Softball
Ohio State Softball Sweeps Ball State
Buckeye Pitchers Shutdown Cardinals
By Kevin Schlosser(Columbus, Ohio) Ball State came to Columbus for a Wednesday doubleheader at Buckeye Field and left their bats in Muncie, Indiana. Kim Reeder held the Cardinals to one run in seven innings as the Buckeyes came back to win 2-1 in the first game before Megan Miller pitched a complete game shut out for the 7-0 Ohio State win in the night cap.
“It starts on the mound; when we are good on the mound all of sudden are defense is better, we are playing with more confidence and we are able to hit the ball,” said OSU head coach Linda Kalafatis.
“Reeder and Miller have picked it up in the last two series and we hope to continue the trend the rest of the way.”
The sweep was only the third time this season that the Buckeyes have swept a two-game series from their opponent. After a win against Penn State on Sunday, Ohio State has now won three in a row at home for the second time this year. With the pair of victories on Wednesday night, OSU improved to 29-20 while BSU fell to 31-27.
“The big win against Penn State did it for us and we started hitting like we can; it boosted everything we have,” asserted sophomore Megan Miller. “(The sweep) gives us a lot of momentum going into next weekend.”
Ohio State will leave on Thursday for their most important road trip of the season with two games in Wisconsin on Friday and Saturday and a doubleheader on Sunday against Minnesota. Currently in ninth place in the conference standings, the Buckeyes will need to move up to eight to qualify for the final spot in the Big Ten Tournament. OSU ends their regular season by hosting a doubleheader against Ohio University next Wednesday.
Ohio State 2 Ball State 1 (Game One)
The Buckeyes shut down the Cardinals for the two innings before taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs Rebecca Schultz got on base by error and shortstop Whitney Cooper made them pay with a RBI double to centerfield. Starter Kim Reeder was steady on the mound holding Ball State scoreless through four innings.
After three OSU errors in the first five innings Ohio State paid the price as Ball State was able to tie the score in the fifth inning. Kamiliah Holle led off the inning with a double and she scored on a two-out throwing error by shortstop Whitney Cooper. Reeder bounced back to get the last batter to ground out to end the inning.
With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth the Buckeyes rallied to retake the lead. Catcher Sam Marder got things started with a single; pinch runner Kady Caughenbaugh moved to second on a Brittany Goodchild ground out and scored on a RBI double by Brittany Vanderink. OSU would leave the bases loaded, but more importantly they left with a 2-1 lead.
Kim Reeder came back in to put the Cardinals away by retiring the last six batters she faced and striking out the side in the seventh. In going the distance for the victory and her twentieth complete game this season, Reeder (15-14) pitched seven strong innings giving up one unearned run, three hits, and a single walk.
“You have to do things right to win,” commented Kalafatis. “You have to go up there with a clear mind and you have to have self confidence. In this game you can’t get yourself out. You have to be willing to fight and fight harder. It has been a little bit of toughness and a little bit of the maturing process.”
Ohio State 7 Ball State 0 (Game Two)
Buckeye pitcher Megan Miller picked up where Kim Reeder left off in game one, holding the Cardinals scoreless through seven innings for the complete game shutout. While it would take three innings for the Buckeyes to take the lead, all they needed for the victory was Brittany Goodchild to drive in Rebecca Schultz with a one-out RBI double.
In the circle Megan Miller remained in control for the rest of the game as the OSU offense kept building their lead by adding four runs in the fourth and single runs in the fifth and six innings.
Pitching her fifth complete game this season, Megan Miller (8-4) earned the victory for Ohio State. In what may have been her best performance in a Buckeye uniform to date; Miller went seven strong innings; striking out four while giving up no walks and only three hits. Leading the OSU offense in game two was Sam Marder with a two-run double and Liz Caputo who went 2-2, Rebecca Schultz also scored twice for the Buckeyes.
“The shutout belongs to the defense; I just made the pitches,” said Miller. “Rachael Shepherd at shortstop (after not practicing there) and came out of nowhere to make great plays; Dee Dee (Hillman) at second save me a couple of times as well.”
After getting outscored 18-1 in the two-game series with Michigan series, the OSU pitchers and catchers had a long meeting with assistant coach Erica Beach and that has made a difference for both Kim Reeder and Megan Miller.
“Talking to coach Beach after the Michigan outing we tried to start working on getting ahead of the batters. She wanted to light a fire on us; she told us everything starts in the circle so we have to pick up our intensity there,” offered Miller. “We need to get ahead and not walk batters or let errors affect us mentally.”
Megan Miller also gave credit to her catcher Sam Marder. Prior to coming to OSU, Miller and Marder were travel ball teammates so they are quite familiar with each other.
“I mixed a lot of pitches and just wanted to hit all of my spots. I didn’t walk anyone so that was big,” continued Miller. “Sam (Marder) was calling behind the plate and she knows me pretty well. It is amazing coming here when you know the catcher, who knows you, knows your pitches and knows what working and what doesn’t work; you could not ask for anything better.”
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