Ohio State Hands Rider 8-3 Loss to Open Spring Trip
Stephen and Kinnear deliver two hits each in Buckeyes second straight win
March 19, 2004
Box Score
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Ohio State scored four runs in the fourth inning to overcome a 3-1 deficit and hand Rider an 8-3 victory Friday at Florida Atlantic University Field. The Buckeyes improved to 6-7 on the season with its second straight victory.
Jedidiah Stephen (So., Caldwell, Ohio/Shenandoah) and
Derek Kinnear (Sr., Kenton, Ohio/Kenton) provided two hits apiece as the Scarlet and Gray out-hit the Broncs 11-4. Those four hits came off
Josh Newman (Sr., Wheelersburg, Ohio/Wheelersburg), who improved to 3-2 this season and won the 27th victory of his career.
Two of Rider's hits came in the first inning as it scored two runs in the top of the first inning. Bryan Wagner led off the inning with a single to shallow right-center field and moved to third on a double by Jonathan Rich. Wagner scored on a fielding error by second baseman
Drew Anderson (Jr., Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) and then Rich scored on a fielder's choice by Gene Crimoli to give the Broncs a 2-0 lead.
Jacob Howell (Fr., Ashland, Ohio/Ashland) led off with a single under the glove of Crimoli, the Bronc second baseman, who threw the ball back toward the vacant pitcher's mound and into the Ohio State dugout. Howell reached third and scored on a ground out by
Mike Rabin (Jr. West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East) to pull within a 2-1 score.
Rider extended its lead to 3-1 in the top of the third inning on the second Ohio State error of the game. Rich singled to left-center field with two outs and then scored from first on a throwing error by Buckeye starter Newman, who threw wide of first baseman
Jeffrey Carroll (Fr., Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) in a failed pick off attempt.
Ohio State came up big in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring four runs on five hits and two Rider errors to take a 5-3 lead.
Adam Schneider (Fr., Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura) led off the inning with a single over the third baseman's head and then went to third on a double down the left-field line by Stephen. Garrard sent a shot through the left side to tie the game 3-3 and then stole second. He could not advance on a base hit by Carroll.
Kinnear loaded the bases with his second hit of the game before getting caught at second on a fielder's choice by Howell that scored Garrard. After getting Kinnear at second, Wagner, the Rider shortstop, threw to first to try to turn the double play but threw past the first baseman failing to get Howell. The error enabled Carroll to score from second to give the Buckeyes a 5-3 lead.
The Buckeyes took a three-run lead in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single by Stephen that scored Anderson, who reached on a one-out error. His grounder to third base was muffed by third baseman Steve Sciaraffo. Caravati singled through the left side to move Anderson to third before he gave the Buckeyes a 6-3 lead, scoring on Stephen's single through the left side.
Two more Buckeyes crossed the plate in the eighth inning for the final 8-3 margin of victory.
Newman improved to 3-2 with the victory. He pitched six innings, allowing all three runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out seven for the second straight game and did not give up a walk.
Trey Fausnaugh (Fr., Circleville, Ohio/Westfall) came on to start the seventh inning and picked up his third save of the season. He retired nine of 10 batters, walking only Wagner in the eighth inning. Joe Moronese got the loss for Rider to fall to 0-2. Ohio State will play Rutgers at 1 p.m. Saturday at FAU Field and then have two days off before playing two games against No. 14 Florida Atlantic Tuesday and Wednesday. Both of those games will be played at 7 p.m.
Derek Kinnear had two hits to help guide the Buckeyes to a victory to open their spring trip.