Softball Wins the Kentucky Invitational – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/7/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 7, 1999
Lexington, Ky. – In frigid weather conditions, the Ohio State Buckeyes (7-6 overall) won the 1999 Kentucky Invitational with a 3-0 win over Canisius. OSU finished the tournament as the only undefeated team with a 3-0 record. %^$
“It would have been easy for this team to use the cold weather as an excuse,” head coach Linda Kalafatis said. “But they played hard and did the things they needed to do in order to win.”%^$
With the game-time temperature at 27 degrees and start time delayed 90 minutes, Canisius and Ohio State played to a scoreless tie after two innings. %^$
But the OSU bats awoke in the top of the third. Sarah West (Fr., Galloway, Ohio) led off with a single to centerfield. She was forced out at second base when Natalie Woods (Jr., Gilbert, Ariz.) grounded a ball to the shortstop. Cheryl Palaroan (Sr., Reno, Nev.) reached first base off a throwing error by Canisius pitcher Erin Crowley, advancing Woods to third in the process. Palaroan proceeded to steal second base with Holly English now at the plate. Woods then beat a throw to the plate off an English grounder to the second baseman (Palaroan advanced to third base on the play). English and Palaroan then executed a perfect double-steal to score Palaroan and give OSU an early 2-0 lead.%^$
The two stolen bases now gives Palaroan 44 for her career, tying the OSU all-time career mark set by Candace Kollen (1995-98). %^$
The Buckeyes added an insurance run in the seventh inning. Renae Weigel (Jr. Coldwater, Ohio) reached first base of an error by Canisius shortstop Lynn Stoczynski. She then moved to second when Samantha Kimura (Fr., Placentia, Calif.) dropped a sacrifice bunt down the third base line. Anna Smith (Fr., Walnut, Calif.), now in the game as a pinch-run for Weigel, moved to third base off an infield single by Stacy Roth (Fr., Wauseon, Ohio). Toni Hileman (Jr., Alliance, Ohio) sent Smith home on a sacrifice fly to centerfield. %^$
Inside the circle, Hileman went the distance to record the first shutout of the season for the team. Her record evened out to 3-3 on the year. %^$
“It nice to win two tournament championships in two weeks, but there is still so much more we can accomplish,” Kalafatis said. “We will definitely use these weekends as building blocks to our season.”%^$
The Buckeyes have now won back-to-back tournaments with last weekend’s Georgia State Invitational Championship in Atlanta, Ga.%^$
Ohio State will now have the next 13 days off. They will return to the field, Sunday, March 21 at Long Beach State. %^$
