3 errors in the 8th resulted in 4 unearned runs to drop the Buckeyes back to .500.
Ohio State Commits Three Errors in Eighth in 4-3 Loss to Bradley
Buckeyes blow 3-0 lead with most errors of the season
Cody Caughenbaugh tripled in the first to deliver one of the two Buckeye runs in the first inning.
March 12, 2005
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Ohio State committed three errors in the bottom of the eighth inning and allowed Bradley to score four unearned runs in a 4-3 loss to the Braves Saturday at the Kennel Club Classic at Jacksonville University's Alexander Brest Stadium.
Ohio State had scored twice in the first inning and added a run in the fifth and protected the 3-0 lead until poor defense allowed Bradley to take the lead in the eighth.
Ryan Curry led off the inning with a single to left field of reliever Rory Meister (Fr., Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield Madison), but the Buckeyes nabbed him at second base on a fielder's choice off the bat of Paul Rice. Brad Canada's grounder to second was booted by Tony Kennedy (Fr., Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South), putting runners at first and second. With that, Ohio State head coach Bob Todd went to the bullpen again for Brett Hatcher (Sr., Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine).
After Ohio State centerfielder Mike Rabin (Sr., West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East) made a great play to run down a fly ball in left-center field by Joe Napoli, Peter Malinowski singled to bring in Rice. A second error on Kennedy allowed Canada to score to pull the Braves within one run, 3-2. Hatcher hit Johnny Sage to load the bases. Ryan Kenny singled to left-center field to tie the game, but a fielding error by Rabin allowed the go-ahead run to score.
After having only three errors in the first five games of the season, the Buckeyes had two errors in the win over North Florida on Friday and then had three today against Bradley.
Ohio State starter Dan DeLucia pitched well, but not as well as he did in his debut last week against Arizona State. He pitched six inning and allowed only two hits despite four walks. He also had four strikeouts, but did not factor in the decision. Hatcher was pegged with the loss in his 2/3 of an inning after he allowed two runs on two hits. Meister pitched 1.1 innings and gave up two runs on one hit. None of the four Bradley runs were earned. Brian Spielmann earned the win for Bradley to improve to 2-0, while Michael Christl picked up his second save of the season as he came on to get the Buckeyes in order in the ninth.
The Buckeyes had given DeLucia a two-run lead before he took the mound with an RBI triple by Cody Caughenbaugh (Jr., Newark, Ohio/Licking Valley) and an RBI single by Matt Angle (Fr., Whitehall, Ohio/Whitehall-Yearling). With two outs, Ronnie Bourquin (So., Canton, Ohio/Canton South) doubled to center field, before Caughenbaugh's third career triple. Bradley starting pitcher Brandon Magee hit Paul Farinacci (Sr., Westlake Village, Calif./Agoura) and then Angle singled through the right side to plate Caughenbaugh and give the Buckeyes a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Jason Zoeller (So., Verona, Pa./Shady Side Academy), who launched his first career home run, a three-run home run in Friday's 16-10 win over North Florida, sent a solo shot over the wall in centerfield with two out in the fifth inning to build the Buckeye lead to 3-0.
Five different Buckeyes accounted for the five hits. Zoeller, Caughenbaugh and Angle drove in the team's three runs.
Ohio State closes play at the Kennel Club Classic against Rider at Jacksonville University's Alexander Brest Field Saturday at 7 p.m.
Right, 8th. Thanks Cleve.
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