For the fifth straight time this season, Ohio State's baseball team knocked off Michigan. This time though, was certainly the most important.
On Thursday night, up 4-0 against Iowa in the ninth inning, the Buckeyes (40-18) broke down and allowed the Hawkeyes to rally all the way back, tying the game at 4 and eventually upsetting the Scarlet and Gray 5-4 in 11 innings.
A loss to Michigan today meant the Big Ten tournament, and likely the season, was over.
Game 11 of the B1G tournament actually began on Friday night. Ohio State got right back to work after their disappointing loss and quickly jumped out to a 5-2 lead over Michigan – who had that knocked off the Big Ten tournament's opening round 8-3 – before Mother Nature took the mound and caused a 14 hour delay: the rivals would pick things back up today at 2:40 p.m.
The Buckeyes extended their lead to 6-2 on fourth inning infield single by junior Jacob Bosiokovic.
B4 | Oh boy. Check out this infield single...
— The OSU Baseball (@OhioState_BASE) May 28, 2016
Buckeye run by Bosi!
TUN 2, OSU 6#GoBucks https://t.co/vi8iAgba6E
The Wolverines, aided by some sloppy Ohio State defense, closed the gap to 6-4 just an inning later, but the Buckeyes escaped a potentially game-changing bases loaded situation and stayed on top thanks to Hudson, Ohio freshman Ryan Feltner's 92mph fastball.
A two-out RBI single by Ohio State junior Ronnie Dawson stretched the lead back to 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth, but the Buckeyes weren't done. A batter later, Troy Kuhn blooped one down the right field line that was originally ruled a foul ball. After a controversial replay, the ball was ruled fair and two runs were awarded to the Scarlet and Gray, extending the lead to 9-4.
B5 | CALL OVERTURNED. FIVE-RUN LEAD!
— The OSU Baseball (@OhioState_BASE) May 28, 2016
TUN 4, OSU 9#RaiseTheAxe https://t.co/wmS7ckUwy0
From there, Feltner and the Buckeyes cruised. They added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh, giving them an 11-4 advantage, the game's final score.
Feltner tossed six and a third solid innings, picking up the ball after last night's rain delayed beginning. He struck out 10 and allowed six hits to earn his third win of the season. Senior Troy Kuhn collected four RBIs on the day for the Buckeyes, who finished with 18 hits.
In the Buckeyes five wins against the Wolverines this year, they've outscored the Wolverines 37-14.
Ohio State will get roughly a one-hour rest before their next game begins. The Scarlet and Gray will switch dugouts and take on Michigan State tonight. A loss is where the Big Ten run ends, a win means another date withe the Spartans tomorrow morning as the Buckeyes continue to try and fight off elimination.
