Bradenton Series Thread

[JCOSU86]

Guys, this feels like Spring training for the Buckeyes. They opened against some impressive opposition (Florida, Missouri) but are whooping on the cupcakes. They should go 6-0 on this swing before the home opener next week.

 

[BB73]

From theOzone.net:

March 20, 2006 11:25 PM​

Baseball: Ohio State junior third baseman Ronnie Bourquin has been named the co-Big Ten Player of the Week.
In OSU's only game last week, Bourquin collected five hits in six at bats to raise his season average to .520 and extend his hitting streak to eight games. Bourquin shared the honor with Purdue senior first baseman Eric Wolf, who hit .435 (10-for-23) in five games last week including two homeruns, four doubles, eight RBI and six runs scored.
This is the second consecutive week that a Buckeye has earned the player of the week award. Outfielder Matt Angle was selected as the conference player of the week last week.
Ohio State is now 8-4 overall and 2-0 on the current road trip to Florida.​

Buckeye Hitting Leaders (through today)
Name, class, position
Average
RBI
Runs​

Ronnie Bourquin - Jr. 3b

.473
17
13​

Jacob Howell - Jr. OF

.463
11
18​

Matt Angle - So. OF

.440
11
21​

Jedidiah Stephen - Sr. SS

.431
9
11​

Eric Fryer - So. Catch/1b/DH

.386
20
8​

Wes Schirtzinger - Jr. OF

.341
5
9​

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Well looks like rhg was right. UIC was the toughest game. Now, lets hope we can finish out the rest of the games there and go 5-1.

Ohio State's Win Streak Snapped in 7-1 Loss to Illinois-Chicago



Buckeyes commit four errors in fifth loss of the season

Jacob Howell plated the lone Buckeye run in the first inning.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Sans Serif][/FONT]

March 21, 2006

Box Score


BRADENTON, Fla. - Illinois-Chicago broke a 1-all tie with single runs in the top of the sixth and seventh and then added four more, including three in the eighth, to down Ohio State 7-1 Tuesday at IMG Academy, breaking a six-game win streak by the Buckeyes.
With the scored tied at one, OSU starter Cory Luebke (So., Maria Stein, Ohio/Marion Local) walked the lead-off batter, Mark Hallberg, in the top of the sixth inning and it proved costly after he went to second on a ground out and scored on a double to right field by pinch hitter Brett Schaefer. The run put UIC up 2-1. The Flames added another run in the top o fthe seventh inning. Hallberg's infield single drove home Gempp, who boarded with a one-out single to center. He was able to get to second when the ball got by Angle, the Buckeyes' centerfielder. He went to third on a fly out by Chad Schroeder.
The Flames plated three more runs in the eighth. Luebke started the inning with his eighth strikeout, but he hit Schaefer and walked Bart Babineaux. Buckeye coach Bob Todd lifted Luebke for Rory Meister (So., Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield Madison). He walked his first batter and then gave up a two-run single to Nick Rainwater. Gempp's sacrifice bunt scored the third run of the inning. An RBI single by pinch hitter Ted Rosinski yielded the final run in the ninth.
The Buckeyes struggled on defense and committed four errors in the contest. Four of UIC's 12 hits were bunt singles.
Justin Johnson was 3-for-5 to lead the Flames, while he was supported with two hits from each Larry Gempp and Mark Hallberg.

The Buckeyes allowed their first run in the first inning in seven games when Johnson drove in Larry Gempp with a single through the left side. Gempp reached on a bunt single and then went to third when third baseman Ronnie Bourquin (Jr., Canton, Ohio/Canotn) threw wide of the base. Luebke walked Schroeder and then got Hallberg to ground into a double play, moving Gempp to third.
Ohio State got the run back in the bottom of the inning when Jacob Howell (Jr., Ashland, Ohio/Ashland) scored on a wild pitch. Howell led off the inning with a bunt single and went to second on as single to left by Matt Angle (So., Whitehall, Ohio/Whitehall-Yearling). Howell went to third when Eric Fryer (So., Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) grounded into a double play.
Angle and J.B. Shuck (Fr., Galion, Ohio/Galion) each had two hits to lead Ohio State, which had seven hits in the game.
Howell's hit in the first gave him hits in his last 10 at bats, but the streak came to an end when he grounded out in the third. He finished 1-for-3 and scored one run.
Luebke was tagged with the loss to fall to 2-2 on the year. He struck out eight batters for the second time this season, going 7.1 innings. He allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits and walked three. Ryan Martin allowed one run on five hits in 6.0 innings to pick up the win (2-1). Adam Worthington pitched the final three innings to get his first save.
The team will meet Cornell for a second time this week later Tuesday before concluding the trip with two games against Vermont Thursday and Friday.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

We rebounded in the night game to shutout Cornell. It was 6-0.

