Buckeyes Bomb Time Bandits 23-9

By BRIAN KEATTS

QUEENSBORO OVAL (June 25, 2008) - Ohio State broke out the big bats in their nostalgic return to the Queensboro Oval clay field beneath the 59th Street Bridge this evening. They erupted for a 23-9 win over the Time Bandits (6-3) via a 5th inning mercy rule decision. Returning to "The Oval" for the first time since picking up a playoff win during their 2003 championship season, Ohio State came up big in a game with significant playoff implications.

Ohio State started the game in style with a lead off home run by Kevin Sheen. Brian Keatts followed with a bloop double and scored when Nick Ponder belted a double. The Buckeye lead was short lived, as the Time Bandits took a 3-2 lead after one inning.

The Bucks tied the game in the 2nd inning when Sam Rosner blasted a triple and scored on a single by Kevin Ma. However, the Time Bandits scratched out a run in their half of the frame to take a 4-3 lead.

Ohio State assumed control of the game with a 12 run 3rd inning. Sheen led off with a single and scored on a triple by Keatts. Ponder followed with an RBI double and scored on a double by John McClafferty. After Rick Muskat singled, Jackie Sunderland drove in a run with a ground ball. Rosner and Jay Banarjee took advantage of fielding miscues to reach base. With two outs, the Bucks poured it on. Ma and Lisa Imel hit back to back singles. Sheen and Keatts followed with singles of their own, and Ponder cleared the bases with a grand slam, giving OSU a 15-4 lead.

After shutting out the Time Bandits, the Buckeyes went right back to work in the 4th inning. Sunderland led off with a single and advanced to third base on a double by Rosner. Jay hit an RBI single, as did Ma. With one out, Lisa reached base and was advanced by a Sheen single. Keatts then launched a three run homer, hitting for the cycle in the process. The Buckeyes tacked on another run after another double by Ponder to take a staggering 22-4 lead. Grace Sacro helped maintain the lead by playing a flawless right field while also drawing a walk at the plate.

Ohio State made it 23-4 after adding a run in the 5th inning, and then allowed a few meaningless runs in the bottom half of the inning before closing out their opposition via the mercy rule. Ohio State stands at 7-3 with two games remaining in the regular season. They square off against the other OSU alumni team on June 30th, looking to add to their four game winning streak and continue their march to the playoffs.