Following a tough 8-4 loss to Wright State on Tuesday, Ohio State will cap its regular season with a three-game series against its rival Michigan (32-19, 17-10 Big Ten) at Ray Fisher Stadium. The Buckeyes will take on the Wolverines at 6 p.m. on Thursday, 4 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday. All three games will stream on B1G+.
Ohio State is coming off an 8-4 loss to Wright State on Tuesday night in its final home game of the season at Bill Davis Stadium, but it enters the final weekend of the regular season at 26-23 overall and 15-12 in Big Ten play, currently sitting seventh in the conference standings. Michigan, meanwhile, is 32-19 overall and 17-10 in conference action, sitting just above Ohio State in the Big Ten standings at sixth.
Ohio State head coach Justin Haire emphasized the Buckeyes’ need for improvement after their tough loss to the Raiders on Tuesday.
“It shouldn’t be, ‘we’re playing Michigan today.’ When you have an intense, consistent and disciplined mindset, then you show up every day,” Haire said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Tuesday or Thursday or if you’re playing the New York Yankees, you show up and you play the game to the absolute best of your ability. We didn’t do that tonight. We have to do it Thursday, Friday and Saturday, or we’re going to get a lot of the same results.”
First baseman Dane Harvey and shortstop Henry Kaczmar each homered in the defeat. Harvey’s bomb marked his 17th home run of the season, which stands just two shy of tying the single-season Ohio State record of 19 set by Zach DeZenzo (2022) and Dan Seimetz (1997).
Harvey leads the Buckeyes in batting average (.327), slugging percentage (.732) and RBIs (53). His .732 slugging percentage ranks him 26th nationally.
Kaczmar is second on Ohio State in batting average at .322, while his cousin, catcher Mason Eckelman, follows close behind at .320. Kaczmar ranks first among Buckeyes with 23 doubles, just four shy of the Ohio State single-season record, while Eckelman’s .436 on-base percentage leads the team.
Ellis leads Ohio State with 16 stolen bases on 18 attempts and has also bought into Haire’s tough-to-kill offensive philosophy, taking 15 hits by pitch, a team-best.
Ohio State’s trio of weekend starters has been dominant for the Buckeyes in recent weeks. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Gavin Kuzniewski has become the anchor of the rotation in the opening games of weekend series, leading the pitching staff with 60 strikeouts across 69.1 innings while compiling a 5-2 record and 4.93 ERA. Junior right-hander Chris Domke, the Buckeyes day two starter, has added 53 strikeouts in 64.0 innings, while day three starter junior right-hander Pierce Herrenbruck owns a 4.14 ERA that’s best among the starting group, alongside 51 strikeouts across 67.1 innings pitched.
Junior right-hander Ryan Zamora has emerged as a reliable closer with three saves and 34 strikeouts in 33.1 innings. He holds a team-best 4.05 ERA. Left-hander Luke Carrell leads Ohio State with 25 appearances, recording a 4.74 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 24.2 innings.
Michigan took two of three games against Minnesota last weekend after rebounding from a devastating 13-1 loss in the series opener. The Wolverines followed that series victory with a 5-3 midweek defeat at Kent State Golden.
Second baseman Colby Turner has led Michigan offensively, batting .388 with 17 doubles and 13 home runs. Wolverines’ third baseman Brayden Jefferis enters the weekend riding a 25-game on-base streak while batting .353 overall.
Michigan’s pitching staff has been equally effective, led by day one starter and right-handed pitcher Kurt Barr, who owns a 4.17 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 69 innings. Freshman pitcher Shane Brinham, who has a 4.26 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 50.2 innings, has helped stabilize the weekend rotation, winning each of his last six day three starts.
Michigan is also one of three programs with 19 saves, led by relievers Gavin DeVooght (nine) and Cade Montgomery (five).
Michigan holds a 176-114-2 advantage in the rivalry series dating back to 1895. The Wolverines swept the Buckeyes in Columbus last season, including a 23-1 victory in the opener.
Kaczmar said he and his Ohio State teammates have had this rivalry series circled on the calendar all season.
“I feel like our guys have done a good job all year at circling this one and just really knowing that this is the one we need to get,” Kaczmar said. “We’re suiting up as the villain, going in as the away team there, and it’s something that’s super fun, and all the guys on the team have the same mindset. It’s more than just a series, but you need to treat it like only a series when you’re actually playing the game. So I feel like we’re well prepared.”
Ohio State has already clinched a berth in the Big Ten tournament, which will be held from May 19-24 in Omaha, Neb. However, the Buckeyes’ tournament seed will not be finalized until the conclusion of this weekend’s games.
Image courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
