Softball
Wolverines Humble the Softball Buckeyes
By Kevin Schlosser(Columbus, Ohio) The Ohio State softball team lost 10-1 to fifth-ranked Michigan on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The game was delayed for more than an hour by bad weather. Then things started bad and got worse after the game was resumed. For the second-straight day the home run and errors undid the Buckeyes as the Wolverines used great pitching and an explosive offense to come out on top.
Michigan picked up where they left on in the last game and so did Ohio State. In the top of the first inning, the Wolverines scored two unearned runs off Kim Reeder as a result of two Buckeye errors. On Friday night Megan Miller was in the same situation. OSU went down in order to end the bottom of the first without a response.
The Wolverines continued to build their lead by adding a run in the second and two in the third. At the same time the Buckeyes first eight batters went down in order before Dee Dee Hillman bunted for an infield single with two outs in the third. Sam Marder walked in the next at bat and both were stranded when Brittany Goodchild grounded out to end the inning.
“We were behind in the count all day and they really attacked our mistakes,” offered OSU head coach Linda Kalafatis. “We had hoped to have a better start then what we did. It seems like Michigan will take advantage of any bases you give them.”
Ohio State was still in the game in the fourth inning before Michigan scored five runs to take a commanding lead. Kim Reeder gave up a lead off double, got the next batter out, and then walked the bases loaded. She was pulled for Megan Miller who gave up a grand slam to pinch hitter Marley Powers. The Wolverines went back to back in the next at bat as Angela Findlay hit the third Michigan home run of the game. The Buckeyes were able to end the inning without giving up another run but the damage had already been done.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth the Buckeyes broke a fourteen inning scoreless drought when Tory Haddad homered to left field. Michigan starter Jordan Taylor recovered to get the next two outs to end the inning. Megan Miller retired the Wolverines in order in the fifth.
Down to their last at bat, Liz Caputo hit a one-out single to give OSU their last base runner. Dee Dee Hillman would ground out and Sam Marder struck out to end the game.
“We are young, and we will take this as a learning opportunity. They are not the number five team in the country for no reason,” asserted Kalafatis.
“I think that is an excellent Michigan team and I certainly hope they represent the Big Ten as well as they have and go as far as they can.”
Michigan outscored Ohio State 18-1 in the two game sweep. The Buckeyes dropped to 26-19 overall 4-10 in the Big Ten while the Wolverines improved to 41-4 and 12-1 to lead the league. OSU has faced a number of good teams this season, but Michigan may be the best yet. When asked that question Kalafatis responded, “Yes, that’s easy.”
Kim Reeder (14-13) took the loss for Ohio State giving up eight runs before leaving the game in the fourth while Megan Miller gave up two runs in relief. Freshman Jordan Taylor (21-2) pitched a complete game for Michigan to earn the victory. Haddad’s fourth inning home run was Taylor’s first run allowed in eighteen innings.
“We need to work ahead in the count. I am not sure why, but we have broke down mechanically,” said Kalafatis. “Our pitchers are better than that and we will keep working until they get back in their groove. We need to help them out better defensively and obviously put more runs on the board.”
Forced to deal with another loss in the second game Kalafatis focused on the things that OSU could take from the series and their recent struggles.
“I think we are trying to take the opportunities to learn from other teams when we can and obviously trying to learn from the things that we can control. One thing that coach Viola mentioned at the end was that even when Michigan was up and seemingly had the game in hand at 10-0; they were still being pounded for getting the bunt down and to take a good hack,” concluded Kalafatis.
“Their expectations were very high and that is what we want to have and where we want to get to.”
“We have a lot of respect for Michigan; they are the most decorated team in the Big Ten. Hutch has been there a long time; there aren’t too many coaches better than Hutchins and there aren’t too many staffs better than hers,” commented Kalafatis after the game on Friday night.
Ohio State will return to action on Sunday with a doubleheader with Penn State. First pitch is slated for noon at Buckeye Field. Seniors Brittany Vanderink and Liz Caputo will be honored after the second game.
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