Ohio State Softball (3-2) Begins Second Road Trip – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/17/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 17, 2000
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Buckeyes (3-2) head to San Diego, Calif. for the SDSU Campbell/Cartier Classic, Feb. 17-20. The Buckeyes take on host San Diego State in the first game at 2:30 p.m.on Thursday, followed by Cal-State Northridge on Friday at 1 p.m. The Buckeyes then compete against Pacific (1 p.m.) and Sacramento State (6 p.m.) on Saturday. They will end the tournament against No. 3 Fresno State (9:30 a.m.) and No. 15 Long Beach State (noon) on Sunday.
SCOUTING THE AZTECS
The San Diego State Aztecs have posted a 2-7 overall record this season with wins over No. 22 Illinois-Chicago (6-5) on Feb. 6 and Santa Clara (6-3) on Feb. 12. The Aztecs’ sophomore Kellie Nordhagen leads the team with a batting average of .346, going 10-for-29, one home run and 2 RBI.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
The Buckeyes lead the all-time series with a 2-1 record. The last meeting occurred in 1994, when Ohio State defeated San Diego State, 3-1, in the Arizona State Classic.
LAST WEEKEND
The Buckeyes opened their season with a 3-2 record after defeating McNeese State (5-3), Nicholls State (6-0 and 8-2) but fell to No. 7-ranked and 1999 SEC Champions Louisiana State (11-0 and 4-0) in the LSU Tiger Classic. “I was very pleased with the way we competed for the first time out,” head coach Linda Kalafatis said. “It was a very demanding schedule, but these kids came out to play and worked hard all weekend. This is a great step for us now to head to San Diego and improve in every game.”
MARTIN’S FIRST NO-HITTER
After having to sit out last season because of two elbow surgeries, sophomore Kristi Martin posted her first career no-hitter against Nicholls State (Feb. 12), defeating the Lady Colonels, 6-0, in her first start since May 2, 1998. It also marked the second time under Coach Kalafatis that an OSU pitcher captured a no-hitter. Martin, pitching a complete game, gave up no hits and struck out seven in a stunning performance. She ended the weekend with a 1-1 record and an ERA of 2.15.
BREAKOUT WEEKEND FOR SMITH
Not only did Martin perform well last weekend, but sophomore Anna Smith also recorded some big numbers for the Buckeyes. Smith went 6-for-15, posting one RBI and seven stolen bases for the tournament. Smith leads the Buckeyes heading into this weekend’s tournament with a .400 batting average and posted a career-high three stolen bases against McNeese State (Feb. 12) and Nicholls State (Feb. 13).
STAND-OUT NEWCOMERS
Katie Chain recorded her first collegiate win against Nicholls State, 8-2 on Feb. 13. She completed the game, striking out four and only giving up six hits and one walk. Freshman Jennifer Link also competed well in her first collegiate start at second base. She went 5-for-15 for the weekend with a batting average of .333.
WEIGEL IS BACK
Senior captain Renae Weigel is back after sustaining an injury to her hip flexor. Weigel will resume her starting position at shortstop against San Diego State on Thursday. Prior to this weekend, Weigel had started every game since the second contest of her freshman season.
STARTING OUT STRONG
The Buckeyes have opened their season with a 3-2 record, their best start since 1994. The last time the Buckeyes had two wins to open their season was in 1985, when Ohio State won its first two games against Maine (12-9) and Mississippi State (3-2).
ON THE HOT CORNER
Chrissy Fowler, who was injured last season because of a torn ACL, opened the 2000 season with her first start as a Buckeye at third base. She posted an impressive weekend going 4-for-11 with one RBI. She is second on the team with a batting average of .364.
STEAL AWAY
As a team, Ohio State has stolen a total of 13 bases, while their opponents are 4-for-6 in stolen bases. Sophomore Anna Smith leads the team with seven.
CAPTAIN WEIGEL
Senior Renae Weigel was named by her teammates as captain of the 2000 softball team. As the only Buckeye who has been at Ohio State all four seasons, Weigel will resume her role as Ohio State’s top hitter and leader of the squad. Last season, the Coldwater, Ohio native had another breakout season, posting a single-season home run mark with six and finishing third overall in both batting average (.301) and conference BA (.324).
PRESEASON USA TODAY/NFCA POLL
Ohio State will compete against seven opponents ranked in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 preseason poll. In non-conference action, the Buckeyes will meet No. 3 Fresno State, No. 14 DePaul and No. 15 Long Beach State. In the Big Ten, Michigan is ranked No. 6, while Michigan State and Iowa are ranked 17th and 25th, respectively. Ohio State lost already to No.7 LSU in the Tiger Classic tournament last weekend.
HAPPY B-DAY FOR ENGLISH
Holly English will celebrate her 21st birthday on Thursday as the Buckeyes open the Campbell/Cartier Classic against host San Diego State.
CLOSING IN ON OSU RECORD
Renae Weigel only needs three more home runs to break the Ohio State career record of 12.
ADDITION TO THE COACHING STAFF
Jaime Cheveney returns to the Buckeyes this season as an assistant coach. Cheveney, who was a four-time letterwinner and was selected as a second-team all-Big Ten selection as the Buckeyes’ catcher. Cheveney still holds the No. 2 spot on the Ohio State career home run ladder with nine. Last summer, Cheveney competed on the Akron Racers of the Women’s Professional Softball League with former Buckeye Jodi Dolan. Cheveney is a graduate student at Ohio State in education.
FROM THE TRAINING ROOM
Natalie Woods, after tearing her ACL last season, has not been cleared by the medical staff. She is expected to be back by the end of the tournament season.
ON DECK IN 2001…
Coach Kalafatis signed one of the best recruiting classes in the nation to be added next season. Wendy Allen (Moreno Valley, Calif.), Kristi DeVries (Corona Calif.) and Beth McAbier (Carrollton, Ohio) all signed letters of intents to attend Ohio State in 2001. Allen, a left-hand pitcher, was one-of-16 players in the nation to be named a National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association All-American. DeVries is a high school All-American pitcher who notched a 24-6 record last season with 321 strikeouts and 23 walks. McAbier, a shortstop, was a two-time all-conference pick and three-sport student-athlete at Carrollton High School.
GETTING RESULTS
Results for the Buckeyes will be posted through www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com approximately two hours after the last game of each day. Results are also available through the Fax-on-demand service (The Big Ten passcode – 282, Release – 2665, Last Game Result – 2667).
ON DECK
The Buckeyes will have next weekend off and then compete in the Florida International Tournament in Miami, Fla., March 3-5. Ohio State will take on Florida Atlantic, Pittsburgh, Arkansas and Florida A&M.
