Softball Trounces Oregon, Downs Harvard – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/22/1998 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Kollen earns All-Tournament Team honors.
March 22, 1998
Oregon Box Score
Harvard Box Score
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The final day of the Air Touch Cellular Capital Classic proved to be fruitful for the Ohio State softball team (10-8-0 overall, 0-0-0 in Big Ten). In the morning semifinal, the Buckeyes trounced Oregon 9-0 and in the consolation bracket championship, OSU downed Harvard 5-4. After an 0-3 tournament start, OSU salvaged its weekend by winning four out its last five games to finish the Capital Classic with a 4-4 record.
In the morning semifinal, the Buckeyes flexed their collective muscles against the Ducks with seven players combining for a season high 15 hits. The shutout was the fourth of the season for OSU. Leadoff hitter Candace Kollen (Sr., Cerritos, Calif.) was superb leading the way with a 3 for 4 day. Katie Wessendorf (Fr., Waterville, Ohio) exploded with a 3 for 3, two RBI performance. All three of her hits were doubles which tied an OSU all-time single game record (Sue Gahn vs. Michigan State, 5/5/90)
Julie Bauman (Sr., Canfield, Ohio), Toni Hileman (So., Alliance, Ohio), and Renae Weigel (So., Coldwater, Ohio) all added two hits apiece.
On the mound, Hileman improved her record to 2-2 on the year with a dazzling complete game two-hit shutout.
In the Championship Game of the consolation bracket, the Buckeyes and Crimson faced off for their second meeting in two days. In yesterday’s contest, Harvard shutdown the Buckeyes 6-0, but today proved to be a different story.
The Buckeyes fell behind when Harvard’s Terri Teller hit a grand slam in the bottom half of the third inning to give the Crimson a 4-0 lead. OSU immediately stormed back with five runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Cheryl Palaroan (Jr., Reno, Nev.) came through in the clutch with the game-winning two run double in the fifth.
With the exception of the grand slam, Meaghan Robinson (Jr., Naples, Fla.), pitched a solid complete game to improve her record to 3-3 on the season.
After the Championship Game, Kollen was named to the all-tournament team. She had a stellar all-around performance at the Capital Classic with a .308 batting average (8 for 26) and scored six runs. Her biggest impact may have been with her glove. She sparkled by not committing an error in 43 chances at second base. On the season she has not committed an error in 88 chances.
The Buckeyes will return to Columbus to open up their home season when they play host to Minnesota, March 28-29. The two teams will play three games with Saturday’s doubleheader to begin at 1 p.m. and Sunday’s single game also beginning at 1 p.m.
