Softball
Buckeye Softball Team Splits Four Game Road Trip
OSU takes first game at Wisconsin and the second game at Minnesota
By Kevin SchlosserThe Ohio State softball team concluded its Big Ten regular-season with a four-game road trip to Wisconsin and Minnesota. The series-opener at Wisconsin was rained out on Friday so the game was rescheduled as part of a Saturday twin-bill. With back-to-back doubleheaders, OSU rallied in their last at bat to win the first and last games of the trip.
The Buckeyes won their fourth game in a row when they beat the Badgers 6-3 in game one on Saturday but had to settle for the split when Wisconsin came back to take game two 4-3. On Sunday in Minnesota the Golden Gophers won the first game 2-1 and Ohio State responded by winning the second 5-4 to force the split.
Ohio State moved to 31-22 overall and 7-13 in the Big Ten. The top eight teams in the conference qualify for the 2008 Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes are currently in ninth place and will be watching the scores from around the Big Ten to see if they will continue playing. OSU will conclude their regular season schedule by hosting a doubleheader against Ohio University on Wednesday.
To qualify for the 2008 Big Ten Tournament, Ohio State needs Michigan to sweep Penn State next weekend. If that were to occur the Buckeyes would earn the bid based on a higher winning percentage than the Nittany Lions. Michigan is tied with Northwestern at 16-2 to lead the league. The regular-season champion hosts the Big Ten Tournament.
Ohio State 6 , Wisconsin 3 (Game One: Sat)
Torry Haddad
Photo by Kevin SchlosserPitcher Kim Reeder got OSU off to a good start facing nine batters through the first three innings as the Buckeyes stranded two runners of their own. Ohio State looked to get something in the top of the fourth with one out but the last two batters grounded out. Wisconsin led off the bottom of the inning with a home run to take a 1-0 lead.
The Badgers added two more runs in the sixth to build their lead to put the Buckeyes in a do or die situation in the top of seventh. Ohio State responded by batting around to score six runs on single RBI’s by Sam Marder, Leah Ledford, Rachael Shepherd, and a bases loaded triple by Tory Haddad. Wisconsin loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with one out before Reeder ended the game with a strike out and a ground out to first.
Reeder (16-14) pitched her twenty-first complete game for the OSU victory. Rachael Shepherd went 2-3 to lead the Buckeyes’ offense and set up Tory Haddad’s game-winning hit. The win was thirtieth this season for the team and the fifth straight year they had at least thirty wins.
Wisconsin 4, Ohio State 3 (Game Two: Sat)
The Buckeyes wasted little time in jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a bases loaded walk to Karisa Medrano but left three runners stranded to squander a big-inning opporutnity. Starter Megan Miller loaded the bases in each of the first three innings but navigated the threats and did not give up a run. The offense never materialized over the next four innings as OSU stranded three runners.
Dee Dee Hillman
Photo by Kevin SchlosserKim Reeder came in to relieve Miller with one out and a runner on third in the bottom of the fifth. She got the next out but gave up the tying run. Reeder then walked the bases loaded and got the last out to ground out to second. OSU went down in order in the sixth and Reeder shut down the Badgers in the bottom of the inning.
The Buckeyes came back with two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 3-1 lead on RBI singles by Dee Dee Hillman and Brittany Vanderink. The Badgers tied the score with a one-out two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh. Reeder walked the next batter and give up a double before Theresa Boruta singled in the game winning run.
“I thought we showed a lot of heart to be able to rally in our last at bat of both games,” stated OSU head coach Linda Kalafatis.
“In the second game, it apparently wasn’t enough. I wish we would have gotten to work earlier on offense.”
After pitching her best game of the season on Wednesday against Ball State, Megan Miller labored through four plus innings. Facing twenty-three batters, she was only charged with one earned run. Kim Reeder (16-15) took the loss in relief as she gave up three earned runs over the last three innings. Sam Marder and Brittany Vanderink each had two hits to pace the offense along with Dee Dee Hillman’s two runs.
Minnesota 2, Ohio State 1 (Game One: Sun)
Brittany Vanderlink
Photo by Kevin SchlosserThe Buckeyes got off to a good start against the Gophers in the opener as they loaded the bases with one out. Karisa Medrano drove in the first run of the game on a fielder’s choice to second base. They left two runners on base when Brittany Vanderink struck out to end the inning.
Minnesota came back to take the lead in the top of the first when Megan Miller gave up a one-out two-run home run to Malisa Barnes. Miller regained here composure to hold the Golden Gophers scoreless the next five innings but Briana Hassett held the Buckeyes scoreless over the next six to earn the 2-1 complete game victory.
Both teams had opportunities to score as Ohio State left the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings while Minnesota left them full in the fifth. Brittany Vanderink was stranded twice after singling in the first and seventh for the only two OSU hits of the game. The Buckeyes combined for eight walks to account for their nine runners left on base. Megan Miller (8-5) pitched a six inning complete game in defeat.
Ohio State 5 vs. Minnesota 4: (Game Two: Sun)
Kim Reeder
Photo by Kevin SchlosserThe Golden Gophers hit OSU pitcher Kim Reeder early to score three runs in the first two innings. The Buckeyes responded with runs in the second and third on sacrifice flies by Rachael Shepherd and Tory Haddad. Reeder settled down to hold Minnesota scoreless through the fifth as the home team maintained their 3-2 lead.
Ohio State tied the score in the sixth as reliever Briana Hassett walked the bases loaded and walked in the tying run. The Gophers retook the lead with a RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning. Trailing 4-3 in the top of the seventh the Buckeyes loaded the bases for Sam Marder who hit a two-run single to give OSU a one run lead.
Reeder (17-15) retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to earn the victory. Dee Dee Hillman and Whitney Cooper each had two hits to lead the Buckeyes at the plate; Cooper and Rachael Shepherd each scored two runs. The win was the eleventh come from behind victory for OSU this year.
“This was the third game this weekend we have scored runs in the seventh inning to overcome a deficit,” summarized Linda Kalafatis after the game.
“Obviously Sam Marder having an opportunity at end to make a difference was key and she came though as she has done all season. But even before that we had some hitters, especially Rebecca Schultz, Whitney Cooper and Rachael Shepherd, who may not have had great days but hit their hardiest balls in that last inning to put us in a position to win.”
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