The bats were alive tonight on both sides but the Buckeyes baseball team had just a little more firepower in outlasting Northern Kentucky 10-8 Tuesday night.
Northern Kentucky wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first inning with a two-out two-run home run to go up 2-0. Ohio State quickly answered in the home-half of the inning with a two-out rally of their own when Brady Cherry doubled and Connor Pohl drove him home with a single to make it 2-1.
The Norse then added a run in the top of the third before exploding for three more runs in the top of the fourth inning with some more two-out magic that included a double and home run. And just like that OSU was in a big hole 6-1.
But the Buckeyes answered back in the bottom of the fourth with four runs to cut the lead to 6-5. Nolan Clegg hit a two-run shot over center field wall, followed by a Brady Cherry double that scored two more.
Northern Kenutcky would add a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth to make it 7-5, and then the Buckeye bats would come alive once again in the bottom of the seventh inning. Connor Pohl and Zach Dezenzos lead off with back-to-back doubles before Brent Todys launched his first homer over the left field wall to give Ohio State the lead for the first time 8-7.
The Buckeyes would finish their scoring with a couple bases loaded RBI walks to go up 10-7 in the eighth inning. The Norse loaded the bases in the top of the ninth but could only manage to scratch across one run before relief pitcher Andrew Mango shut the door for his second save of the year.
Pitcher Bayden Root got his first collegiate win in relief, and Connor Pohl had himself a day at the plate, going 3 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI.
All told, the Buckeyes pounded out fourteen hits total and left a whopping twelve men on, but it was enough to seal the deal in this one and run their record to an even 10-10 on the year.
The Buckeyes next host Hawaii for four games this weekend. Aloha Buckeye Nation.
