RBIs. Colin Purcell (3-5) took the loss on the mound, allowing five runs on four hits and striking out one in 2.2 innings. Gavin Bruni struck out three and gave up three runs on two hits in 3.2 innings of relief.
The Buckeyes’ season ends with a hard-fought game against a strong Nebraska team. Like many of their losses this season, the offense was good enough, but the pitching just wasn’t up to the task. If the Buckeyes plan to take another step forward in year three of the Bill Mosiello era, they will need to acquire better arms via the transfer portal, or take a different approach in developing the talent that currently takes the mound.
