Baseball
Buckeyes Take Series Opener 6-1 Behind Dominant Effort by Wimmers
By John Porentas

Ohio State sophomore pitcher Alex Wimmers allowed just two hits to pick up a complete game win in the series opener with Big Ten foe Michigan State.

Wimmers did not allow a Spartan hit until the eighth inning when MSU catcher Eric Roof led off the inning with a bloop double to right to end Wimmers' no hit bid. Wimmers struck out 11 Spartans while walking just two. MSU's lone run was the result of Roof's double, a two-out bunt single to move Roof to third and and a balk by Wimmers.

The Buckeyes wasted no time getting on the scoreboard against MSU starter Nolan Moody. Buckeye leadoff hitter Zach Hurley greeted Moody with a solo homerun leading off the first inning to give OSU a 1-0 lead. OSU's nursed the one run lead into the sixth inning when they added an insurance run on a two-out single by first baseman Matt Streng.

"The story was without a doubt Alex Wimmers," said OSU Head Coach Bob Todd. "He dominated this ball game. It looked for a while like he was going to have to shut them out to win this ball game. That was really a pitchers duel. If you're a baseball enthusiast that's a good game to watch."

"He (Wimmers) was able to throw strikes with three pitches and when he does that he's very effective."

OSU broke open the game when catcher Dan Burkhart slammed a three-run homer over the right field fence to put the Buckeyes up 5-0. The Buckeyes added a run in the bottom of the eighth to make the final score 6-1.

"I told our team that the mental toughness of our team paid off tonight in the late innings. We had some good at bats early and had some hitters on base, we just couldn't come up with the big hit, then Dan Burkhart gets the big blow with the three-run homer. It really opens the game up."

With the win OSU moves to 24-7 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play. Michigan State drops to 11-19 and 3-4 in the league. Wimmers is now 6-1 on the season. Hurley's homerun was his fifth of the year, Burkhart his sixth.

OSU and Michigan State resume the best of three series tomorrow at Bill Davis Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM.

Box Score

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