After holding a 6-2 lead through four innings, Ohio State surrendered six runs over the final two innings as Marshall (17-18) secured an 11-7 victory Wednesday night at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus.
The Buckeyes were unable to spoil the homecoming of Greg Beals, who has been the Thundering Herd’s head coach since 2023, following his 12-year tenure leading Ohio State from 2011-22.
Ohio State starting right-hander Lincoln McVicker began the game with a four-pitch walk to Marshall center fielder Evan Bottone. Following a stolen base from Bottone, Thundering Herd second baseman Tyler Kamerer singled through the left side to put runners on first and third. Two batters later, first baseman AJ Havrilla singled to center field, scoring Bottone. Marshall right fielder Jackson Halter then singled between first and second to score Kamerer and extend the Thundering Herds’ lead to 2-0 in the first.
After Ohio State left fielder Alex Bemis struck out to open the bottom of the inning, shortstop Henry Kaczmar smashed a 428-foot solo home run to cut Marshall’s advantage to one.
Following a scoreless second inning, Ohio State and junior left-hander Sahil Patel escaped the top of the third inning as Marshall loaded the bases before the Buckeyes turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the frame.
The Buckeyes escaped the bottom of the third inning with a double play and during the first at-bat of the fourth inning, first baseman Dane Harvey crushed a 422-foot home run to right field — which left the bat with an exit velocity of 109 miles per hour — tying the game at two apiece.
In the fourth, Ohio State third baseman Maddix Simpson walked before advancing to second base on a single to shortstop from center fielder Miles Vandenheuvel. After the pair advanced a bag on a wild pitch, Buckeye catcher Grant Mangrum sent a two-RBI double down the left field line to give Ohio State its first lead of the day at 4-2.
In the next at-bat, Ohio State left fielder Alex Bemis doubled to left field to score Mangrum, before Kaczmar sent a third-straight double to right-center field to score Bemis and give the Buckeyes a 6-2 advantage.
Marshall answered with a run in the top of the fifth inning, as catcher Jackson Golden scored on a throwing error from Simpson, shortening Ohio State’s lead to three.
After the Buckeyes went scoreless in the bottom of the fifth inning, Kamerer walked to open the sixth. A double from left fielder Cooper Hinson then scored Kamerer, pushing the score to 6-4. Havrilla then walked and Halter singled to load the bases. The Herd’s designated hitter, Oliver Service, followed that up by reaching on a fielder’s choice, scoring Hinson to halve the Buckeyes’ advantage to one.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Ohio State’s Mangrum and Bemis kicked off the frame with singles to the left side, before Kaczmar walked to load the bases. However, the Buckeyes were unable to capitalize, leaving three men on the bags.
After a scoreless seventh inning, Halter led off the top of the eighth with a single to right field. Service followed with a base hit to left, and Halter scored on an error by Bemis, who misplayed the ball in the outfield, allowing it to get past him and knot the game at six.
Marshall’s third baseman, Clearly Simpson, walked before Golden was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. A two-RBI single from shortstop Jack Smith scored Clearly Simpson and Golden, giving the Thundering Herd an 8-6 advantage, their first lead since the fourth inning.
A sacrifice fly for Marshall’s Bottone then scored Golden, extending the edge to three before Kamerer grounded out to end the half-inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, Marshall pitcher Tim Baird, who spent four seasons at Ohio State before his transfer, walked Mangrum and Bemis before being pulled. Harvey then sent a single to left field that nearly flew over the fence and hit the back wall, scoring Mangrum to cut Marshall’s lead to two.
The Thundering Herd’s Hinson and first baseman AJ Havrilla walked to begin the top of the ninth, before Cam Harthan was subbed in to pinch run for Hinson. Halter then knocked an RBI double to right field, scoring Harthan for an insurance run, extending the lead to 10-7. Moments later, a sacrifice fly to center field by Service scored Havrilla and increased Marshall’s lead to four.
Ohio State attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth, though Harthan robbed a would-be home run from designated hitter Jacob Parr before Marshall closed the inning with a double play to secure its 11-7 victory.
Ohio State junior Nick Sawyer (0-2) took the loss on the mound, allowing three earned runs along with three hits and a walk in 0.1 innings. Marshall sophomore A.J. McAninch (1-0) earned the win, striking out three batters, while allowing one hit in 1.1 innings.
Harvey and Mangrum led the way for Ohio State with three hits and two RBIs apiece. Maddix Simpson also added two hits and a team-high two walks.
Marshall’s Halter led all hitters with five hits in six at-bats, including two RBIs. Havrilla led the Thundering Herd with four walks, adding two runs scored and a hit.
Ohio State (19-16, 9-6 Big Ten) will hit the road for the first time in over two weeks as the Buckeyes travel to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue (25-11,12-6 Big Ten) for a three-game weekend series. Ohio State will play the Boilermakers at 6 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Image courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