OSU Records Second Shutout in Four Games in 6-0 Win vs. Cornell



Shuck and Barker limit Big Red to four hits as Shuck improves to 3-0

Jedidiah Stephen went 3-1 and drove in two Buckeye runs in the win.

March 21, 2006

Box Score

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Buckeyes broke open what had been a pitchers' duel with four runs in the sixth inning and added two more in the seventh to get past Cornell 6-0 Tuesday at IMG Academy. It was the second shutout for Ohio State during the first four games of the spring break trip.
J.B. Shuck (Fr., Galion, Ohio/Galion) and Dan Barker (So., Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) combined to allow just four hits by Cornell. The Buckeyes made good use of five hits despite just one hit in the first five innings.
Shuck settled down after allowing four base runners in the first two innings. With two out in the second, the defense allowed a runner to reach on a fielding error and then Shuck allowed his first hit of the game and hit a batter. He coaxed a pop up to get out of the inning. He got all three batters out in the third inning and began the fourth with a strike out before walking Heinz. They caught him trying to steal second and Shuck got a ground out to escape the inning unscathed.
He breezed through the fifth, but hit the lead-off batter in the sixth, but picked him off. After the second out of the inning, Shuck allowed the second hit of the game, but again avoided trouble with another pop up. He also walked the lead off batter in the seventh, but again avoided an issues with a foul out and a pair of fielders' choice. Barker came on to start the eighth and allowed two hits in his two innings of work.
Ohio State, which had a six-game win streak snapped in a 7-1 loss to Illinois-Chicago in the first game Tuesday, was confused by Cornell starter Walker Toma. The Buckeyes managed just one hit in the first five innings of the game. Jason Zoeller (Jr., Verona, Pa./Shady Side Academy) singled in the third for the team's first hit after the first eight batters were retired. Toma followed with a walk to Jacob Howell (Jr., Ashland, Ohio/Ashland). After a fielder's choice, Zoeller reached third, but a pop up ended the inning.

Toma retired the next eight batters, including the first out of the sixth inning, but that was when he showed signs of tiring against a hungry Buckeye offense.
With one out in the sixth, Matt Angle (So., Whitehall, Ohio/Whitehall-Yearling) singled up the middle. Eric Fryer (So., Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) and Ronnie Bourquin (Jr., Canton, Ohio/Canton South) drew walks to load the bases. A passed ball allowed Angle to score and moved Fryer and Bourquin into scoring position for designated hitter Adam Schneider (Jr., Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura), who singled up the middle to both runners and give Ohio State a 3-0 lead. That brought an end to Toma's day. He was replaced by Jim Hyland, who hit Jedidiah Stephen (Sr., Caldwell, Ohio/Shenandoah) and walked Jonathan Zizzo (So., Youngstown, Ohio/Sarasota [Fla.]) and Justin Miller (Fr., Dayton, Va./Turner Ashby), the latter of which gave the Buckeyes a 4-0 lead.
Stephen drove in two more runs in the seventh with a double to left-center field. The two-out hit scored both Bourquin and Wes Schirtzinger (Jr., Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South), who came on in the sixth as a pinch runner for Schneider.
Shuck did not allow a run in 7.0 innings to pick up his third win of the year (3-0). Cornell batters had just two hits, struck out three times, but walked three times. Barker allowed two hits in two innings with a walk and a pair of strikeouts. Toma was charged with four runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in falling to 0-1.
Angle, Fryer, Schneider, Stephen and Zoeller accounted for the five Buckeye hits. Stephen drove in two of the six runs. Schneider and Miller also had RBI.
The Buckeyes (9-5) will take Wednesday off before returning for a two-game set vs. Vermont Thursday and Friday. The first pitch Thursday will be tossed at 3 p.m., while the first pitch Friday will be at 1 p.m.

 

[rhgbosu]

I feel pretty good about the team right now, but
Meister's poor pitching really has me worried. His ERA is around 10.00, and he is big time wild both in and out of the strike zone.

This may seem silly, but do any of you feel that his problems have
to do with the way he ended last year? In case anybody has forgot(not likely), He gave up back to back game winning HR's against Minny & Oregon st.

On a happier note, Shuck pitched very well against Cornell. I think he will starter on the weekends. Its hard to believe, but the real season starts in 8 days against Iowa!

 

[JCOSU86]

After today, the Buckeyes have 19 of 30 games at home.

