Baseball
Buckeye Bullpen Key to Win in NCAA Tournament
By John PorentasWill the real OSU bullpen please stand up.
After a near total collapse in the bullpen led to a blowout 24-8 loss to Georgia yesterday the OSU bullpen was absolutely phenomenal in the Buckeyes' 6-4 win over Marist to stay alive in the NCAA tournament.
Starter Dean Wolosianski went five innings and one third innings and allowed four runs on 10 hits. Relievers Drew Rucinski and Jake Hale combined to go the rest of the way and allowed just one base runner on a walk by Rucinski. They shutout Marist the rest of the way and allowed the OSU offense to come up with the go-ahead and winning runs.
“Jake has been one of the best relief pitchers we have had at Ohio State and he is possibly the best in the nation this year,” said OSU Head Coach Bob Todd.
“But the unsung hero has been the middle inning relief work of Drew Rucinski. He has done outstanding work for us all season, including today when he didn't’t allow any hits or runs in 1.2 innings of work.”
Rucinski came into the game with the score tied 4-4. The Buckeyes were able to score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth with Rucinski in the game. That made him the pitcher of record and he recorded his 11th win of the year, all of them in relief to set an OSU record for single-season wins in relief.
As good as Rucinski was, Hale was perhaps even better. He came into the game with none out and a runner on in the eighth and threw just two pitches to retire the side. The first pitch went for a double play to erase the runner and put two outs ono the board. The second pitch resulted in a fly out to end the inning. Hale set Marist down in 1-2-3 order to earn his 17 save of the year and 28th of his career. The save gave Hale the OSU record for career saves and extended his single-season record.
OSU's offense was at times frustrated with seven men left on base but had just enough to produce the win. They got four in the third inning to stake Wolosianski to a 4-2 lead. The big hit in the inning was a bases loaded triple by designated hitter Ryan Dew to drive in three runs. Dew then scored on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Justin Miller.
Marist tied the game with a run in the sixth but the Buckeyes regained the lead in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff double by right fielder Mike Arp, a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Tyler Engle and a sacrifice fly by first baseman Matt Streng. OSU added an insurance run in the eighth on two walks, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single by Streng.
OSU's offense did just enough, but the defense was superb in support of the pitching staff.
“I think the key today was our playing good defense,” Todd said.
“We didn't’t give them any second opportunities with zero errors and three double plays. So we win and get to play another day.”
The win breaks a three-game losing streak for the Buckeyes.
OSU will play again tomorrow at noon when they take on Georgia once again, this time in an elimination game. Left hander Eric Best will get the start for OSU. Best has a record of 7-4 with a 5.70 ERA in 71 innings of work. Opposing teams are hitting .312 against Best. He has allowed 31 walks while striking out 54.
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