March 27, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Hitless through the first 4 2/3 innings, Ohio State blasted for five runs in the fifth en route to an 8-3 victory over the Penn State baseball team on Friday, ending the Nittany Lions' winning streak at six games.
T.J Macy (Boise, Idaho) pitched seven innings and, aside from a stint in the fifth inning, was lights-out against Ohio State. Macy allowed just four hits and struck out five while taking his second loss of the season.
Jordan Steranka (Pittsburgh, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with both of Penn State's two RBIs and a triple.
Dean Wolosiansky was the winning pitcher, scattering five hits and two runs over seven innings of work. Penn State garnered just three hits after tagging three in its first at-bats.
The Buckeyes were helped by Zach Hurley, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Michael Stephens homered and had three RBIs.
Penn State put runs on the board first against the high-powered Ohio State team. Blake Lynd (Deer Park, Texas) and Landon Nakata (Honolulu, Hawai'i) started the game with back-to-back singles to extend both of their respective hitting streaks. After a bases-loaded double play yielding no runs, Jordan Steranka sliced a ball over the head of shortstop Cory Rupert to give the Nittany Lions a 2-0 lead in the first.
Macy forced two double plays to end the first two innings. After giving up consecutive one-out walks, Macy got Michael Stephens and Rupert to ground out into infield double plays.
Bobby Jacobs (West Chester, Pa.) kept the Buckeyes at the minimum of 12 batters faced in the fourth when he tossed out a running Zach Hurley at second base to keep the Buckeyes at bay.
With Macy coasting through the first 4 2/3 innings, the potent Ohio State offense ignited in the fifth inning for five runs. Rupert started the two-out rally with a single to the left side to end Macy's potential no-hit bid. Ryan Drew followed suite with a base knock before a Matt Streng walk scored Ohio State's first run. Hurley singled to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the game, and a Michael Stephens gave the Nittany Lions' a three-run deficit.
Dean Wolosiansky settled own after the two-run first inning. Wolosiansky allowed just one hit, a Cory Wine single, from the second to the sixth frames. The sophomore righthander saved himself in the seventh after letting up a Michael Glantz (Marietta, Ga.) single, striking out and forcing a groundout to end his night.
Ohio State put the game out of reach in the top of the eighth. A sacrifice fly by Stephens made way for a two-run jack to left field by Justin Miller.
Penn State added another run in the ninth inning to cut the lead to 8-3. Steranka posted a triple over the centerfielder's head and was scored by a Wes Borden sacrifice fly. Penn State and Ohio State reconvene on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
GAME NOTES: Blake Lynd advanced his hitting streak to 14 games, and Landon Nakata pushed his career-high streak to 11 games. Both hits came in the first inning to start the game.