The coaching staff counted 13 hard-hit or barreled balls, but the team managed only three hits during a windy, humid afternoon. On the plus side, sophomore right-hander Nate Haberthier was brilliant in pitching a complete game.
The big blows were a two-run single by Tyler Pettorini and two-run double by Kade Kern in helping the team win for the fourth time in the last six games. Read Mark Znidar's PressPros articles on Buckeye baseball from Wilmington, NC... Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Malaki Branham had 14 points, five rebounds and four steals, but it was the return of injured senior Kyle Young that gave OSU the glue it had been lacking and the impetus for a 54-43 NCAA Tournament win over Loyola-Chicago.
Marcus Ernst continues to hit, but erratic pitching spelled doom for the Buckeyes Friday in a 12-4 weekend-opening loss to UNC-Wilmington. Mark Znidar writes the story for Press Press.
Head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson are going to tinker moving their headline receiver to the left, to the right, and in the slot so defenses have more difficulty swarming him.
