Ohio State baseball’s woes continued Sunday when the team lost to Nebraska, falling to 8-16 overall and 0-4 in the Big Ten.
The Buckeyes trailed early but came back from a 2-0 deficit in the first, answering with three runs from Tyler Pettorini’s single to score Marcus Ernst and a two-run single from Colton Bauer to bring in Pettorini and Kade Kern.
After the early surge, Ohio State had several opportunities to pile on, with runners on base in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings. However, the Buckeyes’ bats couldn’t deliver, and the team went without runs in each situation, including double plays in the second and third frames.
“We got to win each moment,” head coach Greg Beals said. “We need to have a heightened focus in each individual moment and win the process in order to get through this.”
Ohio State starter Wyatt Loncar worked 3.2 innings and suffered the loss, falling to 1-3 on the year. He allowed four earned runs despite allowing just two hits. He walked five, had a wild pitch and a balk, and the Cornhuskers took advantage of the opportunities.
Eight additional pitchers took to the mound for the Buckeyes on the day, including Griffan Smith, who made just his second appearance of the season and retired all three batters he faced in the sixth.
Nebraska, which stranded 13 runners on base, had 16 hits plus drew 10 bases on balls and had four hit batters. Cam Chick walked five times for the Cornhuskers and came around to score four runs.
“We need to do more as a team overall,” Beals said. “It’s so that every pitch isn’t so critical. We need to get a multiple-run lead and create some breathing room for our pitching staff. I pushed buttons today that didn’t work, and sure that can be on me, but we went with guys we felt very confident in, and I will continue to have confidence in those guys.”
Ohio State hosts Youngstown State on Tuesday at Bill Davis Stadium. It will continue its homestand with a three-game series against Michigan State this weekend.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Ohio State women’s tennis defeated Michigan State, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon and improved to 5-0 in Big Ten matches. The No. 8 Buckeyes (12-4) won the doubles point and claimed three straight singles matches over the Spartans at the Ty Tucker Tennis Center.
Sydni Ratliff and Irina Cantos Siemers claimed singles and doubles wins. Kathleen Jones and Lucia Marzal were a part of doubles victories, while Isabelle Boulais won a singles match.
“To leave this weekend against Michigan and Michigan State with two wins is always good,” head coach Melissa Schaub said. “I feel like we are in a good place as a team right now and we are competing hard every match. We need to be ready for a really good Northwestern team that’s coming in here Friday. We will turn the page to that match and then the road matches that follow.”
Ohio State will close its three-match homestand when it hosts Northwestern on Friday. The Buckeyes will then hit the road to face Purdue on April 10, Minnesota on April 15 and Wisconsin on April 17.
MEN’S GOLF
Ohio State sophomore Max Moldovan finished with a final-round 69 and led the Buckeyes to a fifth-place finish at the Mason Rudolph Championship. It was Moldovan’s fifth under-par performance and his sixth top 20 outing this season.
Jackson Chandler and Patrick Smucking tied for 19th at 2-under par. Both Buckeyes finished strong as Chandler birdied two of his final five holes, and Schmucking collected a birdie and an eagle on two of his last five.
Adam Wallin had the most consistent performance in Ohio State’s final round. The Timmele, Sweden, native made nine straight pars at the start of the round. He recorded two birdies and one bogey to finish with a 1-under 71. He tied Marco Steyn at 1-over par for the tournament. JonErik Alford closed out the Buckeyes’ lineup with a 75 on Sunday.
Ohio State will finish the regular season when it hosts the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate on April 23-24. The tournament will occur at Columbus Country Club as the university’s Scarlet Course prepares to host the NCAA Regional next month.
MEN’S GYMNASTICS
Ohio State gymnast Kameron Nelson won the individual conference vault championship with a career-best 14.800 and accompanied teammate Jesse Tyndall on the All-Big Ten first-team. Tyndall finished runner-up in the all-around competition.
Dexter Roettker took second place on the vault to secure an All-Big Ten second-team award. Donovan Hewitt earned the same recognition for a third-place finish on the rings.
“I’m very proud of our guys and the way they competed hard this weekend,” head coach Rustam Sharipov said. “Thank you to our fans for being there and cheering us on. We will work on completing a full meet and work on our routines leading into the NCAA Championships in a couple of weeks.”
Kazuki Hayashi earned a fourth-place finish with a 13.675 on his floor routine, while Jakob Murray’s 13.475-point performance was sixth. On the pommel horse, Luke Smigliani received a 13.550 to take fourth. The final Buckeyes to compete were Tyler Rockwood on rings (12.800 points) and Justin Ah Chow on the parallel bars (14.075 points).
Ohio State’s next competition will take place on April 15 in Norman, Okla., on the University of Oklahoma’s campus.
