Michigan State University
Ohio State
Buckeyes Top Spartans, 5-3
4/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 11, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning and hung on to down the Michigan State baseball team, 5-3, on Saturday (April 11) afternoon at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
The Buckeyes manufactured a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning but the Spartans responded in the top of the second to tie the game. Seth Williams, who went 3-for-4 on the day, singled in Johnny Lee and then a two-out single up the middle off the bat of Brandon Eckerle scored Jonathan Roof to even the game at two.
After OSU (25-7, 5-3) regained a one-run lead in the bottom of the second, the Spartans scored a solo run of their own in the top of the third to knot the game at three. MSU tied it courtesy of Eric Roof's single up the middle that scored Chris Roberts, who had reached on a double.
MSU nearly took its first lead of the day when Williams tried to score from third on a fielder's choice but was thrown out at home.
Neither team was able to touch home again until the bottom of the sixth when OSU scored twice off passed balls to take a 5-3 lead.
The Spartans put runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings but OSU relievers Drew Rucinski and Jake Hale combined to give up just two hits over the final 2.2 innings to preserve the win for the Buckeyes.
A.J. Achter started for MSU and went 6.0 complete innings, allowing three earned runs, while striking out four and walking six batters. Kurt Wunderlich was solid in relief for MSU (11-20, 3-5) as he gave up just one hit over the final 2.0 innings.
Dean Wolosiansky went 6.1 innings and improved to 7-1 for OSU.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday (April 12) with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
