Eric Boggs
The Ohio State Buckeyes baseball team electrified the home crowd at Bill Davis Stadium on Tuesday night, securing a thrilling 12-10 victory over St. John’s in their home opener. In a high-scoring affair that lasted nearly four hours, the Buckeyes (2-8) displayed resilience and timely hitting to outlast the Red Storm (1-9) and earn a much-needed win.
The action began early as Ohio State capitalized on a St. John’s miscue in the bottom of the first inning. Trey Lipsey reached base on an error and wasted no time making an impact, stealing second and later scoring on a wild pitch to put the Buckeyes on the board first, 1-0.
St. John’s responded in the top of the third with an offensive burst, plating three runs on a combination of an RBI double and a pair of run-scoring singles to take a 3-1 lead. The Red Storm extended their advantage in the fourth with a solo home run, making it 4-1.
Ohio State answered in the bottom half of the fourth, cutting into the deficit with clutch hitting. Tyler Pettorini led off with a single, followed by Matthew Graveline’s RBI single to bring him home. Mason Eckelman then drove in Graveline with another single to pull the Buckeyes within one. Marc Stephens added a key double to put two runners in scoring position, setting up Nick Giamarusti, who delivered a two-RBI single to give Ohio State a 5-4 lead.
The Buckeyes extended their advantage in the fifth when Lee Ellis launched his first home run at Bill Davis Stadium, a two-run shot that pushed Ohio State’s lead to 7-4.
However, St. John’s fought back in the seventh inning, regaining the lead at 8-7 after an RBI double and a two-run homer. Ohio State was quick to respond in the bottom of the frame, with Lipsey drawing a walk and Ellis singling to start the rally. Both runners executed a double steal before Graveline delivered once again, driving in both Lipsey and Ellis with a single to center. Stephens followed with a double to plate Graveline, putting Ohio State back on top, 10-8.
The back-and-forth battle continued into the eighth when St. John’s managed to tie the game at 10-10, capitalizing on a sacrifice fly and a Buckeye defensive miscue.
Ohio State refused to let the game slip away in the ninth. Zach Freeman drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Sal Mineo, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Reggie Bussey executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Mineo to third, setting up Lipsey’s clutch go-ahead single. Ellis and Pettorini were both hit by pitches, loading the bases before another wild pitch allowed Lipsey to score, giving the Buckeyes a 12-10 cushion.
Reliever Drew Erdmann closed the door in the top of the ninth, sealing the victory for Ohio State. The win marked Gavin Kuzniewski’s first collegiate victory, while Erdmann earned the save.
Lipsey, Ellis, Pettorini, Graveline, and Stephens each recorded two hits, with Graveline leading the team with three RBIs. Giamarusti and Ellis each drove in two runs, while Lipsey showcased his speed with two stolen bases. Hunter Shaw and Sahil Patel contributed two strikeouts apiece on the mound.
With momentum on their side, the Buckeyes now turn their attention to a three-game home series against Valparaiso, beginning Friday, March 7. Ohio State will look to build on this hard-fought win and continue defending their home turf in front of Buckeye Nation.
