Baseball
Lions Sweep Doubleheader to Take Series Lead
By John Porentas

The Buckeyes won a laugher in the opener of the four-game series with Penn State, but it was a totally different story in Saturday's doubleheader. The Nittany Lions earned a sweep of OSU for a 2-1 series lead taking the first game 3-1, then turning around to defeat the Buckeyes in the nightcap by a final of 5-2.

In game one Penn State starter Mike Wanamaker went six inning and allowed just three hits. Right handed closer Drew O'Neil came on to pitch the sixth and final inning and allowed one hit before retiring the Buckeyes to seal the win. OSU managed just four hits after pounding out 18 safeties in the opener.

"We only got four hits in game one and it seemed like they were in four separate innings," said OSU Head Coach Bob Todd.

"This team is going to have to put three or four hits together (to win) and in the law of averages in baseball that's going to catch up with you.

Wanamaker and O'Neil were tough on the Buckeyes, but Todd said his batting order helped the Nittany Lion hurlers as well.

"I saw it as our guys not having good at bats," said Todd. "There were way too many times we swung at bad pitches early in the count. We weren't patient enough to make their pitcher throw strikes."

Senior Left Hander Dan DeLucia
Photo by Dan Harker

Senior left hander Dan DeLucia went four innings in game one and gave up one run on five hits. He was relieved by freshman Drew Rucinski who allowed two runs on eight hits in taking the loss. Though DeLucia was effective, he struggled at times. DeLucia is coming back after Tommy John surgery that kept him out of action most of last season. His start today was his first appearance in Bill Davis stadium since the May 19, 2006 against Penn State when he was the winning pitcher in OSU's 4-3 win that day.

"It's the first time he's thrown in cold weather (since the surgery) said Todd,"

"We were watching him real close. When he was warming up in the bullpen he told us some things didn't feel right. There was some concern from about the second inning on. Really he didn't have velocity and he did not have his good stuff. He was battling but I could see there was something wrong."

DeLucia said after the game that his problem was in his shoulder, not his elbow.

"I was just short-arming the ball," said DeLucia. "I've had a little bit of tendonitis in my rotator cuff. I wasn't getting out in front with my arm and kind of just short-arming it. That's why a lot of balls were up and away. Luckily my off-speed was decent," said DeLucia.

:DeLucia said he shoulder problem is not serious and actually not unexpected after his elbow surgery.

"They said it's common after having elbow surgery," he said. "Especially not doing any physical activity with my shoulder for a long time. They said it's normal."

In game two Mike Lorenston pitched five and one third innings for Penn State before giving way to Paul Hawkins. Lorenston scattered six OSU hits and was never in any real trouble in until the Buckeyes put two aboard with one out in the bottom of the fifth with Penn State leading 4-0. The Buckeyes were then able to string together three hits against Hawkins to plate two runs before he was relieved by O'Neil after an infield single by Tyler Engle loaded the bases with two outs. OSU left fielder Tony Kennedy took O'Neil to a 3-2 count before sending a bloop fly toward left field that looked like it might fall to drive in the tying runs, but Penn State left fielder Ryan Boonie made a diving catch to bail out the Lions.

"We got more hits in the second game but we didn't get them put together at the right time," said Todd. "When we got people in scoring position we couldn't come through with the big base hit."

OSU freshman pitcher Dean Wolosiansky got the start in game two and went five and a third innings. Wolosiansky allowed four runs on four hits gave way to fellow freshman Alex Wimmers in the sixth inning. Wimmers allowed three hits and one runs. Wolosiansky's undoing was a three-run Penn State sixth inning that was highlighted by a bases-loaded single to drive in two runs.

"I thought he pitched well for five innings," said Todd. "I think he got tired. He hung one curve ball and it really hurt him. He got up around 85 or 90 pitches and maybe we left him in one hitter too long but I felt like the way his ball was still moving he was one pitch away from getting out of that inning."

The Buckeyes will try to salvage a split in the series on Sunday when the two teams meet in the series finale at 1:00 PM. J. B. Shuck is the expected starter for OSU.

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