 

[CleveBucks]

ppd

Ohio State Baseball Game vs. Vermont Postponed

Buckeyes and Catamounts will play two games Friday

Bob Todd's Buckeyes will play a nine-inning and a seven-inning game vs. Vermont on Friday.

March 23, 2006

BRADENTON, Fla. - Rain forced the postponement of the Ohio State baseball game vs. Vermont Thursday afternoon. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Friday morning at 10 a.m. at IMG Academy. The teams were suppose to play a single game at 3 p.m. Thursday and another game Friday at 1 p.m. Ohio State is 3-1 on its current spring trip and is 9-5 overall. The Buckeyes will return to Columbus Friday evening to prepare for the home opener vs. Toledo Wednesday at 2 p.m.

 

[JCOSU86]

Ohio State Earns 10th Win of Season in 14-1 Victory over Vermont

Bourquin bats 3-for-4 with five RBI, scores 3 runs, Schneider 2-for-5 with 4 RBI

Ronnie Bourquin led the
Buckeyes in going 3-for-4
with five RBI and three runs
scored.

March 24, 2006
Box Score
BRADENTON, Fla. - Ohio State scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back, collecting 15 hits as eight of nine Buckeyes had at least one hit in a 14-1 victory over Vermont in the first game of a doubleheader Friday at IMG Academy.
Ronnie Bourquin (Jr., Canton, Ohio/Canton South) led the Buckeyes in going 3-for-4 with five RBI and three runs scored. Matt Angle (So., Whitehall, Ohio/Whitehall-Yearling) also was 3-for-4 and scored three runs, while Adam Schneider (Jr., Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura) was 2-for-5 though made his two doubles count as he knocked in four RBI.
The Buckeyes jumped out early getting two runs on a single to left by Bourquin and another two runs on a double down the left-field line by Schneider. A fifth run scored on a ground out by Justin Miller (Fr., Dayton, Va./Turner Ashby).
Tony Kennedy (So., Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South) led off the second inning with a single through the left side and then after a pair of strikeouts and a stolen base, Eric Fryer (So., Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) delivered him with a base hit between the third baseman and shortstop to give the Buckeyes a 6-0 lead.
Vermont scored its first run in the fourth inning. Josh Barrera (Fr., Somerset, Ohio/Sheridan), making his first start as a Buckeye, walked the first two batters of the inning, but then after battling back to strikeout two, he walked a batter to load the bases. Kyle Massie bunted a ball down the third-base line that stayed fair and Kyle Brault scored.

Ohio State scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-1 lead. Wes Schirtzinger (Jr., Westerville, Ohio/Westerville North) drew a walk to lead off the inning and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Howell (Jr., Ashland, Ohio/Ashland). Schirtzinger went to third on an infield hit by Angle before scoring on fielding error on the Vermont third baseman. Angle scored on a Bourquin single up the middle.
The Buckeyes added a run in the fifth on an RBI single by Kennedy that scored Jedidiah Stephen (Sr., Caldwell, Ohio/Shenandoah) and then added three runs in the sixth to take a 12-1 lead. With the first two batters on to start the inning, Bourquin delivered his fourth and fifth RBI of the game with a double to the gap in left-center field. Miller knocked in Bourquin with a two-out single to left.
Schneider plated the final two runs for Ohio State in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring J.B. Shuck (Fr., Galion, Ohio/Galion), who led off the inning with a single to right, and Bourquin, who walked.
Barrera allowed one run on three hits in his 5.0-inning outing. He struck out six batters but walked six to pick up his first career win (1-0). Dan Barker (So., Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) came on in sixth and pitched three innings before Rory Meisster (So., Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield Madison) came in to finish the game in the ninth. Joe Serafin took the loss (0-2) for Vermont.
The Buckeyes and Catamounts will play a seven-inning game immediately following this game. It will be the last game for the Buckeyes on their spring break trip.




Baseball Buckeyes Take Lead in Sixth, Down Vermont 6-5 in DH Sweep

Schirtzinger drives in winning run in going 2-for-3

Wes Schirtzinger drove
in the winning run for the
Buckeyes in the top of the
sixth inning.


