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Ohio State Sweeps Saint Louis for First Series Win of the Season

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Bucks2K18's picture
by Bucks2K18
2/14/26 at 11:15p in the OSU Athletics Forum
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Although admittedly against far inferior opponent, Ohio State took care of business down in Pensacola. Though it was not always easy, Ohio State did what they needed to to earn their first series win of the season, and in baseball, sometimes that's all you ask for.

Friday was opening day, and in Game 1, the BaseBucks dispatched the Saint Louis Billikens quickly. The scoring started early as, in the B1, Lee Ellis walked and stole second to open the game, then was brought home on a Mason Eckelman RBI single just a couple batters later to open up the 1-0 lead. In the B2, leadoff Alex Bemis singled then was brought home the very next at bat when Maddix Simpson hit an RBI triple to stretch the lead to 2-0. Then Ohio State really opened up the game in the B3, as Ellis and Henry Kaczmar both scored, on a CJ Reid 2-RBI single. A few batters later, Eckelman scored on an error to stretch the lead to 5-0. Later, in the B6, Simpson brought the lead to 6-0 as he came home on a sac-fly by Ellis. Saint Louis got on the board in the T8 on a solo home run, but the Buckeyes got that run back quickly as Bemis scored on an RBI single by Ellis, to help Ohio State finish off the season opening 7-1 win. Ohio State only used two pitchers, but reliever Zak Sigman was credited with the win with a line of 3 strikeouts to 7 hits through 5.0 innings. Overall, the pitching looked significantly improved as the pitchers combined for 7 strikeouts to only 4 walks, but there is (as always) room for improvement as the two allowed a total of 10 hits, though also leaving 13 Billiken batters stranded. 

2/13/26 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Saint Louis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 10 3
Ohio State 1 1 3 0 0 1 0 1 X 7 8 0

 

 

Because of inclement weather in the forecast for Sunday, Saturday turned into a double-header Valentine's Day special.

 

Game 2 of the weekend was a lot closer than Game 1, but the Buckeyes delivered when it mattered most. The game started out much the same as Friday as Eckelman brought Ellis home again in the B1, this time on a sac-fly and Noah Furcht came home on an RBI single by Miles Vandenheuvel in the B2 to open up another early 2-0 lead. However, from that point, the offense went cold and the bats went silent as Saint Louis was able to tie the game at 2-2 in the T4, however timely plays by both the pitching and defense kept the score locked until the B7 when Furcht and Vandenheuvel combined for another RBI-single to break the tie. Closing pitcher Chris Domke earned the win as he dominated the last few innings with 5 strikeouts and 4 flyouts in 10 at-bats though 3.0 innings, allowing Ohio State to hold on for the 3-2 series clinching win. Overall the pitching was a little shakier than Friday night, but timely plays including 13 total strikeouts among the three pitchers and a double play in the T5 held the Billikens at bay.

2/14/26 (1) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Saint Louis 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0
Ohio State 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 X 3 7 0

 

 

Game 3 Saturday night started strong as pitcher Jude Fisher got the start and made quick work of Saint Louis in the T1, going 1-2-3 with 2 strikeouts. In the B1, Ohio State walked the bases loaded, and Reid brought leadoff Ellis home on a groundout to take the early 1-0 lead. Then in the B3, Eckelman tripled and then was immediately brought home on an RBI single by Gavin West to stretch the lead to 2-0. A home run by Saint Louis in the T5 cut the lead in half, but Ohio State strengthened their lead with an RBI double by Reid to bring home Kaczmar, a sac-groundout by Furcht to bring home Simpson, and an RBI single by Grant Mangrum to bring home Reid for a 5-1 lead. In the B6, Vandenheuvel brought Kaczmar home on an fielding error to stretch the lead. A two bases loaded walks in the T7 gave Saint Louis cut the lead in half, but reliever Andrew Edrington came in and stopped the bleeding with 4 strikeouts, then Eckelman brought Ellis home on an RBI single in the B8 as the BaseBucks held on for a 7-3 win and series sweep. Starting pitcher Fisher earned the win with 4 strikeouts himself through 5.0 innings and closer Douglas Bauer recorded the save after coming in for the final out.

 

2/14/26 (2) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Saint Louis 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 3 5 3
Ohio State 1 0 1 0 3 1 0 1 X 7 9 1

 

There certainly is a lot to like from this shortened weekend, especially with the pitching, but as with anything else, there also is still some stuff to work on; and while not the flashiest of performances in terms of long balls, Ohio State did what they needed to do to earn the sweep and move to 3-0 on the young season. 

Up Next, Ohio State plays a four game weekend in Memphis in the Grind City Classic, playing against Louisiana Tech on Friday at 1pm ET and Saturday at 6pm ET and Memphis on Friday at 6pm ET and Sunday at 1pm ET.

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