Ohio State coach Greg Beals stressed several times that a victory over fourth-ranked Louisville would not put his team on a gilded throne and wearing a crown in the world of Division I college baseball.
Beals explained that a victory is worth only .7 of a point in the ratings percentage index that can go a long way in determining a team’s seeding for the NCAA tournament or even if it gets into the big postseason show.
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But the Buckeyes’ razor sharp 2-0 victory over the Cardinals last night before 1,384 at Bill Davis Stadium should be worth a lot of style points when the tournament committee selects the field.
“I want to take caution – it is one game,’’ Beals said.
Minutes later, he said of rankings, RPI and all the other factors that go into a resume, “But I’m the son of an accountant.’’
Ohio State (24-9) rebounded nicely from losing two of three games to Nevada-Las Vegas during the weekend with a performance that could be used as a training video for youngsters.
Redshirt freshman right-hander Adam Niemeyer was stunning in giving up two hits and one walk and striking out three in five innings and four relievers combined to keep Louisville in check. Trace Dempsey worked the ninth to get his fifth save of the season.
The Buckeyes scored in the third inning on a single to center by Troy Montgomery and a throwing error by starter Anthony Kidston on a sacrifice bunt by Connor Sabanosh.
The tone was set in the second inning when, with one out, third baseman Nick Sergakis of Columbus Academy dove to his right to spear a shot by Will Smith and threw on one knee to first base for the out.
“They call it the hot corner for a reason,’’ said Sergakis, who also made a slick play on a grounder in the third.
Sergakis said the Buckeyes have had great admiration for a Louisville program that “for the last 15 years has been at the top of Midwest baseball.’’
“When the schedule came out, we had this game circled,’’ he said. “We want to be the top team of the Midwest. We knew that if we could play our baseball that we could win.’’
The Buckeyes laid down four bunts – two for hits and two for sacrifices – and executed a perfect hit-and-run with L Grant Davis in the third inning.
The defense was much more than Sergakis’ play that Beals predicted would be on ESPN’s SportsCenter. Davis ranged up the middle to glove a ground ball and start a double play in the third and ran far to his left to snare a ground ball that resulted in an out in the sixth.
“Definitely, defense and pitching – the little things – we were just on top of things today,’’ Sergakis said.
Niemeyer didn’t learn that he would start until he got a text message from Beals while lifting weights after a 7-4 loss to UNLV on Sunday. He has been brought back cautiously after having elbow reconstruction surgery.
“He said, ‘Hell, yeah,’’’ Beals said. “That was his text message back.’’
Niemeyer confessed to being nervous in the hours leading to the first pitch. He had thrown only 10 innings in seven appearances as a reliever and didn’t have time to think about pitching.
“Once I got to the field with the guys it was just another game,’’ he said. “I settled down. I was just getting ahead of them early in the count. I probably could have kept going. I trusted the coaches. I have faith in the bullpen.’’
For a pitcher, Tommy John surgery can be like returning from a serious illness. Niemeyer treated batting practice in the cages during the off-season as if they were games.
“It has been a long process,’’ he said. “I knew I was in good hands (with the trainers and coaches). I knew I had something to prove. I knew working in the cages was a big opportunity.’’
Sergakis said teammates knew Niemeyer was the real deal before the season opener.
“He is here for a reason,’’ he said.
Next up for the Buckeyes is a critical three-game series at Nebraska. In 2014, they dropped three one-run games to the Cornhuskers in Lincoln.
Beals said the victory over Louisville was a jump start after the disappointment against UNLV.
“We let one slip on the weekend – we lost a home series – and today was an opportunity to bounce back,’’ Beals said. “To get this win to roll into Nebraska is very, very important.’’
In the next room, the players were still celebrating.
“It sounds like they have a lot of juice in them,’’ Beals said.
mznidar@dispatch.com
@MarkZnidar
