Rutgers Baseball Falls to Ohio State, Eliminated from Big Ten Tournament

Rutgers Baseball lost to Ohio State 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon, eliminating them from the Big Ten Tournament and effectively ending their season. The Scarlet Knights, unable to come away with a win in Omaha, finished the season with a 26-30 record, and look ahead to an important and busy offseason.

The game started out in a pitching duel, and the Buckeyes really went the distance. Ohio State starter Pierce Herrenbruck had himself a complete game while allowing 6 hits, 1 earned run, walked 4 batters and struck out 3 all on 99 pitches. Zack Konstantinovsky had gotten through 5.1 innings pitched, giving up 3 hits, 2 earned runs, and struck out 6 batters. Joe Mazza came in relief and gave up 5 hits and the go ahead run in the bottom of the 8th inning in addition to striking out 3 batters.

The scoring started in the 4th inning, as Ohio State SS Henry Kaczmar hit a solo home run over the right field wall to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead. The Scarlet Knights relied heavily on a bit of luck, especially in that 6th inning. Rutgers had scored both of their 2 runs due to Ohio State 2B Lee Ellis committing a fielding error, and 1B Dane Harvey overthrowing Herrenbruck covering the bag.

That would give Rutgers the 2-1 lead, before RF Noah Furcht tied up the game in the bottom half of the 6th inning. Dane Harvey would later answer back in the bottom of the 8th, knocking in an RBI Double to give the Buckeyes the lead 3-2.

In the top 9th with 2 runners on and 2 outs, it was the last chance for Rutgers. Joey Erace pinch hit with the season on the line and grounded to short to end the game, and the season for the Scarlet Knights.

With a large number of seniors on the roster, and top players expecting to declare for the MLB Draft, Head Coach Steve Owens and company will look ahead to a busy offseason in preparation for the 2027 campaign.