Ohio State had a solid start to the season, finishing 2-1 in the MLB Desert Invitational. This week, they stayed in Arizona for a five game week.

On Tuesday, the Buckeyes stayed in Phoenix for a midweek matchup with Grand Canyon University. Things didn't go so well as the Antelopes jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the 5th. Ohio State would tie things up in the T6 thanks to a Mitchell Okuley 2 RBI single to score Tyler Pettorini and Matthew Graveline and a Hunter Rosson sac fly to score Joseph Mershon. However, the 'Lopes took the lead back in the B6 and then used a 5 run B7 to pull away for a 10-3 win. Relief pitcher Gavin DeVooght was officially given the loss, but Blaine Wynk was responsible for the 5 run 7th that killed any chance of a Buckeye comeback. 

The Bucks then went to Tempe for a four game weekend series against the Sun Devils of Arizona State.

Game 1 on Thursday was a pitchers duel for most the first half of the game. Arizona State got the first run across the board in the B1, and that was it until the T5 when Ohio State took a 3-1 lead thanks to a Nick Giamarusti triple, scoring Okuley, and a Trey Lipsey homer to bring in Giamarusti. The Buckeyes caught fire late, extending their lead thanks to 3-run T7, courtesy of a Josh Stevenson homer and a Henry Kaczmar 2-RBI homer (bringing in Lipsey), and T9 innings where Lipsey scored on a wild pitch and a 2-RBI single by Okuley to score Graveline and Zach Fjelstad. Stevenson also hit a 2-RBI double in the T8, scoring Rosson and Okuley, as the Buckeyes pulled away for the 11-4 win. Starting pitcher Landon Biedelshies earned the win, bringing him to 1-1 on the year as he struck out 7 Sun Devils in 7 innings.

Game 2 on Friday went just about the opposite of Thursday. Ohio State jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a home run by Lipsey on the fifth pitch of the game, but that was about all they could muster as Arizona State took the lead in a 4-run B2. ASU would go on to score in each of its final 5 innings to run away with a 14-4 win. Starting pitcher Colin Purcell was given the loss, dropping him to 1-1 on the young season.

Game 3 on Saturday was much like Thursday. Again, Ohio State jumped out in front with a RBI single by Pettorini to score Lipsey in the T1. Arizona State would take the lead thanks to a 2-run B1. Mershon would tie the game with a homer in the T4, but Arizona State would take a 4-2 lead by the 6th, but back-to-back home runs by Graveline (to score Kaczmar) and Pettorini, along with a Giamarusti RBI single to bring in Okuley gave the Bucks a 6-4 lead they would not relinquish. Then a Grand Slam by NIck Giamarusti to score Stevenson, Okuley, and CJ Richard highlighted a massive 7-run T9 allowed Ohio State to finish off a 13-4 win. Relief pitcher Zach Brown earned the win, his first of the year, but starter Gavin Bruni put in his fair work-load, striking out 5 Sun Devils in 4 1/3 innings.

Game 4 on Sunday was the first fully competitive game of the weekend and high scoring for both teams. Arizona State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the B1, but Ohio State would quickly respond with a 4-run T2 as Lipsey reached second on an error as Ryan Miller scored, then a 2-RBI single by Kaczmar scored Lipsey and Fjelstad. A bases loaded walk for Okuley allowed Kaczmar to score the go-ahead run, but Ohio State would leave the bases loaded, allowing the Sun Devils to take the lead back thanks to a 2-run B2. Ohio State would retake the lead in the T5, courtesy of a 3-RBI home run by Miller, scoring Mershon and Pettorini. However, a grand slam in the B6 allowed Arizona state claim the 10-8 win in 8 innings. Relief pitcher Hunter Shaw was given the loss, his first of the year, as he was responsible for the grand slam.

After the 2-3 week, Ohio State dropped to 4-4 while Arizona State moved to 5-3. Grand Canyon would fall to 5-3 as they had a 1-3 series against Nebraska.

Up next, Ohio State goes northward to Sin City to compete in the Las Vegas College Baseball Classic in a round robin tournament, playing Cal on Friday, Pitt on Saturday, and Oklahoma on Sunday.