Softball Opens Kentucky Invitational With a Win – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 6, 1999
Lexington, Ky. – The Ohio State Buckeyes (5-6) opened the Kentucky Invitational with a 5-4 win over host school Kentucky (6-10).
%^$The Buckeyes struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Samantha Kimura (Fr., Placentia, Calif.) increased her season-high hitting streak to eight consecutive games with a leadoff single to leftfield. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Toni Hileman (Jr, Alliance, Ohio). Two batters later, Holly English (So., Akron, Ohio) lined a single into centerfield to score Kimura and give OSU an early 1-0 lead.
%^$In the third inning, Anna Smith (Fr., Walnut, Calif.) got things going with a leadoff single and then stole second base. Jaime Chenevey (Sr., Wooster, Ohio), followed with a walk. Smith then scored off a Renae Weigel (Jr., Coldwater, Ohio) double. Chenevey eventually reached home off a fielders choice. Two batters later, Weigel scored off a single by Stacy Roth (Fr., Wauseon, Ohio) to give OSU a 4-0 lead.
%^$The Wildcats did not go away quietly. In the top of the sixth inning, UK rallied to tie the game with four runs off four hits against OSU starter Hileman. She was removed after yielding the runs for Meaghan Robinson (Sr., Naples, Fla.). Robinson retired the next three batters to close out the inning.
%^$The Buckeyes stayed sharp, keeping their composure in the bottom half of the inning. Roth led off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. She would score two batters later when Katie Wessendorf (So., Waterville, Ohio) grounded out to the pitcher to give OSU the 5-4 win.
%^$”With the exception of the bad inning, we played well,” head coach Linda Kalafatis said. “It was nice to see the team stay calm and come back the next inning to win the game.”
%^$Robinson got the win with her two innings of relief work. Her record improved to 3-3 on the season.
