By Chris Check
PBR Ohio Northwest Scout

LAGRANGE, OH - Buckeye travelled to #13 Keystone Tuesday to continue a longstanding rivalry and the second day of a back-to-back conference match-up. 

The story of the day was pitching.  Both pitching staffs were excellent through the first seven innings until a passed ball by Buckeye gave Keystone a 1-0 victory over Buckeye in the bottom of the eighth.

The pitching duel was a classic between Keystone’s senior RHP Colin Fitzgerald and Buckeye senior, Kent State commit, LHP Eli Kraus.  Fitzgerald, working around some early walks, held the Bucks at bay. 

In the third inning an error and Buckeyes first hit in the form of a single to left field by Otterbein recruit, senior shortstop Vinnie Galizio, presented a threat.  That threat was quickly squashed when a line drive to second base was turned into an inning ending double play.

The only other hit was an infield single by Galizio in the top of the fifth, as Fitzgerald battled Kraus through a scoreless seven innings.

Kraus was dominant striking fifteen Keystone hitters through seven innings giving up only two hits.  Senior Toledo commit Tyler Gullett (pictured) got both hits, driving a curveball to left in the first and a fastball to right in the sixth.  Kraus promptly retired the next batter each inning frustrating the Wildcat offense.

Keystone senior Marcus Gunter came in from center field in the eighth inning to retire the Buckeye order, despite allowing a walk and a hit batsman. 

Things unraveled quickly for Kraus in the bottom of the inning, after striking out the first two batters.  A single over the head of the second baseman by junior left fielder Denny Szalai and a single down the third base line by Fitzgerald led to a big showdown between Gullett and Kraus.  Gullet was intentionally walked after a wild pitch moved the runners up.  With Gunter at the plate a passed ball got far enough from the Buckeye catcher to allow the speedy Szalai to score the winning run from third. 

The win went to Gunter and the tough loss went to Kraus, who struck out 16 batters on the day.  The win continues the stellar season Keystone is having giving them a 20-4 record.

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