Indiana Takes Series Opener From Ohio State

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – After needing almost 24 hours because of a weather suspension to complete the opening game of their three-game series at Indiana, the Ohio State softball team dropped a 17-9 slugfest on Saturday afternoon at IU’s Andy Mohr Field.

The Buckeyes are 21-9 on the season and 2-2 in Big Ten play. Indiana improves to 26-9 and remains unbeaten in Big Ten play with a 6-0 record.

The Short Story
Ohio State trailed 5-4 yesterday at the time of a weather suspension and then fell behind 7-4 when play resumed on Saturday with cold and windy conditions to contend with. The Buckeyes battled, though, scoring four runs in the top of the fourth inning to grab an 8-7 lead.

Indiana, however, scored three times in the home half of the fourth, four in the fifth and three more in the sixth for the 17-9 win.

Kami Kortokrax finished the game with three hits and a career-high four RBI while Sam Hackenbracht (2-for-4, two doubles) and Destinee Noury (2-for-2, one RBI) each had multi-hit games.

Buckeye This and That

• On Friday’s Ohio State’s bats started out hot, highlighted by a three-run third inning that gave Ohio State a 4-0 lead. Back-to-back home runs came off the bats of Kortokrax and Indiana native Melina Wilkison.
• Wilkison’s home run was her third in the last three games.
• Run-scoring hits during the rally also came from Meggie Otte (RBI double) and Noury (RBI double).
• Indiana scored five times before a lightning delay on Friday suspended the game. When it resumed on Saturday, the Hoosiers plated two more to go ahead 7-4.
• Freshman Hannah Church started a rally in the fourth inning, however, hitting a double to left center that scored a run. Kaitlyn Farley followed with an RBI single and Kortokrax’s triple down the right field line scored two to give Ohio State a 8-7 lead.
• Three different pitchers saw time in the circle in the first game of the series. Allison Smith started and went 3.0 innings. Two freshmen – Lexie Paulsen (1.2 innings) and Kennedy Kay (1.0 innings) saw time in relief.

What’s Next

Because of schedule adjustments, the Buckeyes and Hoosiers will play a doubleheader tomorrow to finish out the series. Action gets underway at noon and will be carried live on BTN+.