Softball
Buckeyes and Nittany Lions Play Eighteen to Split Doubleheader
By Kevin Schlosser(Columbus, Ohio) The Ohio State softball team hosted Penn State on Sunday afternoon for a doubleheader. The Nittany Lions won 3-2 in eleven innings in the opener. The Buckeyes came back with two runs in the seventh to win 4-3 in the second game. With the split OSU moves to 27-20 overall and 5-11 in the Big Ten while PSU leaves at 31-16 and 5-7 in the conference.
“Today I thought we had all three elements,” assertedOSU head coach Linda Kalafatis. “We battled really well in our at bats. Our pitchers stepped up and threw great. I am really proud of effort and heart.”
Penn State 3 - Ohio State 2 (game one)
The Buckeyes jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning and starter Kim Reeder held the lead through the sixth inning when Penn State used two hits to even the score. Ohio State stranded two runners in the sixth and seventh to push the game into extra innings.
Both teams had their opportunities as OSU left runners on in the eighth and ninth while PSU stranded a runner in the ninth and tenth innings. The Nittany Lions lead of the eleventh with an infield single and took the lead with a two-run home run two batters later. Trailing 3-1 Sam Marder hit a one-out solo home run to center field but the last two Buckeyes went down to give Penn State the 3-2 victory.
“(Kim) Reeder threw her heart out,” commented Kalafatis. “I let Sam (Marder) call both games; I thought she and Kim had a good feel for what they needed to do. That kid just got a hold of what looked like a pretty decent pitch and got enough of it.”
Reeder (14-14) took the loss for Ohio State despite a solid performance. In eleven innings of work she threw 190 pitches, pitched nine scoreless innings and recorded twelve strikeouts.
“I thought Kim changed speeds well and hit our locations well. We did not do that very well at all in the Michigan series and that was definitely a key,” continued Kalafatis. “When you do that you give yourself a chance and that was what happened today.”
After committing fiver errors in ten innings against the Wolverines the Buckeyes were perfect in the field against the Nittany Lions in eleven innings. Every OSU starter got on base as OSU had eight and Dee Dee Hillman was hit by a pitch in the third. Hillman scored the first run of the game on an RBI single by Brittany Vanderink.
Ohio State 4 Penn State 3 (Game 2)
The Nittany Lions took an early lead with a solo home run in the top of the first. The Buckeyes came back to score two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning with two outs as the visitors committed two errors to help keep the inning alive.
Penn State got back both of their runs in the top of the second with RBI singles before senior Liz Caputo threw out the second runner at plate trying to score.
Both teams left runners on base to end the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
Buckeye starter Megan Miller got stronger as the game went on. Miller retired the last seven batters of the game to keep OSU in the game with the team perfect in the field behind her.
“(Miller) went through a little period where she got down in the count but we fought threw it today,” offered Kalafatis. “As long as they keep learning and working I think good things are in store for these guys.”
Caputo led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to the left field wall. Dee Dee Hillman sacrificed her to third. An intentional walk to Sam Marder and a pinch hit walk to Karisa Medrano on a full count loaded the bases for OSU.
Brittany Vanderink flied out to shallow center to freeze the runners but Tory Haddad followed up with a full count walk to push the tying run across the plate. Rachel Shepherd ended the game by driving a 2-2 pitch off the center field wall for the game winning RBI.
“In the past we would have let those early deficits affect us, but today we decided to just forget about it and continued to play hard like we did early on this season,” stated Kalafatis. “We came out and said we were going to fight both games; that was going to be our mentality.”
“We fought to the end; it started in the first inning and there was no let ups,” said Vanderink after the game. “It is a very satisfying feeling to know we came with in both games and gave it our all.”
Miller (7-4) went the distance to pick up the win. In seven innings she gave up one earned run to pitch her fifth complete-game this season. Both Rachel Shepherd and Whitney Cooper went 2-3 with RBI singles to lead the offense.
Senior Day at Ohio State:
The Buckeyes recognized their two seniors after the second game of the doubleheader; Brittany Vanderink and Liz Caputo. In what is the last home Big Ten game of their careers each had a role in helping Ohio State win the second game.
“I though our seniors had a little extra determination,” stated OSU head coach Linda Kalafatis. “Vanderink was excellent in the dugout keeping the team focused; Caputo came up with a big hit. They both gave us a lift.”
“To get a win on senior day is awesome,” said Liz Caputo after the second game. “I think everyone came together and we pulled it out.”
Asked for their feelings on the Buckeye experience, both seniors offered their thoughts.
“Playing here for four years I learned so much and I am just so honored to wear Ohio State on my chest each day,” asserted Vanderink. “To come back and help the next class and to be a part of the coaching staff, is another stepping stone in what I have accomplished here.”
Through four seasons their teams have combined for 138 wins including the come from behind win against Penn State.
“It is the best feeling in the world. I am graduating in June and returning to California. It has been a great four years and I am going to miss it and miss these girls,” responded Caputo. “This has been the best experience of my life.”
Completing the Schedule:
The Buckeyes completed their regular season Big Ten home schedule this weekend against Michigan and Penn State. They will host a doubleheader with Ball State this Wednesday and make a four-game trip to Wisconsin and Minnesota next weekend. Ohio State concludes their regular season schedule by hosting a doubleheader with Ohio University on April 30.
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