United Group Insurance

Dawson goes deep in 10th to lead Buckeyes past Spartans 3-2

Sports

May 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Ronnie Dawson homered leading off the top of the 10th inning Saturday night to send Ohio State to a 3-2 win over Michigan State that keeps the Buckeyes alive in the Big Ten tournament. The Buckeyes (41-18-1) and Spartans (36-19) will meet again this (Sunday) morning, with the winner advancing to the championship game against bottom seed Iowa.

Michigan State had a runner on second base with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Marty Bechina got caught in a rundown on Kory Young’s grounder, and Young was thrown out trying to go from first to second on the play. Dawson sent Walter Borkovich’s second pitch of the 10th into the right-field seats for his 13th homer of the season, pumping his fist as he rounded first.

Seth Kinker (6-1) pitched two innings of scoreless relief before turning the game over to closer Yianni Pavlopoulos, who earned his 14th save. Borkovich (4-3) took the loss.