Baseball
Buckeyes Skin Panthers in Home Opener
By John Porentas

The Buckeyes had a successful home opener defeating Pitt by a score of 9-1. They also got some positive signals from some young pitchers.

True freshman Andrew Armstrong got the starting nod in the home opener and showed that the Buckeyes might indeed have some young talent on the pitching staff. The Buckeyes are in desperate need for one or more freshman pitcher to come through this season and Armstrong served notice that he could perhaps fill that bill. He pitched five full inning, and despite struggling some early with the jitters, gave up one run on just two hits. He struck out five.

"I think there's a lot of potential there. It was obvious to us in the dugout that he was very nervous in the first inning and really struggled but then it was good to see that from inning three on that he pitched like we think he has the potential to pitch."

Armstrong had problems throwing strikes early and worked from behind the hitters but still managed to get them out. Once he settled down, however, he was impressive. He struck out the side in the fourth and retired the Panthers one-two-three in the fifth on a strikeout and two ground outs.

"He started throwing strikes," said Todd.

"Right now as a freshman he's not going to overpower anybody but if he hits spots, throws strikes and pitches ahead he can be very effective."

OSU's hitters produced both quantity and quality against Panther pitching. The Buckeyes pounded out 11 hits and seemed to come up with the big hit when they needed it. Leadoff hitter Tony Kennedy was one-for-one with three walks and scored three runs. First baseman Ryan Meade had a two-hit day that included three RBI.

Pittsburgh scored in the first inning on the strength of just one hit, but the Buckeyes answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good. OSU added two in the second, one if the fourth, and blew the game open with a four-run sixth. Meads's bases loaded single in that inning started OSU's scoring and drove in two runs.

Ohio State will open Big Ten play this weekend when Penn State comes to Bill Davis Stadium. Right hander Jake Hale is expected to get the starting nod on Friday. Dan DeLucia and Dean Wolosiansky will go in the double header, and J. B. Shuck is the expected starter on Sunday.

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