Softball Erupts for 13 Runs – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/15/1998 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 15, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team (21-18-0 overall, 4-9 in Big Ten) put on a hitting clinic against Bowling Green (12-25-1 overall, 9-5 in Mid-American Conference) sweeping a doubleheader, 3-2 and 10-0.
In game one, Natalie Tomoguchi (Sr., Irvine, Calif.) blasted a solo home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Buckeyes the 3-2 win.
Renae Weigel (So., Coldwater, Ohio) accounted for the other two OSU runs with a two run single in the third inning. The Ohio State offensive attack pounded out 10 hits in the contest. OSU starter Jodi Dolan (Sr., Fallon, Nev.) improved her record to 7-5 on the season with the complete game five hitter Garrett Gholston was charged with the loss. Her record fell to 10-18 on the season. The Buckeyes decided not to waste anytime in game two with a six run first inning.
Leading off the game was Candace Kollen (Sr., Cerritos, Calif.) who immediately singled her way into Ohio State Softball immortality. The hit represented the 216th of her career, which broke the OSU all-time career mark of 215 set by Krinon Clark (1991-94). She is also currently in the midst of an eight- game hitting streak. OSU would finish the inning scoring six runs off four more hits for an early 6-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Buckeyes would seal the victory with two outs with the bases loaded. Facing a 3-1 count, Weigel tattooed a ball over the center field wall for her first home run of the season and her second career grand slam. The 10-0 margin would be the final. The Ohio State offense totaled 11 hits in game two.
Toni Hileman (So., Alliance, Ohio) earned the win with three innings of one hit ball. Her record improved to 4-3 on the season. Kelli Tom (Jr., Fullerton, Calif.) pitched two innings of flawless relief work. The two combined for OSUs eighth shutout of the season. BGSUs Amy Hamilton was charged with her seventh (5-7) loss of the year.
Ohio State is currently riding a four-game winning streak, which marks the longest win streak under the tenure of second year head coach Linda Kalafatis. Tomorrow, the Buckeyes will continue through this two week homestand with a doubleheader against Morehead State at 3 p.m. at Buckeye Field.
