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Wimmers No-Hits Wolverines for First Nine-Inning No Hitter in OSU History
By John Porentas

Around Columbus athletes are remembered for how they perform against Michigan. They are going to remember OSU sophomore right handed pitcher Alex Wimmers for a long, long time.

In his first career start against the Wolverines Wimmers pitched the first-ever nine-inning no hitter in OSU history to lead OSU to a 6-0 win in the series opener. The no-hitter was the ninth-ever in OSU baseball annals and third in Bill Davis Stadium.

Senior closer Jake Hale gets Alex Wimmers with a pie to the face following Wimmers' no-hitter against Michigan.

Wimmers' threw his 91 to 92 mph fast ball high and out of the strike zone and the Wolverines chased it all day.

"I figured that out early on. If they can't lay off it I'm going to go up there all game," Wimmers said.

Wimmers recorded 14 strikeouts in facing 28 hitters. He walked four but was helped by his catcher Dan Burkhart who threw out three runners attempting to steal. Two of the throw-outs resulted in strike-out, throw-out double plays to end an inning.

"I don't know why they kept running. He's just going to throw them out," said Wimmers of the play of Burkahrt. "He played awesome."

Wimmers pitched a perfect game while prepping at Cincinnati Moeller high school but said this game was a bigger thrill.

"I threw a perfect game in high school and I don't even care about that. This is unbelievable, in college against Michigan, oh my God, this is amazing," said Wimmers.

Wimmers struck out the last two hitters he faced to close out the game and was immediately mobbed by his teammates led by his catcher Burkhart. Burkhart has been catching Wimmers since the two began playing baseball in little league and caught his perfect game in high school.

The game was a classic pitchers duel through five innings. Michigan starter Chris Fetter kept OSU off the board until the Buckeyes broke through with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to break the scoreless tie. The Buckeyes added three more in the seventh and one more in the eighth on a homerun by designated hitter Ryan Dew, his fifth of the season.

Wimmers came close to losing the no hitter twice, first on a deep fly ball to right that was caught on the warning track, but the biggest defensive play of the game was made in the eighth inning by shortstop Tyler Engle who made a diving grab to his glove side to prevent a ground ball from getting through the infield, then flipped to second for a force out for the second out of the inning and keep the no hitter intact.

"That was awesome," said Wimmers. "I thought it might get up the middle but he made the diving play," Wimmers said.

"Unbelievable," said OSU Head Coach Bob Todd of the play made by Engle. "You look back through this year and even last year as a freshman, some of the outstanding defensive plays he's make, you just shake your head and say 'Wow'."

"All I was thinking about was getting an out," said Engle.

"I just wanted to get to the ball and once I got it in my glove I wanted to make sure I got one out.

"I knew what was at stake. With a commanding lead like we had that was the next thing in everybody's mind, to help Alex accomplish this," Engle said.

"I gave it all I had. We were all aware of it but we were all very mute. Nobody talked to him, we just let him be. We all wanted to help him get there."

Todd added that Wimmers not only pitched well but had a tremendous attitude on the mound.

"He had command with three pitches, but he just did not give in to the hitters," said Todd.

OSU pitcher Joe Sparma pitched a seven-inning no hitter against Michigan in 1963. Sparma went on to major league career with the Detroit Tigers.

The game was televised by the Big Ten Network. Following the game Wimmers''s was "pied" with shaving cream by OSU closer Jake Hale. He finished the live interview with shaving cream on his face and uniform, but it didn't detract from the excitement of the moment. It did however open his sinuses.

"I snorted some and it burned," said Wimmers drawing a laugh from reporters, "but it's all gone now."

Box Score

Game Two - Buckeyes Capture Game Two With Clutch Hitting

Big Ten Standings
STANDINGS (as of May 02, 2009)

                                Big Ten              Overall
     Team                   W   L   T   Pct       W   L   T   Pct
     Ohio State..........  13   4   0  .765      34  10   0  .773
     Illinois............  13   4   0  .765      29  13   0  .690
     Minnesota...........  12   4   0  .750      29  13   0  .690
     Indiana.............  11   5   0  .688      22  23   0  .489
     Michigan State......  10   7   0  .588      20  24   0  .455
     Purdue..............   6  10   0  .375      19  22   0  .463
     Michigan............   6  11   0  .353      23  21   0  .523
     Penn State..........   5  12   0  .294      22  21   0  .512
     Northwestern........   3  12   0  .200      12  29   0  .293
     Iowa................   3  13   0  .188      14  29   0  .326
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