URBANA, Ill. – It was a good day for the Ohio State softball field at Eichelberger Field in Urbana, Ill. Just how good? How does 17 runs, 16 hits and just one run allowed in a doubleheader sweep sound? That’s what Ohio State produced on Friday as they followed up a 12-0 five-inning win and game one with a 5-1 victory in game two to improve to 20-17 on the season. Illinois is now 22-16.
The win in game was one was highlighted by an offensive onslaught that included 11 runs in the fourth inning, including a two-run home run by Sam Hackenbracht and RBI singles off the bats of Carley Gaskill, Taylor Pack and Avery Clark. The Buckeyes chased Illinois pitcher Sydney Sickles out of the game after 3.1 innings and six earned run allowed. She came into the contest with the fifth-best ERA in the Big Ten.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team wrapped up its four-game series versus Rutgers on Sunday by finishing Saturday’s suspended game, which turned out to a 13-5 six-inning Buckeye victory, before falling in the series finale, 6-5. Ohio State is 17-14 overall on the season and won three of four games this weekend against the Scarlet Knights (7-25).
The Short Story
Sunday’s action picked up in the bottom of the fifth inning on yesterday’s game that was suspended due to rain. When play resumed, the Buckeye bats struck for nine runs – including a back-breaking grand slam off the bat of Niki Carver – to register a 13-5 series-clinching win. In the second game, Rutgers scored once in the top of the seventh to take a 6-5 and held on for the victory.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team used a 17-hit attack, including some key at-bats in important spots from pinch hitters, and strong pitching from Allison Smith and Jessica Ross to take both games of Friday’s series-opening doubleheader from Rutgers at Buckeye Field.
The Buckeyes won the first game, 7-3, by scoring six times in the fourth and fifth innings before taking game two, 9-1, in five innings. Ohio State improves to 16-13 overall while Rutgers in 6-24.
Game One: Ohio State 7, Rutgers 3
Sam Hackenbracht went 3-for-3 at the plate with a two-run home run while Meggie Otte delivered two key late-game hits: a game-tying two-run home run in the fourth inning and a two-run single in the fifth inning as the Buckeyes broke open a close game to pull away for the 7-3 win.