After losing to No. 11 Washington, No. 6 seed Ohio State bounced back against No. 10 Rutgers, winning 3-2 with clean pitching and timely hitting in the Big Ten tournament May 20 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Ohio State’s Pierce Herrenbruck threw the first nine-inning complete game in the tournament in two years. Needing only 98 pitches, Herrenbruck gave up six hits, four walks and induced 14 groundouts.
In the midst of a pitching duel, Ohio State shortstop Henry Kaczmar turned on a breaking ball for a no-doubt solo home run and a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Trouble for Herrenbruck struck in the sixth inning, when he gave up a triple to Chase Krewson with two outs. After intentionally walking Peyton Bonds, a projected top-100 pick in the upcoming on MLB draft, the Buckeyes committed two costly errors on consecutive weak ground balls. Two runs scored due to the mishaps, but Ohio State escaped after a tag play at the plate.
Ohio State right fielder Nathan Furcht hit a clutch ground-ball single up the middle in the bottom of the sixth to score the tying run. Two innings later, the Buckeyes got the big swing they needed. After striking out in his prior three at-bats, first baseman Dane Harvey rocketed a line drive to left-center field for the game-winning RBI double.
Rutgers stranded two runners in scoring position in the ninth against Herrenbruck and went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
When does Ohio State baseball play next in the Big Ten tournament?
The Buckeyes face the losers of the May 20 9 p.m. matchup between Michigan and Washington in the next elimination game. Ohio State will advance to the quarterfinals with a win.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State baseball beats Rutgers 3-2 in Big Ten tourney knockout game
Reporting by Dan Aulbach, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
