Despite rallies, IU drops 3 of 4 to OSU

The IU baseball team lost its third Big Ten series Sunday, dropping three of four games to the Ohio State Buckeyes after rallies came up short in the first and last games of the series.\nThe Hoosiers are now 14-23 on the season and 5-11 in Big Ten play.\nIn game one, IU senior starting pitcher Clint Crosier and OSU starter Dan DeLucia both threw shutout ball until Crosier allowed three runs on five hits in the sixth inning. Crosier allowed three consecutive singles before recording an out, then OSU designated hitter Adam Schneider hit a two-RBI double to knock in the second and third runs of the inning.\n"It was a well-played ball game; it came down to them getting a key hit," IU coach Tracy Smith said. "We didn't get the key hit and didn't make the plays. I'm proud of Clint, he kept us in there and gave us a chance to win."\nIU cut into the deficit with one run in the eighth, but OSU added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. \nTrailing 4-1, the Hoosiers rallied with two outs in the bottom of inning. After three straight singles, junior third baseman Steve Head and junior second baseman Keith Haas walked with the bases loaded to bring the Hoosiers within one. Senior first baseman Ryan Parker then flew out to right field on the first pitch from OSU reliever Rory Meister. \nCrosier (2-3) threw his first career complete game in the loss, allowing eight hits and four runs, three earned, striking out three and walking two. \n"It was one of those days where I felt like I could put it where I want it," Crosier said. "We just got beat in a good ball game."\nThe Hoosiers won their only game of the series in game two behind a strong pitching performance from senior starter Josh Lewis and the bat of junior first baseman Ben Greenspan.\nLewis (4-5) allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits in six innings of work for the win. Freshman Joe Vicini worked a scoreless seventh for his third save and a 5-3 IU victory. \nThe Hoosiers scored all five of their runs in the second inning, capped by Greenspan's first career home run, a three-run shot over the center field fence.\n"I thought I popped it up a little bit," Greenspan said of the home run. "I just lucked out and got it up in the wind."\nThe Buckeyes (24-12, 9-7 Big Ten) ran away with the third game, jumping on IU sophomore starting pitcher Chris McCombs (1-2) for seven runs, six earned in his 2 1/3 innings pitched. \nBuckeye starting pitcher Jake Hale held down the Hoosier bats, allowing three runs and five hits during six innings for the win. Greenspan collected two more RBIs in the game, breaking up the shut out with a double in the sixth. The Hoosiers lost 11-4.\nIU dug itself a hole early in game four, surrendering eight runs in the first four innings. Vicini took the loss, allowing seven runs, six earned, in 3 2/3 innings. \nThe Hoosiers rallied in the eighth, scoring six runs in the inning. IU scored five of the runs with two outs after an error by OSU third baseman Ronnie Bourquin. Sophomore pinch-hitter Jon Fixler capped the rally with a three-run double, but the IU was unable to do further damage, losing 8-6.\n"It's frustrating not to come up on top," Smith said. "I'd love to see us get over the hump and start winning some of these (close) games"