Trey Lipsey’s eighth inning three-run homer boosted the Buckeyes to a 9-7 lead. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
After a three-run home run by Trey Lipsey staked them to a late 9-7 lead, the Buckeyes struggled with prosperity, allowing Southern Cal nine runs in their final two bats and a 12-9 win.
Los Angeles, CA – This one had the makings of a season-changing win – a three-run home run by right fielder Trey Lipsey in the top of the eight inning Saturday afternoon that staked the Buckeyes and reliever Blaine Wynk to a 9-7 lead with USC coming to bat in the bottom of the eighth.
Lipsey’s bomb helped erase a Trojans’ 7-5 lead, the kind of lift that bodes confidence, turns some heads, and most importantly…sets a tone for the second half of the season!
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But…SC touched Wynk for 3 runs on 2 hits in the bottom of the inning, then built on that momentum with 2 runs on 2 hits off Wynk’s successor, Zak Sigman, to take a 12-9 lead and ultimately the weekend series with what had to be a deflating 12-9 win.
The loss dropped the Buckeyes’ record now to 8-19, and 2-9 in conference play, but more…it was another example of having to score at least 13 runs against any given opponent in order to win a ballgame.
But this one had to hurt, and in the manner of their loss to Alabama when they squandered another heroic offensive effort. Justin Haire calls it failure to do enough of the little things, but Saturday the Buckeyes only walked five in their latest loss – committed just 2 errors.
But they stranded 12 men on base, unable again to come up with a hit to either extend and inning or drive in a critical run.
And good as Nik Copenhaver and Gavin Kuzniewski were in shutting down the Trojans over the final four innings on Friday, twenty four hours later the combination of Hunter Shaw, Wynk and Sigman allowed 9 runs on 9 hits (6 for extra bases) during SC’s final two at bats on Saturday.
Mason Eckelman had one of his best days at the plate in 2025…3 fo 5 with a double, raising his average to .297.
The Buckeyes again had to play from behind from the outset, the Trojans scoring single runs off Ryan Butler in the first and second innings. But again, OSU showed its resiliency by scoring a run in the top of the third and 2 in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead.
Then Butler quickly ran aground in the bottom of the fourth, turning the ball over to Doug Bauer, who for the second appearance in a row was effective, pitching 1.2 innings of impressive, scoreless ball, striking out three of the five batters he faced.
Tied 3-3 going into the fifth, Ohio State would score 1 in the fifth, and another single run in the sixth to go up 5-3.
After pitching a scoreless sixth, Shaw quickly ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh as SC struck for 4 runs on 5 hits – a triple, home run, double and a pair of singles – to take a 7-5 lead.
The Buckeyes answered, scoring 4 in the top of the eighth as Reggie Bussey single, Maddix Simpson walked, and Trey Lipsey followed with his third home run of the season. Lee Ellis then followed with a single and scored on an RBI single by Mason Eckelman, his third hit of the game. The Buckeyes led 9-7 going to the bottom of the eighth.
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Wynk walked the leadoff hitter in the eighth, but then induced a double play to clear the bases with two outs. But the Trojans then walked, singled, and doubled off Wynk, forcing a pitching change in favor of Zak Sigman. Sigman gave up a triple to the first batter he faced, then served up home run to USC first baseman Dean Carpentier, highlighting a five-run Trojan inning as they retook the lead, 12-9.
The Buckeyes put two on in the top of the ninth with a single from Simpson and a walk to Lipsey, but Tyler Pettorini grounded out to second for the game’s final out.
USC (19-11) won it with 12 runs on 14 hits and committed 4 errors.
The Buckeyes lost it with 9 runs on 14 hits, committed 2 errors, and left 12 men on base.
Game Notes
Among their 14 hits, Mason Eckelman and Lipsey each 3-hit games, and freshman Maddix Simpson continues to hit with 2 hits in three official at bats.
The Buckeyes and USC play the final game of their three-game series at 4 pm (EDT) on Sunday, with Jake Michalak schedule to pitch for OSU.
Thanks to 9 walks, 28 hits, 21 runs (combined), and ‘Trackman’, the game took a snappy 3:31 to play.
And while parts of Ohio were getting as much as 3.5 inches of rain on Saturday, it was 80 degrees with blue skies in sunny Irvine.
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