Second baseman Henry Kaczmar had a pair of hits, including a double, in Saturday’s loss to La. Tech. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
The Buckeyes fall to Louisiana Tech for the second day in a row…familiar issues with young pitching…bats generate 3 runs on 7 hits…a chance for a weekend split on Sunday.
Memphis, TN – The growing pains marked day two of Ohio State’s weekend series in Memphis as the Buckeyes fell for a second day in a row to Louisiana Tech, 9-3.
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A combination of things, really. But front and center was that which can be found in the center of the infield, and 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate. The pitching let them down on Saturday as freshman starter Jude Fisher could not reprise the success of a week ago in his start against the St. Louis Billikens.
Fisher struggled with command through 3.1 innings of work, allowed 6 runs on 7 hits – all earned – and needed 92 pitches to navigate what amounted to two trips through the Bulldogs’ batting order.
More, starting with one out in the fourth, the bullpen got tested for a second day in a row and gave an OK accounting of itself – Jack Cecil, Ryan Zamora, Luke Carrell and Sahil Patel (4.2 innings, 3 runs on 5 hits) – but found itself in too deep a hole for the offense to navigate.
Louisiana Tech pitching has been veteran, and pretty good. And Saturday starter Brooks Roberson won his second decision of the year by scattering four hits over 5.1 innings, allowing 2 runs while striking out 6. The Bulldogs bullpen was more than adequate over the next 3.2 innings…Conn0r Nation and Kade Parker allowing just a run on 3 hits while striking out 5.
The Buckeyes offense produced some hits – 7 of them – but not enough at the right times as La. Tech pitching did a good job of damage control throughout the lineup.
Centerfielder Miles Vandenheuvel and second baseman Henry Kaczmar each had a pair of hits, but the batting order as a whole was limited to single runs in the 4th, 6th, and 7th innings.
Still, the early focus is on the pitching and its own ability to limit damage, and particularly through the ability to throw strikes and limit the free bases. Saturday, the combined work of Fisher, Cecil, Zamora, Carrell, and Patel struck out 12, but walked 8. The consensus is, however, through six games, that the offense will hit and score runs. It’s just a matter of allowing fewer than you score.
They wrap up week two on Sunday afternoon with a return engagement with the University of Memphis (2-4), and losers currently of three in a row. You can watch the game on streaming, or follow the action on www.statbroadcast.com.
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