Softball Splits Doubleheader to Open 2001 Campaign – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 9, 2001
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team (1-1) opened the 2001 season with a split in day one of the Jameson Inn – Tiger Invitational, hosted by the University of Auburn in Auburn, Ala.
The Buckeyes started the season off with a four-run inning en route to an 8-1 win over Northern Illinois. Anna Smith (Jr., Walnut, Calif./Diamond Bar) began the rally with an infield single, beating out a throw from the shortstop. By the time Smith stepped up to the plate again and flied out to end the top-half of the Buckeyes’ first inning of 2001, the damage had been done. In between Smith’s plate appearances, OSU scored four runs on four hits, including a single by Stacy Roth, a double by Kristine Himes, (So., Bolivar, Ohio/Bolivar), and a bunt by Kristy DeVries (Fr., Corona, Calif./Corona).
DeVries made her pitching debut for the Buckeyes, registering four strikeouts and giving up eight hits to pick up her first win at the collegiate level.
The OSU offense tallied 12 hits, led by three apiece from DeVries and Roth.
In a pitchers’ dual, the Buckeyes squared off with Purdue in game two of the twin bill. Katie Chain (Fr., North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) struck out 13, gave up just two hits and didn’t allow an earned run. Despite Chain’s efforts, the Buckeyes fell, 1-0, to the Boilermakers. Chain’s counterpart, Purdue pitcher Laura Burke, allowed only three hits to preserve a narrow lead the Boilermakers took in the top of the second inning.
Amy Roembke reached base on an error to open the second inning for Purdue. She stole second and scored on a Kristen Pavlas single to right field. Chain struck out the side, but the Boilermakers had the one run they needed.
The Buckeyes threatened in both the sixth and seventh innings, with a runner reaching third base both innings. Stacy Roth scorched one back to Burke and the pitcher couldn’t react in time, putting the tying run on first. A sacrifice bunt by Wendy Allen (Fr., Moreno Valley, Calif./Moreno Valley), followed by an error, put Roth on third with two outs before Rogeanna Hottinger (So., Newark, Ohio/Newark)flied out right field to end the inning.
DeVries led off the final inning with a single to center field. Liz Kacsanek (So., Uniontown, Ohio/Green) dropped down a sacrafice bunt to put DeVries on second. Chrissy Fowler(Jr., Utica, Ohio/Utica) singled and reached second on the throw home, giving OSU two runner in scoring position with one out. Purdue would not relinquish the lead, however, as Smith and Link grounded out to Burke to end the Buckeye threat.
The Buckeyes will face Syracuse at noon (central) and play host-Auburn at 2 p.m. in day two of the invitational.
