Softball Loses a Doubleheader to No. 7 Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/3/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 1999
Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team (10-15 overall, 0-2 in Big Ten) lost a doubleheader to the No. 7-ranked Michigan Wolverines (29-5-1 overall, 2-0 in Big Ten), 7-3 and 12-4.
In game one, Michigan jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. They would add a run in each of the final four innings.
The only offense for OSU came in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Holly English (So., Akron, Ohio) belted a two-run double to rightfield to score Stacy Roth (Fr., Wauseon, Ohio) and Katie Wessendorf (So, Waterville, Ohio). Two batters later, Anna Smith (Fr., Walnut, Calif.) drove home Carrie Vanderpool (Sr., Corona, Calif.) on a grounder to the UM third baseman Pam Kosanke.
Inside the circle, Toni Hileman (Jr., Alliance, Ohio) tossed a complete game but saw her record drop to 4-11 on the year. UM starter Marie Barda improved her record to 10-1.
In the second game, the Buckeyes took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Cheryl Palaroan (Sr., Reno, Nev.) led off with a bunt single. Smith immediately followed with a single to centerfield. Two batters later, Renae Weigel (Jr., Coldwater, Ohio) drove home Palaroan with a single to leftfield.
But the Wolverines flexed their collective muscles in the bottom half of the first with two runs off three hits. UM continued to pound the ball by adding two more runs in the second inning, four runs in the third and four more in the fifth. The mercy rule was invoked in the bottom of the fifth when UM took the 12-4 lead.
Inside the circle, Samantha Kimura (Fr., Placentia, Calif.) took the loss. Her record is 1-1 on the year. UM starter Jamie Gilllies improved her record to 7-2.
Smith finished the game with a career high three hits (3-for-3) including her first career triple. Weigel went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in.
The two schools will conclude the series tomorrow with a game at 1 p.m.
