Ohio State sophomore pitcher Connor Curlis delivers a pitch in the top of the second inning against North Carolina Greensboro on April 22 at Bill Davis Stadium. Credit: Edward Sutelan | Lantern reporter

The Ohio State baseball team opened its season by winning three of four games in Port Charlotte, Florida, as part of the Snowbird Classic. It won two games against UW-Milwaukee and split a two-game set with Canisius.

Senior Noah McGowan was particularly effective, beginning his season 8-14 with a pair of home runs and 13 RBIs in the four games.

Game 1: UW-Milwaukee

Ohio State first baseman Noah McGowan smacked a 2-1 pitch into left-center field for a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 7-7 tie. That proved to be the game-winning hit with Ohio State up for an eventual 11-7 comeback win over the Panthers Friday.

The Panthers leapt out to a 3-2 advantage off the back of a four-hit fourth inning, expanding that lead to 6-2 by the seventh inning.

The Buckeyes responded with a four-run seventh frame, including a three-run double by senior left fielder Tyler Cowles.

McGowan left his mark on the game at the dish, going 2-4 with six RBIs. Cowles went 3-5 with four RBIs.   

Ohio State junior Connor Curlis started and pitched five innings, surrendering three earned runs and striking out four batters. Senior reliever Seth Kinker picked up the win after working the seventh inning.

Game 2: Canisius

The Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) finished off a double-header with two wins after beating the Canisius Golden Griffins (0-1, 0-0 MAAC) 6-4 on Friday.

Ohio State junior starting pitcher Ryan Feltner delivered five innings with four earned runs and six strikeouts to grab his first win of the season. Relievers Griffan Smith, Kyle Michalik, and Kinker combined for four shutout innings from there. Kinker earned his first save of the season.

McGowan had another huge batting performance, going 2-5 with four RBIs that included a three-run home run.

Game 3: Canisius

The Buckeyes suffered their first loss Saturday in a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Golden Griffins.

Ohio State opened the scoring in the first inning, when McGowan continued his hot start to the season with a two-run home run.

Canisius gained the lead in the bottom of the third inning on RBI singles by Stephen Bennett and Joseph Preziuso. The effort was aided by a pair of errors from Pohl.

The Golden Griffins extended their lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning after an error by McGowan extended the inning to allow for an RBI triple by Canisius shortstop Conner Morro.

Ohio State redshirt senior starting pitcher Adam Niemeyer pitched five innings after getting the start, surrendering five runs — only one of them earned.

Game 4: UW-Milwaukee

Ohio State finished off the four-game trip with another win over UW-Milwaukee, this time by a tally of 13-3.

Redshirt senior Yianni Pavlopoulos got the start for the Buckeyes and picked up the win, allowing two earned runs in five innings of work.

Junior second baseman Brady Cherry finished 2-3 with three RBIs, while first baseman Bo Coolen was 2-4 with a pair of RBIs for the Buckeyes.