Eric Boggs
It was a rollercoaster of a week for the Ohio State baseball team, one that began with a much-needed explosion at the plate but ended with a tough three-game sweep at the hands of Big Ten rival Michigan State. The Buckeyes, now sitting at 9-27 overall and 2-16 in conference play, showed moments of grit and offensive promise but couldn’t string together a complete performance across the weekend in East Lansing.
The week started on a high note as Ohio State snapped an eight-game losing streak in dominant fashion, routing Wright State 18-2 at Bill Davis Stadium. The Buckeye bats came alive early and often, racking up a season-high 18 runs. Matthew Graveline crushed a 404-foot, three-run homer, while Tyler Pettorini added his team-leading 10th home run in a six-run sixth inning. Lee Ellis had a team-high three hits, and Mason Eckelman drove in a career-best four RBIs in the offensive outburst. The win gave fans hope that momentum might carry into the weekend series against the Spartans.
Unfortunately, that spark fizzled quickly in Friday’s series opener at Michigan State. The Spartans pounced early and never let up, taking an 11-4 win despite a late three-run homer by Graveline that briefly trimmed the deficit. Pitching struggles continued to plague the Buckeyes—Drew Erdmann allowed three runs over four innings, while Ryan Butler gave up eight more in relief. The bright spot was Graveline, whose eighth homer of the year continues to anchor Ohio State’s offensive efforts.
Saturday’s matchup brought a dramatic back-and-forth battle, but ended in heartbreak for the Scarlet and Gray. The Buckeyes showed real grit, taking leads of 4-2 and later 9-8 behind clutch hitting from Maddix Simpson and a huge two-RBI triple by Sal Mineo—his first career three-bagger. Simpson tied a career high with three hits and three RBIs, and Lipsey chipped in two hits and two RBIs of his own. But a solo homer by the Spartans in the eighth tied it, and another in the 11th walked it off for a 10-9 loss. It was a crushing end to what was nearly the Buckeyes’ first Big Ten road win of the season.
Sunday’s finale was a tough one to watch for Buckeye fans. Michigan State jumped out to a 7-0 lead by the second inning, and despite some early signs of a rally—highlighted by a three-hit day from Reggie Bussey and RBIs from Carpenter, Graveline, and Eckelman—Ohio State couldn’t recover. The Spartans kept pouring it on, ultimately closing the game out early with a 14-4 run-rule victory in seven innings. Jake Michalak took the loss after a rough 1.2-inning outing, giving up seven runs on just three hits.
Despite the sweep, there were still encouraging performances. Reggie Bussey’s 5-for-7 showing across the weekend was a spark, and Graveline continues to prove why he’s one of the Buckeyes’ most dependable hitters. Simpson is emerging as a reliable presence at the plate, and Trey Lipsey remains a steady contributor in the leadoff spot.
The Buckeyes return home to Columbus with a chance to regroup and right the ship. A 10-game homestand awaits, starting with midweek matchups against Akron and Toledo. For Ohio State fans, there’s still pride in seeing young talent grind through adversity, and hope that the heart and hustle this team has shown will eventually turn into wins. It’s been a rocky road, but there’s no quit in this squad—and as any Buckeye fan knows, you never count out the Scarlet and Gray.
