Softball Routs Utah State, 8-0 – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 18, 2001
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team (6-3) defeated Utah State, 8-0, in game one of day two at the Campbell-Cartier Classic, hosted by San Diego State in Poway, Calif.
The game was called on a mercy rule after the Buckeye extended their lead to eight in the sixth inning. The flurry of OSU runs matched a season-high output they reached in an 8-1 season-opening win over Northern Illinois (2/9/01).
In her first start as a Buckeye, Wendy Allen (Fr., Moreno Valley, Calif./Moreno Valley) gave up just one hit and struck out five in five innings of work.
Chrissy Fowler (Jr.,Utica, Ohio/Utica), Kristi DeVries (Fr., Corona, Calif./Corona) and Kristine Himes (So., Bolivar, Ohio/Tusky Valley) collected two hits each. Jenn Link (So., Yorba Linda, Calif./Sonora) added a single, as did Allen, helping her own cause.
The Buckeyes took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Rogeanna Hottinger (So., Newark, Ohio/Newark) grounded out to second base to bring in Amy Ellis (Erie, Pa./McDowell) from third base. Ellis had come in to pinch run for DeVries after DeVries drew a walk to open the inning. Ellis advanced to second on a Himes single and moved to third on a throwing error.
Link doubled to left field and ended up on third base on an error to open the Buckeye third inningt. One batter later, Anna Smith (Jr., Walnut, Calif./Diamond Bar) grounded out to second base to score Link and push the Buckeye lead to 2-0.
OSU pulled away in the fourth inning, scoring three runs on three hits. The Buckeyes piled on three more runs in the top of the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Allen singled to right field to open the sixth. Jenn Elwell (Jr., Dearborn Heights, Mich./Divine Child) came in to pinch run, reached second on an error by the pitcher and stole third base. Elwell stole home when the catcher fired to second in an attempt to throw out Hottinger, who had reached first on a fielder’s choice and was running on a full count to Holly English. Hottinger was issued a free pass to second as the pitch was ball four and Elwell scored on the double steal. Fowler then brought in Hottinger on a double and English scored the final run on an error by the shortstop
The Buckeyes face tournament host San Diego State at 4 p.m. (EST.)
