In the opener of a three-game series at Bill Davis Stadium, the Seattle University baseball team lost to Ohio State, 4-1, Friday evening.
Seattle U took the lead in the top of the first inning, as Marcelino Morales (Pasco, Wash.) led off with an infield single, followed by a single to left field by Trent Oleszczuk (Beaverton, Ore.). After Ryan Somers (Sammamish, Wash.) successfully executed a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, a groundout by Jace Sloan (Puyallup, Wash.) drove in Morales with the first run of the game.
The Redhawks had a couple of chances to put more runs on the board. In the second inning, Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.) singled, followed by a double down the left field line by Nick Latta (Tacoma, Wash.), but Roberts was thrown out at home attempting to score on the play. Seattle U also had runners caught stealing in the fourth and fifth innings and hit into a double play in the sixth inning.
Ohio State (29-21) pulled into a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the second inning when Mike Carroll drew a leadoff walk, stole second base, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored when Patrick Porter was caught attempting to steal second base. In the third inning, Kirby Pellant drew a leadoff walk, stole second base, advanced to third on an infield single from Tim Wetzel, and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field hit by Ryan Cypret to give the Buckeyes a 2-1 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Brad Hallberg doubled down the left field line and scored on a single to center field by Porter. Porter stole second base and came around to score on a single through the right side of the infield by David Corna, extending Ohio State's lead to three runs.
Seafth Howe (Seattle, Wash.) took the loss despite pitching Seattle U's first complete game of the season, allowing nine hits, two walks, and four runs in eight innings with three strikeouts. Ohio State starter Jaron Long scattered seven hits in seven innings on his way to his sixth victory of the season, while Andrew Armstrong struck out the side in the eighth inning and Josh Dezse retired the Redhawks in order in the ninth inning for his seventh save of the year.
Seattle University (21-23) continues the three-game series against Ohio State Saturday, May 12, starting at 3:05 p.m. local time (12:05 p.m. Pacific time).