Bumped from the FanPosts. Yours truly has no more than a passing interest in baseball, or anything besides football and basketball really, so any help in covering other sports is always appreciated. Be the change you wish to see in the blog.

-Sean

Big 10 Baseball Tournament
Ohio State vs Illinois
12:05 5/21
@Michigan's Ray Fisher Stadium in the Wilpon Complex

Background:
OSU is the 5 seed in the tournament.   In order to qualify for the NCAA tournament, they have to win the Big10 Tourney.  Their first opponent is Illinois who the Buckeyes took 2 of 3 from during the regular season.

Preview:

This match up brings us the epitome of offense versus pitching.  Ohio State, like last year, has the best overall depth at pitching in the tournament.  It will be interesting to see how they set up their rotation.  Jake Hale appears to be their Game 1 starter for the tournament.  The top two pitchers outside of Hale down the stretch, J.B. Shuck and Dean Wolosiansky both started on Saturday, meaning Wednesday would be short rest of both.  Hale has struggled down the stretch, including a game against current foe Illinois two weeks ago.  Against Illinois, he went 5.2 innings giving up 7 runs, 3 earned on 9 hits, 3 walks, and 2 strike outs.  Over the whole season, Hale owns a 5-3 record over 70 innings pitched, and a 4.50 ERA.  Ohio State’s bullpen is also strong.  They have two long relievers available in Armstrong and Edgin.  Both have seen several starts over the season, primarily on weeknights.  Best is one of the top relievers this year with 8 saves.  He has been very consistent over the last few appearances, allowing just one run in his last 9.2 innings pitched. 

The Buckeye offense has struggled at time this year.  Ohio State ranked 5th in the Big Ten this year in runs scored.  First basemen Justin Miller has lead the attack for most of the season.  His .405 batting average leads the team, as well as his 61 RBIs.  J.B. Shuck has been a force to reckon with not just on the mound this season but also on offense.  Shuck is currently batting .371 and has 22 stolen bases.  Buckeye coach Bob Todd has kept Shuck out of the lineup on days when he has pitched during the season, which may happen in the tournament as well. 

Illinois on the other hand is all about the offense.  The Illini hold the top league batting season batting average at .338 as a team.  Leadoff hitter and centerfielder Kyle Hudson leads the team with a .411 batting average and .511 on base percentage.  Hudson is also second in the Big Ten with 39 steals in 48 attempts.  Shortstop Brandon Wikoff (.381 BA) is the primary RBI producer on the team with 59 on the season.   Daniel Webb (.387 BA) hitting in the fifth position in the line up and playing right field is second on the team with 45 RBIs. 

Illinois explosive lineup has carried them much farther than their pitching has this season.  During conference play this season, the Illini ranked 8th out of 10 Big Ten team in earned run average (6.46).  Kevin Manson heads the rotation up and is expected to start in Game 1.  He is 7-2 on the year in 10 starts.  In 65.2 innings, Manson has accumulated a 6.17 ERA and a .319 opponent batting average.  If he gets in trouble early, watch for relief pitcher Mike Sterk to enter the game.  Sterk closed out many of Manson’s starts this season already.  Sterk owns a 4.05 ERA, which is the best on the team with at least one full inning pitched.  He also has three saves on the season.  Sterk is not the primary closer, however, as that job has been delegated to Ben Reeser.  Reeser has 5 saves on the season and has the next best ERA on the team after Sterk with 4.24.  Both relief pitchers have an appearance against Ohio State this season.  Sterk went three innings allowing two runs to close out a Manson victory.  Reeser was less fortunate lasting .2 innings allowing 5 runs, 4 earned on 3 hits and 2 walks. 

Ohio State may have the depth in the pitching department, but Illinois’s Manson has been better down the stretch.  My prediction is Illinois’s offense will be too much for Hale to handle.  Illinois jumps out to an early lead and holds off a late Buckeye comeback.  Illinois 8, Ohio State 5.

Players to Watch:

Ohio State:
Zach Hurley RF– 3/3, 2B, 1 R against Manson this season
Eric Best RP– 2 appearances for 3 innings, 3 hits, 2 BB, 1 K vs. Illinois this season
Justin Miller 1B- .467 BA, 3 R, 9 RBI vs. Illinois this season in 3 games 

Illinois:
Kevin Manson SP - 6 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned, 1 K, 0 BB vs. OSUKyle Hudson CF – 2/3 and 2 runs vs. Hale
Craig Lutes OF- .500 BA, 3 runs, and 1 RBI against OSU this season