March 24, 2006
Box Score
BRADENTON, Fla. - Ohio State right fielder Wes Schirtzinger drove in the winning run in the top of the sixth inning to break a 5-all tie and closer Rory Meister came in to pick up his second save as the Buckeyes beat Vermont 6-5 to sweep a doubleheader against the Catamounts Friday at IMG Academy. Ohio State won the first game 14-1.
Back-to-back Vermont home runs by Will Huntington and Jim Chapman in the bottom of the fifth inning tied the game at five. Huntington's two-run shot that also scored Chad Morris, bounced off the top of the fence in left-center field. Chapman's solo shot stayed just fair down the left-field line.
J.B. Shuck (Fr., Galion, Ohio/Galion) got on base with a single to left and then went to second on a wild pitch. After a second strikeout in the inning by Vermont starter Bryan Rembisz, Schirtzinger, a junior from Westerville, Ohio (Westerville North), singled to left to drive Shuck in as the winning run.
Meister came into the game in the bottom of the sixth inning and retired the side. Jacob Howell (Jr., Ashland, Ohio/Ashland) beat out a bunt for a single to start the Buckeye seventh, but Rembisz sat down the next three batters. Meister struck out his first batter of the home seventh, but pinch hitter Chris Fagan beat out a bunt. A single by Huntington sent him to third with just one out.
Meister caught Huntington trying to steal second for the second out of the inning before a walk put runners at first and second with two out. He got Rembisz, who was batting for himself in the lineup, to swing at strike three and end the game. He allowed six runs on 10 hits and struck out seven with a pair of walks. The save was Meister's second of the season.

Buckeye starter Dan DeLucia (Jr., Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) picked up his third win of the season (3-1), allowing five runs on nine hits in a less-than-typical day for the Buckeye lefty. He struck out four without a walk. Rembisz got the loss to fall to 1-2.
Ohio State scored first using a pair of extra base hits to start the inning. Howell led off the inning with a triple to the right-field corner and was hit in when Matt Angle (So., Whitehall, Ohio/Whitehall-Yearling) doubled to the gap in left-center for a 1-0 advantage.
The lead was short-lived however, as Vermont right-fielder Kyle Brault launched a two-run home over the fence in left-center field in the bottom of the inning to give the Catamounts their first lead of the day.
The Buckeyes got that run back and added another in the fourth. Angle drew a walk to lead off the inning and then with one out, Ronnie Bourquin (Jr., Canton, Ohio/Canton South) singled up the middle and sent Angle to third base. Bouruqin was able to advance to second on the throw. Jedidiah Stephen (Sr., Caldwell, Ohio/Shenandoah) moved Bouruqin to third with a base hit to center and then a sacrifice fly by Shuck scored Bourquin to give the Buckeyes a 3-2 lead.
Two more Ohio State runs scored in the fifth. Tony Kennedy (So., Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South) doubled to right-center and then Angle drew his second walk of the game to put two runners on for Eric Fryer (So., Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg). Fryer singled to right to score Kennedy and then Vermont caught Fryer in a run down between first and second. Angle put pressure on the defense and slid under a tag at the plate for the second run of the inning that gave Ohio State a 5-2 lead.
Howell and Schirtzinger each had two of Ohio State's 10 hits. Huntington was 3-for-4 with two RBI while Brault was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI. Vermont had 11 hits in the game and neither team committed an error.
The Buckeyes (11-5), which finished 5-1 on its spring break trip to Bradenton, return to Columbus Friday and will have two days off and then two days of practice before opening the 10th season of Bill Davis Stadium vs. Toledo Wednesday at 2 p.m.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

That was a nice 6 game stretch even know we had the one loss to UIC.

We look solid so far.

 

[rhgbosu]

The only bad thing about this past week is the big hit
our RPI took.....It went from 50 to 111. You can kiss an at large bid goodbye because we have nobody left on the schedule that can help us
improve our RPI!

We will be lucky to play another opponent ranked in the top 75.


Current Big 10 RPI's

Purdue ....9
Iowa......80
Minny.....81
tOSU......111
Illinois.....113
Michigan......123
Penn St ......199
Indiana........204
Mich St........212
Nortwestern....238

Toledo.....169
Miami......122
C Michigan....180
Oakland.....280
Cleveland St...263
E Michigan....184
Pittsburgh....185


Maybe if we win out we can crack the top 50 again

 

[CleveBucks]

It's almost impossible for a Big Ten team to ever get an at-large bid. That's nothing new.

 

[JCOSU86]

I agree with the RPI thing. That is why it was so important for OSU to hold their own against the top competition they played in the Pepsi Challenge like Florida and Missouri (both ranked, UF was #1 in some polls). I wish they would have done a little better, but what can you do. They did beat a ranked Tiger team....

 

[rhgbosu]

It's almost impossible for a Big Ten team to ever get an at-large bid. That's nothing new.

Michigan got an at large bid last year with an RPI of 53. We just havent played the schedule to give us that "RPI insurance" like they had. Because of our current RPI, I think we have to win the Big ten tourney to get in...period

Purdue is this years Michigan. They have got a chance to get an at large even if they dont get it done in the league.