Homestand Begins Tuesday vs. Youngstown State
4/17/2023 12:57:38 PM | Softball
2023 Roster // 2023 Schedule // Follow on Twitter // Follow on Facebook // Season Stats
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State plays its final midweek non-conference game tomorrow, as the Buckeyes welcome Youngstown State to Columbus for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
Admission and parking at Buckeye Field are both free. The game will be streamed live on BTN+ and live stats will be available on the schedule page of OhioStateBuckeyes.com.
The Basics
Youngstown State at Ohio State // Tuesday, April 18 // 6 p.m. // Buckeye Field; Columbus, Ohio
Watch Live: BTN+ // Live Stats // Twitter Updates
Ohio State Stats // Ohio State Schedule/Results // Ohio State Roster
Youngstown State Stats // Youngstown State Schedule/Results // Youngstown State Roster
Briefly on the Buckeyes
- Ohio State enters play this week having won six of its last seven games and with an overall record of 27-14.
- With wins in two of three games last weekend at Illinois, Ohio State is 8-6 in Big Ten play.
- The Buckeyes continue to possess one of the conference’s best offenses. Last week, they scored 42 runs in five games (8.4 runs/game), hit 11 home runs and had a team slugging percentage of .610.
- Sophomore Melina Wilkison leads the way statistically with a .406 batting average, 40 RBI, 41 runs scored and a .797 slugging percentage.
- She ranks fourth in the Big Ten in batting, second in slugging percentage, sixth in runs batted in and third in OPS (1.262).
- Five other everyday starters are batting over .300: Sam Hackenbracht (.345, six home runs, 26 RBI), Kami Kortokrax (.333, 13 doubles), Jaycee Ruberti (.322, 14 RBI), Kaitlyn Farley (.317, 23 RBI) and Mariah Rodriguez (.310, 11 extra base hits).
- Seven players have driven in 20 or more runs thus far.
- Juniors Allison Smith and Emily Ruck have seen the majority of innings in the circle this season.
- Smith is 14-8 with a 2.70 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 142.1 innings while Ruck has a 3.86 ERA with eight complete games, two shutouts and an 8-6 record.
Scouting Youngstown State
- Youngstown State is 20-19 this season and 8-5 in the Horizon League after losing two of three games last weekend to IUPUI.
- The Penguins are currently third in the league standings but are less than a game out of the first place. Oakland is atop the conference with an 8-4 record.
- Sara Fessler (.373, 10 doubles) and Conchetta Rinaldi (.281, 24 RBI) are YSU’s top hitters while Devan Ryan (7-8, 1.93 ERA in 87.0 innings) leads the way in the circle.
History vs. Youngstown State
- The Buckeyes and Penguins haven’t met on the softball field in 12 years, since 2011.
- Ohio State has a 12-0 all-time record against YSU.
- Wednesday will be just the fourth game between the two schools in 22 years (since 2001).
National Numbers
- Entering this week, Ohio State ranks in the top 25 in several team and individual statistical categories.
- As a team, Ohio State is fourth in doubles per game (1.73), 30th in scoring (5.97 runs/game) and 30th in slugging percentage (.503).
- Individually, Melina Wilkison is 21st in hits (56), Kami Kortokrax is 24th in doubles (13), Allison Smith in 19th in strikeouts (155) and 21st in innings pitched (142.1)
Follow The Buckeyes
- For up to date information on Ohio State softball, including schedule updates, in-game score updates and recaps, follow @OhioStateSB on Twitter.
- The Buckeyes can also be found on Instagram at @OhioStateSB
- The official website of Ohio State softball is at OhioStateBuckeyes.com
What’s Next
- Tuesday’s game is the first of seven consecutive home contests for the Buckeyes.
- This weekend, they’ll host Purdue in a three-game series Friday through Sunday.
- Friday’s game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start, followed by a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday and the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
