Softball Heads to Hoosier State – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/12/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 12, 2001
%^$COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team (29-12 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) travels to Indiana to face two Big Ten opponents. The Buckeyes first head to Bloomington, Ind., for a doubleheader with Indiana Friday. OSU then will make its way to West Layfatte, Ind., for a two-day set with Purdue.%^$
%^$KALAFATIS HITS 400 MARK
%^$A victory over Miami (Ohio) April 3, marked the 400th career win for OSU head coach Linda Kalafatis She has a career record of 403-239-2. Since taking over the helm of OSU softball, Kalafatis has a record of 132-124.%^$
%^$SURPASSING LAST SEASON
%^$With a 29-12 record entering the doubleheader with Indiana, OSU has already surpassed its win total from last season, when the Buckeyes finished 28-26. With a 12-game win streak this season and wins in 20 of its last 24 games, OSU has an opportunity to break the program-record of 40 wins, set in 1990 when the Buckeyes captured the Big Ten Championship.%^$
%^$CHAIN TAKES BIG TEN HONOR
%^$Katie Chain nearly was unhittable last week and was recognized as co-Big Ten pitcher of the week. In two starts and one appearance in relief totaling 14.2 innings of work, Chain allowed three hits, walked none and did not gave up any runs. April 3, Chain tossed a perfect game at Miami (Ohio). In five innings of work, the sophomore pitcher allowed no hits and no walks, striking out nine of the 15 batters she faced. The RedHawks could not manage to put a single ball in play in the outfield. The game was called because of the eight-run mercy rule. Chain showed no signs of letting up if the game would have gone the full seven innings, striking out the side to end the game in the bottom of the fifth. The following day, in an 8-0 win over Eastern Michigan, Chain came in to relieve Wendy Allen and allowed one hit and struck out two in 2.2 innings of work. In a 5-0 win over Illinois, Chain allowed two hits while striking out five. Chain is now 13-5 on the season.%^$
%^$DeVRIES TOSSES NO-HITTER
%^$One day after her teammate, Katie Chain, tossed a perfect game in Oxford, Ohio, freshman Kristi DeVries tossed a no-hitter in an 8-0 win over Eastern Michigan. DeVries struck out eleven of the 20 batters she faced, allowing just one ball to reach the outfield. The only base runners for Eastern Michigan reached by being hit by a pitch and a base on balls.%^$
%^$DeVRIES SETS K RECORD
%^$After opening the Eastern Michigan game by hitting the leadoff batter with her first pitch of the afternoon, DeVries struck out the next seven batters she faced. DeVries sixth strikeout was her 126th this season, setting an OSU freshman record for most strikeouts in a season. DeVries has struck out 136 of the 375 batters she has faced this season, ranking her third in the Big Ten.%^$
%^$HEAVY-HITTIN’ HIMES
%^$Kristine Himes, who earlier this season broke the OSU record for careerhome runs, has been hard to keep off base in conference play. Through six games she is batting .471 (8-for-17) with a home run, a triple and a double. She has seven runs batted in and has scored twice. She has struck out just once in conference play. Himes has 26 RBI for the season, ranking her third in the Big Ten.%^$
%^$SMITH ADDS TO RECORD
%^$Junior Anna Smith, OSU’s all-time leader in stolen bases, swiped one base in the first game against Eastern Michigan and two in the second game to give her 17 stolen bases in 20 attempts for the season, ranking her third in the Big Ten. Smith has 63 steals for her career, seven more than previous record holder Cheryl Poleran.%^$
%^$WEST PLAYER OF WEEK
%^$The Big Ten Conference announced Ohio State first baseman Sarah West as the softball player of the week for the week ending March 26. After missing six games because of strained ligaments in her left shoulder as a result of a home plate collision in a win over Cleveland State (3/16), West made her presence in the lineup felt upon her return. She hit three home runs in five games at the Buzz Classic in Atlanta. In her first game back, a 2-0 win over Campbell, West provided half the OSU offense when she broke a scoreless tie with her fifth-inning shot. West also cleared the fence in an 8-0 win over Charleston Southern and again the next day when she tied the score at one in the third inning of an eventual 2-1 OSU win over North Carolina. Batting .545 (6-for11), West tallied four runs batted in and helped OSU to a 4-1 record and a No. 1 seed as the 25-team field was narrowed to 12. For her efforts in Atlanta, West was an all-invitational selection. West is tied with third baseman Kristine Himes with a team-high five home runs on the season.%^$
%^$HOMERIN’ HIMES
%^$Sophomore third baseman Kristine Himes became the most prolific home run hitter in OSU history against Southern Charleston, smacking an offering from Buccaneer pitcher Erin Lambert over the wall in the third inning to give her 14 for her career to pass Renae Wiegel (1997-2000), who was the previous record holder with 13. Himes is tied for the team lead with five home runs on the season.%^$
