Buckeyes Win Thriller to Advance to Title Game

By BRIAN KEATTS

HARLEM (November 26, 2012) - There are good wins, and then there are those rare, foundation-building great wins that are remembered throughout the years.  Over the past dozen years, the Ohio State Buckeyes have been fortunate enough to rack up some great wins.  This evening, they got another one.  Trailing a very strong McGladrey team 8-0 after an inning and a half, these Buckeyes showed their mettle and battled back for an 11-10 victory, propelling them into the title game.

As the Buckeyes came to bat in the bottom of the 2nd inning, they found themselves in an 8-0 hole - McGladrey having pounded the ball the first 2 innings.  The momentum was about to change.  Jimmy Klingensmith led off the inning with a double, scoring when DJ Tom Antoniello stroked an RBI single.  Brian Keatts followed with a double down the left field line, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd.  Tom O'Leary smacked a single to score both runners, cutting the deficit to 8-3.

It was at this point that OSU dug in its heels and started flashing the good leather.  Kevin Ma and Jessica Brown patrolled the outfield, while Vivianna Dinucci held down the catching duties, calling a good game behind the plate.  Soon, the Buckeyes were back at bat, creeping closer.

With 1 out in the bottom of the 3rd inning, Andrew Vannata used his keen eye to draw a walk.  Juton Horstman followed with a single.  With 2 out, Jon Graham came through with a huge three-run homer to bring OSU within 2 runs at 8-6.

Ohio State continued chipping away in the 4th inning.  Keatts reached second base on a fielding error to lead things off.  With one out, JT Ferrera lined a single to score Keatts.  With two outs and 2 on, Andrew Singer came through with a run scoring single.  OSU had come all the way back to tie the game at 8.

With the momentum firmly on their side, The Buckeyes took the lead in the 5th inning.  Horstman singled to start things off and moved to second when Carly Klingensmith crushed a single.  After a fielder's choice, Jimmy Klingensmith stroked an RBI single.  Antoniello then lined a single, scoring two more and giving OSU an 11-8 advantage.

McGladrey scored twice in the top of the 6th inning to draw within a run, making for a suspense-filled 7th inning.  OSU held strong in the field and shut out McGladrey, putting the finishing touches on a dramatic 11-10 victory.  Ohio State now plays in the Championship Game on November 29th against a Cooper team that has been dispatching its opponents with ease in the post season.