Ohio State Falls to Baylor in Hard-Fought 8-6 Battle at the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series

The Ohio State Buckeyes continued their early-season struggles in a hard-fought battle against the Baylor Bears at Globe Life Field, falling 8-6 on Saturday in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series. Despite a late-game push fueled by home runs from Tyler Pettorini and Nick Giamarusti, the Buckeyes were unable to close the gap after Baylor’s dominant eighth-inning surge. The loss drops Ohio State to 1-7 on the season, while Baylor improves to 8-2.

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A Game Defined by Momentum Shifts

Ohio State entered the matchup searching for stability after a tough start to the season, while Baylor, coming off a loss to No. 9 Oregon State, aimed to bounce back. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with each team exchanging blows and key moments defining the contest. The Buckeyes managed to erase an early deficit and tie the game in the eighth inning, only for Baylor to reclaim control with a decisive four-run outburst.

Early Innings: Baylor Strikes First

The game began with a promising start for the Buckeyes as Trey Lipsey led off with a single in the top of the first inning. However, Baylor’s starter, Bryson Bales, quickly settled in, retiring the next three batters and keeping Ohio State from gaining any early momentum.

Ohio State’s starting pitcher, Chase Herrell, matched Bales in the bottom of the inning, delivering a solid performance with two strikeouts as Baylor went down in order. Both pitchers kept the game scoreless through three innings, with neither offense finding a breakthrough.

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That changed in the bottom of the fourth when Baylor’s Hunter Simmons capitalized on an Ohio State defensive lapse. After a throwing error allowed Wesley Jordan to reach base and advance to second, Simmons launched a two-run home run over the right-center field fence, putting the Bears ahead 2-0.

Ohio State had an opportunity to respond in the top of the fifth. Reggie Bussey opened the inning with a 362-foot double to left field, and a sacrifice bunt from Giamarusti advanced him to third. The Buckeyes then got on the board when Maddix Simpson reached base on an error, allowing Bussey to score and cut Baylor’s lead to 2-1.

Baylor wasted no time in extending its lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Jack Little stepped up to the plate and drilled another two-run homer, scoring Tyriq Kemp and putting the Bears ahead 4-1.

Midgame Efforts: Ohio State Claws Back

Despite falling behind, Ohio State continued to battle. In the top of the sixth, Pettorini reached base on an error, advanced to second on a groundout, and took third on a wild pitch. Marc Stephens then delivered a clutch single up the middle, bringing Pettorini home and cutting the deficit to 4-2.

Herrell exited the game after five innings, throwing 87 pitches while allowing four runs on four hits and striking out four. Hunter Shaw took over in the sixth and managed to keep Baylor off the scoreboard, giving the Buckeyes a chance to rally.

Ohio State struggled to generate offense in the seventh, with Baylor’s relief pitcher Lucas Davenport shutting down the Buckeyes in order. Shaw, in turn, delivered a strong performance in the bottom half, keeping the score at 4-2 heading into the eighth.

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Late-Inning Drama: Ohio State Ties It, But Baylor Responds

The Buckeyes finally found their big moment in the top of the eighth. Lee Ellis drew a leadoff walk and immediately stole second, setting the stage for Pettorini. The Ohio State third baseman came through in a major way, crushing a 416-foot home run to right field, tying the game at 4-4.

With the momentum swinging in Ohio State’s favor, they had a chance to take the lead. However, Mason Eckelman was picked off at first base to end the inning, keeping the game tied heading into the bottom of the eighth.

Baylor quickly swung the game back in their favor. Shaw started the inning with a strikeout but followed with back-to-back walks, forcing Ohio State to make a pitching change. Douglas Bauer came in to try and limit the damage, but Baylor’s Hunter Teplanszky delivered a crushing blow, doubling to left center and driving in two runs to put Baylor back in front, 6-4.

The Bears weren’t finished. JJ Kennett followed with an RBI single, scoring Teplanszky, and Kemp added another RBI hit to bring home Kennett. Just like that, Baylor had erupted for four runs, reclaiming control with an 8-4 lead.

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Final Push Falls Short

Down four runs in the ninth, Ohio State refused to go down quietly. Bussey led off with a walk, setting the stage for Giamarusti. The Buckeyes' first baseman made an immediate impact, crushing a towering 430-foot home run into the bullpen in left-center field. The blast cut the deficit to 8-6 and reignited Ohio State’s hopes.

With only one out, Lipsey reached base after being hit by a pitch, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. However, Baylor’s bullpen responded under pressure, retiring the next two batters to secure the victory and shut the door on Ohio State’s comeback attempt.

By the Numbers

• Tyler Pettorini led Ohio State’s offense with two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored, including the game-tying home run in the eighth inning.
• Nick Giamarusti finished with two RBIs and one hit, highlighted by his ninth-inning two-run homer.
• Chase Herrell turned in a five-inning outing, allowing four runs on four hits with four strikeouts.
• Hunter Shaw (1-2) took the loss, giving up two runs in 2.1 innings of relief

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What’s Next for Ohio State?

The Buckeyes will look to rebound as they conclude their participation in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series with a matchup against No. 9 Oregon State on Sunday, March 2, at 11:00 a.m. CT/12:00 p.m. ET. With the season still in its early stages, Ohio State will need to find consistency in their pitching staff and capitalize on their offensive potential to turn things around.

Final Thoughts

While Ohio State showed resilience and the ability to generate late-game offense, their inability to contain Baylor in the eighth inning proved costly. The Buckeyes must tighten up their bullpen and minimize defensive lapses if they hope to compete at a higher level moving forward. If they can continue to build off their offensive momentum and make adjustments, there is still time for a turnaround this season.

For now, Ohio State remains a team searching for answers as they prepare for a daunting challenge against Oregon State.