Friday, June 21, 2013

Eight Is Enough - Buckeyes Win In Extra Innings

By BRIAN KEATTS

GREAT LAWN (June 21, 2013) - Ohio State returned to Central Park's Great Lawn for the first time in several seasons this evening and made the trip a memorable one.  Trailing late in the game, OSU rallied and came away with an 11-8 victory over Pubs in 8 innings.

Things started off well for the Bucks in the top of the 1st.  With 2 outs, Brian Keatts reached base on an error by the shortstop. Jimmy Klingensmith singled and everyone came home when Jonathan Graham cleared the bases with a 3-run home run.  Advantage Buckeyes.

Ohio State added to their lead in the 4th inning.  Carly Klingensmith started things off with a sharp single and took third on a double by brother Jimmy.  Graham came through with a double, scoring the Klingensmiths and giving OSU a 5-0 lead.

Over the next two innings the wheels fell off a bit as Pubs scored 8 times, most of which were unearned, to take an 8-5 lead heading into the 6th inning.  As has become their specialty in recent years, the Bucks rallied.

JT Ferrera led off the 7th with a double.  With one out, Keatts connected for a 2-run homer, cutting the deficit to one.  Brother Jimmy collected his third hit of the day with a single, using his speed to take second after some lacksidasical fielding by the Pubs.  Andrew Vannata came through with a clutch two out single to knot the game at 8.

The Buckeyes fielding shined from that point forward - holding Pubs in checks for the rest of the evening.  Jackie Sunderland made a fine play from the catcher position to snag a foul ball for a key out.  Not to be outdone, Denise Sluterbeck accomplished a similar feat the next inning at catcher.  Ted Anderson, Kevin Ma, Anne Teutschel and Sam Strassman all added to the cause by fielding their positions in fine fashion.

With the game tied at 8 and darkness encroaching, the game moved to extra innings.  In the top of the 8th, Jen Harbour reached base on a fielder’s choice.  With two outs, Carly came up big with a single, making it two chicks on the pond with two outs.  Keatts then lifted a 3-run homer to right center field, and with that Ohio State had retaken the lead at 11-8.

OSU put the game away in the bottom half of the 8th, capped by a fine diving stop and put out by Jeff Kreisler at first base.  It was a satisfying victory for the Scarlet and Gray, who return to the field on June 25th for the season finale against the undefeated Lawsox on the banks of the East River.

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