Softball Defeats Arkansas, 2-1, in Nightcap – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 2, 2001
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Just after 11 p.m. Friday night it appeared the Ohio State softball team (8-5) might be still be entrenched in a 1-1 tie with Arkansas as midnight came and went.
The Buckeyes and Razorbacks had each scored an early run before settling in for defensive struggle in the final game of day one at the Golden Panther Invitational, hosted by Florida International University in Miami, Fla.
Sarah West (Jr., Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Davidison) changed the outlook of the night with one swing of the bat. Leading off the top of the fifth, West sent a 1-1 offering from Arkansas pitcher Rachel Talley over the center field wall to give OSU a lead it would not relinquish.
Katie Chain (So., North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) picked up the win to run her record to 4-2 on the season. In 5.1 innings of work Chain struck out three, allowed six hits and allowed one earned run in the winning effort.
Rachel Talley gave up five hits and struck out one in six innings of work in the losing effort. The Razorbacks are 10-8 after the loss.
OSU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Anna Smith (Jr., Walnut, Calif./Diamond Bar) led off the game, reaching third base on an error by Arkansas shortstop Tiffany Woolley. Woolley overthrew to first and the ball rolled to the fence that runs down the right field line. Smith never hesitated and motored around to third to immediately give the Buckeyes a scoring threat.
One batter later, Smith tagged up on a Jenn Link (So., Yorba Linda, Calif./Sonora) foul ball down the left field line. Smith just beat the catcher’s tag to put OSU up 1-0 after two batters and no hits.
Arkansas answered in the second. Left fielder Julie Young doubled down the left field line to open the top of the inning. A Jennifer Bottoms sacrifice bunt moved Young to third. Woolley then singled to right field to knot the score at one. OSU will face Florida Atlantic at 2 p.m. Saturday before taking on the University of Connecticut at 8 p.m.
