By BRIAN KEATTS
QUEENSBRIDGE PARK (May 19, 2011) – Don’t call it a comeback…they’ve been here for years. Finding themselves down 5-1 heading into the top of the final inning against a very good K&L Gates team, only two outs away from defeat, Ohio State summoned one of the great rallies in team history. Everyone in the Buckeyes' short-handed lineup of nine players scored, and when all was said and done, OSU scored 11 times en route to a rousing 12-8 victory to remain unbeaten on the season.
Things started off quietly for Ohio State, who failed to score in the first three innings while playing a fielder short and breaking in several new players. However, the team gelled quickly, with Jessica Brown pitching 6 strong innings and Grace Sacro returning behind the plate to turn in the defensive gem of the game by deftly hauling in a pop up. Facing a 5-0 deficit, the Buckeyes broke through in the top of the 4th inning. John McClafferty led off the inning with a double and scored on back to back sacrifice flys by Brian Keatts and Evan Binder.
Oho State kept the momentum going by shutting out K&L Gates for the next two innings while mastering the challenging grounds of Queens Vernon Boulevard Field - and doing so with only three outfielders. Then came the drama.
With darkness falling and down to their final two outs, the Bucks exploded in the top of the 6th inning. John McClafferty singled and advanced to third on a double by Keatts. Both came home when Binder blasted a three run homer to right field. Energized, J.T. Ferrara and Claire McClafferty followed with sharp singles, which in turn were followed by an RBI single by Kevin Ma to tie the game. Unsatisfied, OSU went for the knockout blow...and delivered. Brown singled to load the bases. Tom Antoniello drove home the go ahead runs with a 2-RBI single. After Sacro reached base to load the bases, John McClafferty commenced unloading them with a 2-RBI single. A Keatts single loaded the bases again. Binder picked up his 5th RBI on a sacrifice fly. Ferrara capped the scoring with a 2-RBI single, giving Ohio State a 12-5 advantage heading into the final inning. The opposition managed to scrape up a few runs before Ohio State closed the door for a 12- 8 win.
The OSU squad showed a lot of heart this evening, and looks to keep the momentum going when they return to the field on May 24th against Thirteam.
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