Softball Splits Doubleheader with Miami – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/8/1998 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 8, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team (17-15-0 overall and 4-6 in Big Ten) played a pair of games against Miami (O.), losing game one, 4-1 and winning game two, 6-1. In game one, the RedHawks took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning which proved to be all they needed. They would add two more insurance runs in the sixth inning to win the game 4-1.
The only Buckeye run was scored in the bottom half of the third inning. Natalie Kratzer (Jr., Ashland, Ohio), blasted a double over the head of Miami centerfielder Shawnda Moye. She would eventually score off an error by Miami third baseman Jennifer Beltran. OSUs Toni Hileman (So., Alliance, Ohio) saw her record fall to 2-3. She went five innings and gave up all four runs.
For Miami, Heather Skipworth improved her record to 8-4. She pitched a complete game and gave up only four hits in the process. On a positive note, OSUs Candace Kollen (Sr., Cerritos, Calif.) stole her 43rd career base, to set a new Buckeye all-time career record. The record was held previously by Kathy Boettcher (1988-91).
The Buckeyes did not waste any time getting on board in game two. OSU would tack on six runs in the first inning. Renae Weigel (So., Coldwater, Ohio) knocked in a pair of runs while Jaime Chenevey (Jr., Wooster, Ohio), Natalie Tomoguchi (Sr., Irvine, Calif.) and Kratzer would each knock in a run.
Jodi Dolan (Sr., Fallon, Nev.) hurled a solid performance with 5.1 innings of three hit work. She allowed only one run in the top of the sixth inning. Her record improved to 5-3 on the season. Meaghan Robinson (Jr., Naples, Fla.) earned the save with 1.2 innings of flawless relief work. She entered the game with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and worked herself out of the jam.
Miami’s Tennile Bishop saw her record fall to 1-4 on the year.
In what amounted to one of the more incredible streaks of the Ohio State season, Kollen was charged with her first error of the season in the fifth inning. The second baseman had been spectacular all season long, with zero errors in 158 chances.
The Buckeyes will travel to Iowa City for a three-game series against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The teams will play a doubleheader, Saturday at 1 p.m. and a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.
