Freshman pitcher Zach Brown (37) on the mound during Ohio State’s 3-1 loss to Cal Poly on Monday. Credit: Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State (7-7, 0-0 Big Ten) has dropped three of four against the Cal Poly Mustangs (6-8, 0-0 Big West) at Baggett Stadium in San Luis Obispo, Calif. in its fourth road trip of the season since Friday until Monday.
The Buckeyes’ high-powered offense seemed to disappear over the weekend as Ohio State scored just 10 runs in four games compared to 66 runs in 10 games prior to this streak.
To begin the trip to California, the Buckeyes faced a 12-hour flight delay to San Luis Obispo. After finally making their way to the Mustangs’ field, the Buckeyes suffered a 4-2 loss against Cal Poly.
Ohio State ace Landon Beidelschis started and started off strong, striking out two of his three batters facing each other.
In the top of the second, senior outfielder Mitchell Okuli hit an RBI groundout to bring home junior outfielder Nick Giamarusti, making it 1-0 Buckeyes. The next inning, Giamarusti hit his second triple of the season, scoring second baseman Henry Kaczmar and giving Ohio State a 2-0 lead.
Beidelschies remained in control until the bottom of the fifth inning, where two RBI singles and a throwing error lifted the Mustangs to a 3-2 advantage.
Cal Poly added another run in the home half of the seventh inning to take a two-run lead, 4-2.
The Buckeye offense remained quiet the rest of the game, ending in a 4-2 Mustang victory.
The Beidelschies picked up the shutout to even their record this year at 2-2. The Buckeyes’ six hits came from Kaczmar, Giamarusti and graduate infielder Joseph Mershon, each collecting two.
In the second game of the series, Cal Poly stunned Ohio State with a 19-2 victory.
The Buckeyes got off to a strong start with an RBI by catcher Matthew Graveline in the top of the first inning, making it 2-1.
Cal Poly tied the game on a bunt after an Ohio State throwing error, in the bottom of the third inning the Mustangs took a 4-1 lead after an RBI single and an RBI double.
The Buckeyes fought back in the top of the fifth on an RBI double down the line by freshman Zach Fjellstad, making it 4-2.
However, the Mustangs rallied for nine hits and scored a whopping 14 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the Buckeyes down 16, 18-2.
Cal Poly added one more in the top of the seventh inning, ending the game on a 19-2 run.
Transfer senior pitcher Collin Purcell took a bigger loss as he gave up four runs, the Buckeyes again mustering just six hits, with Kacmar collecting two.
In game three of the four-game series, Ohio State bounced back with a 5-3 victory.
For the third straight game in the series, Ohio State jumped out to an early lead on an RBI single by junior infielder Tyler Pettorini, a wild pitch and two outs on Mershon’s double. That put the Buckeyes up 3-0.
In the bottom of the first, the Mustangs cut the Buckeye lead to two on an RBI single, making it 3-1.
Tennessee junior reliever Ryan Miller led off the second inning with a double down the right field line before an RBI groundout by Kaczmnar sent him home. A double off the wall by Gravelin scored another to give Ohio State a 5-1 lead over Cal Poly.
The Mustangs continued to cut into their lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth and a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Buckeye bullpen wouldn’t budge as Ohio State finished with a 5-3 victory.
Junior pitcher Gavin Bruni picked up his second win of the season and captain, graduate pitcher Justin Eckhardt earned his third save of the season. The Buckeyes finally reached double figures in scoring with 10.
In the series finale, Ohio State’s offense was shut down in a 3-1 Mustang victory.
In the bottom of the first, the Mustangs rallied to take a 1-0 lead. Cal Poly added two more in the bottom of the second on a Buckeye error and a fielder’s choice to give the Mustangs a three-run advantage.
Freshman catcher Mason Eckelman led off the top of the eighth with his first collegiate hit on a double to left field. Pinch runner and rookie Nolan Farley scored on Kachmar’s groundout to make it 3-1.
That was all the Buckeyes could muster, leaving the score 3-1, ending a four-game, three-game losing streak.
Freshman pitcher Chase Harrell took his first loss on the mound. Freshman pitchers Gavin De Vught and Zach Brown turned in two strong relief performances, combining for no runs and one hit in four innings pitched.
Kacmar continued his hitting streak, giving him 13 consecutive hitting games.
The Buckeyes conclude their trip to California with a game against Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. before traveling to West Virginia for a three-game series against the Mountaineers.
