DEWITT CLINTON (November 3, 2011) - On an unusually warm November evening, the Ohio State Buckeyes overcame playing short-handed, with an automatic out, and a three run deficit to emerge with a 6-4 victory over Perfect Strangers.
Playing 9 against 10, OSU allowed 3 runs to come across the plate in the top of the first inning. However, the Bucks quickly got a pair of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame. Juton Horstman led things off with a single and advanced to third on a seeing-eye double by DJ Tommy Antoniello. Sacrificing themselves for the greater good, Jonathan Keller and John McClafferty followed with run producing sacrifice flys to draw OSU within a run.
After a scoreless second inning, the teams traded runs in the 3rd. Keller and McClaffery started the inning with singles, and the bases were soon loaded after a walk to Brian Keatts. Keller later came home on a ground ball by Andrew Vannata.
From the 4th inning on, the Buckeye defense refused to talk to Strangers, or allow them to cross home plate. Carly Klingensmith was particularly sure-handed at third base.
The Buckeyes took the lead for good in the bottom half of the 4th inning. With one out, OSU's key last minute pick up, Whitney-The-Red-Headed-Twin, stroked a solid single. The automatic out followed, and so did a Buckeye rally. Horstman and Antoniello walked to load the bases. Keller then came through with a 2-RBI single, giving Ohio State a 5-4 lead.
OSU added an insurance run in the 5th inning when Keatts lead off the inning with a single and later scored on and RBI single by Kevin Ma. The Buckeyes then closed out the game for well earned 6-4 victory. Ohio State takes their talents to the East River next week for the season finale.
