Ohio State 6, WKU 4 (PDF)
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - WKU received a quality start from junior southpaw Austin King and led Ohio State 3-2 through seven innings but a two-run homer from OSU's Patrick Porter in the eighth inning proved to be the decisive swing as the Buckeyes (7-4) downed the Hilltoppers, 6-4, Monday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.
Inclement weather shortened the series to two games and Ohio State's victory clinched a two-game sweep over WKU (6-7).
King struck out five batters and only allowed two runs on five hits over a career-long 6.1 innings and exited with a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning. He retired 12 in a row after surrendering an RBI double to Buckeye first baseman Ryan Leffel in the third inning. King exited with a 2-1 lead and a runner on first base with one out in the seventh but a bullpen walk and RBI single from OSU shortstop Craig Nennig resulted in another run being tagged to his line.
With the score knotted at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning redshirt sophomore second baseman Leiff Clarkson led off with an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice from catcher Ty Hogan, raced to third on a wild pitch and was finally plated by shortstop Cody Wofford to put WKU back in front 3-2. The Hilltoppers took that lead to the eighth inning and senior reliever Tate Glasscock appeared to be working his way out of a jam before Porter smacked a two-out, first-pitch offering over the right field fence to put Ohio State in front for good at 4-3.
The Buckeyes scored two crucial insurance runs in the ninth inning to push the advantage to 6-3 courtesy RBI knocks from Troy Montgomery and Troy Sabanosh. The Hilltoppers were able to make things interesting in the ninth when Hogan scored on a balk and had the tying run at the plate in junior outfielder Anderson Miller. With two outs, Wofford at second base and Miller at the dish facing a 6-4 deficit, Buckeye closer Trace Dempsey was able to roll Miller into a ground out to preserve the win.
Glasscock suffered the loss on the mound to drop to 1-1 on the season while Ohio State's Jake Post earned his second win of the year to improve to 2-1.
The WKU loss spoiled impressive performances from King, Hogan, Clarkson and junior third baseman Danny Hudzina. King registered the first quality start of his career, Hogan tallied the first two-hit game of his career and Clarkson also posted two hits. Hudzina recorded his fifth multi-hit game of the season and drove in a go-ahead RBI in the sixth inning.
The Hilltoppers finished their six-game home stand with a 4-2 record and will aim to bounce back from two-straight defeats Tuesday at No. 13 Mississippi State (14-3). WKU will battle the Bulldogs at 4 p.m. (CT) Tuesday and at 5 Wednesday night. Both games will be broadcast on SEC Network +, which is available online and through the Watch ESPN application. ESPN 1450 AM and 102.7 FM will carry the radio broadcast locally and audio will also be on WKUSports.tv.
How to follow the Hilltoppers: For more information on WKU Baseball, follow the program via Twitter and Instagram at @WKUBaseball.
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