COLUMBUS — For the third straight game, Ohio’s offense struggled.
Although starting pitcher Cory Blessing pitched three solid innings, the offense didn’t provide any run support, and the lineup was halted by Ohio State’s pitching staff.
Aside from a spectacular diving catch by Ryan Sargent in right field to rob Ohio State’s Dillon Dingler of a base hit, the highlights from Tuesday night’s game are hard for the Bobcats to find.
Here are eight things for the eight times Ohio struck out in its 4-0 loss to Ohio State at Bill Davis Stadium:
1. Two of Ohio’s four hits came in the second inning — a leadoff double by Aaron Levy and a bunt single by Trevor Hafner. It turned out to be the Bobcats’ only legitimate scoring threat of the game. Following the two baserunners, Ohio had three straight outs.
“When we do have some scoring opportunities, we’ve done a poor job of executing situationally,” coach Rob Smith said.
Ohio had just five baserunners after the second inning.
2. The offensive failure can be linked to Ohio State’s pitching; starting pitcher Jake Vance allowed just three hits over 5 2/3 innings pitched. Ohio earned just one hit — and only drew one walk — against the Ohio State bullpen. The hit came in the ninth inning. The Buckeyes’ bullpen kept the ball in the low strike zone, making life difficult for the Bobcats.
3. This game isn’t the first in which Ohio’s offense has struggled. The Bobcats have scored just three runs in their last 27 innings played, dating back to last weekend’s series at Toledo. In the first game of the Toledo series, the Bobcats scored 15 runs but have since been silenced offensively.
“We’re not in a very good place right now offensively,” Smith said.
4. The heart of Ohio’s order — Michael Klein, Rudy Rott and Tanner Piechnick — went a combined 0-11. Klein did reach base, however, when he was hit by a first-inning pitch. The only hitter in the top four of Ohio’s lineup with a hit was Devon Garcia, who led off the sixth inning with a double.
5. Starting pitcher Cory Blessing pitched well for the Bobcats, allowing just one hit and one walk in three innings of work; he struck out two batters. He’s been a reliable bullpen arm for much of the year, and he is sprinkled into the starting rotation on weekday games.
“I felt pretty good today,” Blessing said. “I threw well.”
6. After Blessing’s exit, however, the Bobcats began to give up hits. Eddie Kutt threw two innings and allowed three earned runs on four hits; he walked one and struck out two. His pitching wasn’t off. He challenged the Ohio State lineup, but it responded well to the challenge.
“We trust them,” Blessing said of the bullpen. “We know what they’re capable of. We just had a tough inning. We just couldn’t get any runs, which sucked.”
7. The runs allowed proved to be the only runs the Buckeyes needed, although Ohio State added another off Nick Kamrada in the sixth inning. Kenny Ogg pitched well for Ohio in the final two innings of work, facing just eight batters; he allowed just one hit and two walks. He struck out one.
8. The Bobcats will be in action Wednesday against Shawnee State at Bob Wren Stadium for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch. It might be the last cold weather game for Ohio; the upcoming weekend series against Eastern Michigan is predicted to be in warmer weather. No matter the weather, Smith wants the offense to wake up.
“No, I’m tired of not scoring,” Smith said when asked about if he was sick of cold weather. “I’d play in 10 degree weather if it meant we could put some runs on the board.”
