A timely comeback
The Buckeyes entered the Big Ten Tournament after a bruising opening loss to Washington, forcing them into the loser’s bracket. Rather than folding, the team rallied, setting the stage for a dramatic turnaround.
In their second matchup, Ohio State edged Rutgers 3-2 in a game that swung back and forth. Henry Kaczmar ignited the offense with a solo home run in the fourth inning, giving the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead, but Rutgers answered with two runs in the sixth to go up 2-1.
The tide turned in the bottom of the sixth when Noah Furcht delivered an RBI single that tied the contest, and an eighth‑inning RBI double by Dane Harvey put Ohio State back on top. The timely hits capped a resilient offensive effort.
Pierce Herrenbruck anchored the victory with a complete game, throwing 98 pitches and limiting Rutgers to six hits and a single earned run. His stamina and control kept the Buckeyes in contention deep into the night.
The win advances Ohio State to face the loser of the Michigan versus Washington game, with the next contest slated for 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, pending the outcome of that earlier matchup.