Softball Falls to Connecticut, 2-1 – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/4/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 4, 2001
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team (9-6) would have liked its excursion into “Midnight Madness” to have had a different outcome.
The Buckeyes fell to Uconn, 2-1, in a game that did not end until 12:20 a.m. Sunday. Day two of the Golden Panther Invitational, hosted by Florida International in Miami, Fla. fell behind schedule, pushing the starting time of the OSU-Connecticut game back to 10:30.
OSU tallied seven hits to UConn’s three, but could not overcome two big hits by the Huskies.
Katie Chain (So., North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) started for the Buckeyes. After shortstop Jessica Yanosy reached on an error to open the bottom of the first, Chain retired the next 12 batter she faced to take a no-hitter into the fifth inning.
Chain’s counterpart, UConn pitcher Megan Biddle then helped her own cause, hitting a home run over the fence in center field to open the fifth and give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. After second baseman Lisa Girolamo drew a walk and reached second a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Barb Cook smacked a double to the wall in centerfield, scoring Girolamo to put OSU in a 2-0 hole.
Wendy Allen (Fr., Moreno Valley, Calif./Moreno Valley) was called on in relief and coaxed two groundouts to get out of the inning.
In 4.1 innings of work, Chain struck out three and gave up two hits. Chain is now 4-3 on the season. Allen gave up one hit in relief. Biddle struck out six and allowed seven hits while going the distance for the Huskies. The win improves her record to 2-1.
OSU managed to narrow the lead to one run in its final at bat, but couldn’t draw any closer. Stacy Roth (Jr., Wauseon, Ohio/Wauseon) led off the top of the seventh with a single to left field. After Rogeanna Hottinger (So., Newark, Ohio./Newark)stuck out, Sarah West (Jr., Galloway, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson)singled to right field, moving Roth to third base. West rounded first base and was thrown out by right fielder Elisa Brinkworth for the second out of the inning. Kristine Himes (So., Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley), pinch hitting for Beth McAbier (Fr., Carrollton, Ohio/Carrollton), stroked a single down the right field line to score Roth. Amy Ellis (So., Erie, Pa./McDowell) pinch hit for Kristi Fowler (Jr., Utica, Ohio/Utica) and grounded out to second base to end the game. The Buckeyes are 2-2 after two days of the invitational and will face Arkansas in a rematch Sunday at 1 p.m. OSU defeated the Razorbacks, 2-1, Friday night.
