Leading 10-0 after four innings, Ohio State got just one hit over the final five innings and the bullpen gave up nine runs in the final three innings in a 12-10 loss to Alabama.
Somewhere during the flight back to Columbus Sunday afternoon there might have been some turbulence on the Oho State baseball charter.
This, after they squandered a 10-0 lead in the fourth inning and watched Alabama score 12 unanswered runs, including a trio of three-run home runs – one in the bottom of the ninth – to win the finale of the Jax Classic, in Jacksonville, Florida, 12-10.
Alabama (8-0) won it with 12 runs on 12 hits and left 13 men on base!
Ohio State dropped to 1-5 on the season with 10 runs on 7 hits and left just 2 on base…because they got just one hit and one runner on via a walk over the final five innings.
Jake Michalak got the start for the Buckeyes and lasted 3.2 innings, the recipient of the 10-0 lead, before giving three runs on the top of the fourth. His line…3 runs on 4 hits, 4 strikeouts and 6 walks!
Succeeding him, freshman Zev Salsberg pitched the next 2.2 innings, giving up a run on 2 hits. His line…1 runs on 2 hits, no strikeouts and a walk.
After Salsberg, transfer Luke Carrell came on in the seventh to work two innings. His line…7 runs, all earned, on 5 hits, 4 walks and 5 strikeouts.
Carrell led 10-7 entering the home half of the ninth when with one out he walked the next two hitters, and redshirt freshman Nik Copenhaver was called upon to retire the final two outs. Copenhaver faced one hitter, Alabama first baseman Will Hodo, who hit a three-run home to win the game, 12-10.
It is what it is…the unthinkable in baseball. But the unthinkable does happen, and it’s happened before.
But what made it what it was on Sunday was again the fact of free bases…bases on balls. Too many. Alabama is a good hitting team, but Ohio State pitchers walked 11, and 6 of those walks scored.
The Buckeyes are off until Friday, the 28th, when they play Auburn at 4 pm at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas…Baylor on Saturday, March 1 at 3 pm…and Oregon State on Sunday @ 12 pm. All games are EST, and Press Pros will have coverage, live, from Arlington.
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