After a 2-2 split with Arizona State, The Baseball Bucks turned their sights north to the College Baseball Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On Friday, Ohio State played a familiar opponent. The California Golden Bears were a fellow participant in the MLB Desert Invitational, but were also responsible for a 16-1 run rule win over the Buckeyes in the Frisco Classic in 2023. This game went just a little bit differently. As the designated visitors, Cal batted first and went three up three down. Then, a 2-RBI double by Matthew Graveline in the B1 scored Trey Lipsey and Henry Kaczmar, and a sac-fly by Josh Stevenson allowed Graveline to score, giving the Bucks a quick 3-0 lead. Then in the B3, the Bucks broke the game wide open. An error by Cal with the bases loaded allowed Tyler Pettorini to cross home, then Zach Fjelstad walked, bringing Mitchell Okuley home. The highlight of the inning came when Lipsey hit a triple, scoring Fjelstad, Stevenson, and Joseph Mershon, bringing the Buckeye lead to 8-0. Cal would score two in the T6, but an RBI double by Okuley, soring Pettorini, gave Ohio State a 9-2 lead. Cal would score two more in the T8, but that would be all as the Bucks would hold on for the 9-4 win. Starting pitcher Landon Beidelshies earned the win, giving up no hits and allowing just one walk through the first four innings and striking out 8 Golden Bear batters. He is now 2-1 on the season. In the postgame press conference, Head Coach Bill Mosiello made a point of emphasis of the revenge mindset the team had after last year's run rule loss.
3/1 Postgame Interview: Coach Mosiello and Coach Neu on last nights game between @OhioStateBase vs @CalBaseball #BestOutsideOfOmaha pic.twitter.com/sbNpZkzioF
— Las Vegas College Baseball Classic (@LasVegasCBC) March 2, 2024
| 3/1/24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| California | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| Ohio State | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 9 | 8 | 0 |
Saturday's game against Pitt was cancelled due to rain, so the Bucks turned their attention to another rematch from 2023, this time against Oklahoma. If you want an example of "the game's not over until it's over," this game is one for you. Ohio State got the scoring started in the T1 off an RBI single by Pettorini to score Kaczmar. Oklahoma tied the game in the B2, then took the lead thanks to a 2-run B3 after Okuley singled to score Kaczmar in the T3. After that, it was a pitcher's duel until the 9th. Needing some heroics, Ohio State loaded the bases in the T9. Then with two outs, an error by Oklahoma's 3rd baseman allowed Pettorini to reach 1st and CJ Richard to get home tying the game. Then a walk by Okuley, scoring Nick Giamarusti gave Ohio State the 4-3 lead. The Bucks would leave the bases loaded, but closing pitcher Justin Eckhardt earned the save, sealing the win for the Bucks. Relief pitcher Gavin DeVooght earned the win, drawing him even at 1-1 on the season.
| 3/3/24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Ohio State | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
After the 2-0 weekend, Ohio State improved to 6-4. Cal dropped to 7-3, and Oklahoma dropped to 5-5 after their 0-2 weekend. Pitt officially won the Classic, also finishing the weekend 2-0, but we all know what would have happened had Saturday's games been played ;).
Up next, Ohio State goes farther west, going to Cal Poly for a four game super-weekend series starting on Friday. The games will broadcast on ESPN+
