Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes baseball earns first series win, softball with another undefeated weekend

COLUMBUS – Buckeyes baseball and softball wrapped up their preseason non-conference schedule over the weekend.

After winning its home opener against St. John’s on Tuesday, Ohio State baseball won its first series of the season over the weekend. The Buckeyes dropped the series opener against Valparaiso but bounced back to win the next two and take the series, 2-1.

In the series opener, the Buckeyes pitching staff once again struggled. Liberty transfer Ryan Butler got the start but only went one inning giving up four runs on three hits. From there Ohio State struggled to find consistency out of the bull-pen. Relievers Charlie Giese and Zev Salsberg gave up a combined five earned runs while only recording one out.

The Ohio State offense did score seven runs against the Beacons on Friday but it wasn’t enough to get the win. The Buckeyes fell to Valparaiso in the series opener, 10-7.

Ohio State bounced back on Saturday, however. Pitcher Chase Herrell earned the win on the mound. He struck out one and did not allow any runs in five innings pitched against Valparaiso. As for the offense, shortstop Lee Ellis led the Buckeyes with a career-high three hits and three RBIs. He was just a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Five other Ohio State hitters had an RBI in the Buckeyes 15-4 win over the Beacons on Saturday.

Finally, the Ohio State beat Valparaiso, 8-3, on Sunday to win the series. Pitcher Jake Michalak was phenomenal on the mound, earning his first win of the season. He struck out a career-high 10 batters in six innings pitched while only allowing one run on five hits. Right fielder Trey Lipsey led the way for the Buckeyes offense with three hits. Second-baseman Tyler Pettorini and catcher Matthew Graveline also had back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to seal the Buckeyes win over the Beacons.

Ohio State host Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, March 9 at 3:00 p.m. before opening Big Ten play with a three-game series at Indiana.

Buckeyes softball with another undefeated weekend

Ohio State softball hosted a multi-team tournament at Buckeye Field over the weekend and the Buckeyes dominated the field

The Buckeyes defeated Oakland, 10-2, and Merrimack, 17-1, and totaled seven home runs and 14 extra base hits in their two games on Friday.

Ohio State broke the Oakland game open with three runs in the first inning, two in the third and five more in the fourth. Regan Milliken, Hadley Parisien, Jasmyn Burns, Morgan Frye and Taylor Cruse all went deep for the Buckeyes against Golden Grizzles.

Pitcher Lourin Boutte was once again sharp in the circle. She pitched four innings while allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out five batters.

The Buckeyes’ had a 10-run first inning against Merrimack which included another home run from Hadley Parisien, who homered to center field. In the second inning, the Buckeyes added seven more runs on three hits and two Merrimack errors.

That was more than enough run support for pitcher Kassandra Gewecke, who allowed just five hits over five innings with three strikeouts and two walks.

On Saturday, Ohio State had another run-rule victory. The Buckeyes hit four home runs and scored in every inning of a 11-1 five-inning win over Kent State on the second day of the Ohio State Tournament at Buckeye Field. Pitcher Kennedy Kay got the start in the circle and pitched four innings. She gave up three hits and struck out two.

The Buckeyes wrapped up the Ohio State Tournament with a 10-0 win over Oakland in five Innings. Four more home runs and another run-rule victory set up a major showdown on Monday afternoon as Ohio State now turns its attention to Monday’s game vs. No. 1 Texas.

In the circle freshman Boutte did not allow a hit over three innings and struck out four batters. Gewecke pitched the fourth inning while Kay close out the game with a scoreless frame in the fifth.

Counting down

Ohio State vs. Texas: 173 days away
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 264 days away

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