%^$WINNERS IN 20 0F 24
%^$After dropping game one of a home-opening doubleheader against Oakland March 8, OSU’s record dropped to 9-8. OSU took game two of the doubleheader to start a 12 game win streak that saw the Buckeyes go 5-0 at the Buckeye Invitational, sweep a doubleheader with Robert Morris and go 4-0 at the Buzz Classic, which earned them a No. 1 seed at the tournament. The streak was snapped with a 3-1 extra-inning loss at the hands of North Carolina. OSU rebounded with a doubleheader sweep over Toledo. After dropping both games of a doubleheader with Iowa to open the Big Ten season, OSU bounced back with two wins over Northwestern and an 8-0 win over Miami (Ohio) April 3, a doubleheader sweep of Eastern Michigan April 4. After dropping Illinois, 5-0, in game one of a doubleheader April 6, OSU fell to the Illini, 4-3, in game two.%^$
%^$LONG GONE
%^$ Stacy Roth hit her second home run in three games and third of the season in the fourth inning of game two against Eastern Michigan April 4 and Kristine Himes went deep against Illinois to give OSU 17 home runs this season. The Buckeyes are on pace to break the program record of 28, set last season. Sarah West and Kristine Himes each have five home runs to lead the Buckeyes.%^$
%^$STRIKE FORCE
%^$With nearly half the season remaining, Kristi DeVries and Katie Chain both are climbing up the OSU single-season record for strikeouts in a season. Chain, who set a freshman record with 125 last season and ranks third among all pitchers in a single season, has 116, already good for fifth. DeVries currently has 136, ranking her third. DeVries is 18 away from the record of 154, set by Genice Turley in 1994.%^$
%^$LINK EXPECTED TO RETURN
%^$After colliding with outfielder Chrissy Fowler in shallow right field in the third inning against Northwestern (Game 2), second baseman Jenn Link was not penciled in the starting lineup the following five games. The 8-0 win over Miami (Ohio) April 3 marked the first time in her career she did not start, snapping a streak of 90 consecutive games. Link stepped in at second base in the first game of her freshman year, starting all 54 games last season. She started the first 36 games this season. She is still recovering from a severely sprained right ankle and knee and is expected to see action this weekend.%^$
%^$ELLIS GETS THE NOD
%^$Amy Ellis, a sophomore transfer from Ball State, has filled in for an injured Jenn Link admirably. She made her first start at second as a Buckeye against Miami (Ohio) and went 2-for-3 with two singles and three runs batted in. Ellis also collected a hit in game one of the Eastern Michigan doubleheader.%^$
%^$SCOUTING INDIANA
%^$Indiana, coming off win over Michigan, is 12-25 overall, 2-6 in the Big Ten. The Hooisers are led at the plate by Brooke Monroe, who is batting .342 (39-for-114) with a team-high 23 runs batted in and eight home runs. Dayn Ramynke is batting .270 with 11 RBI and four homeruns. In the pitching circle, Allison Cooke is 9-15 with a 2.57 earned run average.%^$
%^$LAST SEASON VS. INDIANA
%^$OSU split a doubleheader with Indiana last April 9 at Buckeye Field, winning the first game, 6-3, and falling 5-1 in game two.%^$
%^$%^$ALL-TIME SERIES WITH IU
%^$Indiana leads the all-time series, 49-17-1.%^$
%^$SCOUTING PURDUE
%^$Heading into this weekend, Purdue has a record of 26-15-1 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten. Andrea Roush leads the Boilermakers with a .331(40-for-121) batting average. Katie Crabtree is batting .315 (41-for-130) with a team-high 22 runs batted in. She has five home runs, tying her with Heidi Foster for the team lead. In the pitching circle, Leighann Burke is 10-7 with a 0.90 earned run average. Meagen Dooley is 8-5 with a 1.36 ERA and Nicole Crouse is 8-3 with a 2.31 ERA.%^$
%^$UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
%^$OSU squared off with Purdue in the second game of the season Feb. 9, losing 1-0. Katie Chain made her 2001 debut, striking out 13 and giving up just two hits. OSU could manage only three hits off Leighann Burke, however.%^$
%^$ALL-TIME SERIES
%^$With the win earlier this season, Purdue leads the all-time series, 8-7.%^$
%^$MOST OFFENSIVE IN BIG TEN
%^$Entering this weekend, OSU leads the Big Ten with a batting average of .300 (310-for-1032) and slugging percentage (.409) The Buckeyes are second in hits with 310, 36 behind Illinois. OSU has 177 runs, second in the conference behind Illinois (203). OSU has 49 doubles, six behind the Illini, OSU is second in the conference in home runs (17) and tied for third in the conference in triples (16).%^$
%^$TOP TEN HITTERS
%^$A pair of Buckeyes cracked the Top 10 in the conference standings for batting average. Sophomore Jenn Link, who has missed the last five games with an injury, is seventh in the conference with a .368 batting average (39-for-106). Wendy Allen, batting .35 (39-for-109), ranks eighth.%^$
%^$TOP TEN TRIO IN THE CIRCLE
%^$An OSU pitcher checks in with the second, third and seventh lowest earned run average in the conference. Katie Chain is second in the conference with an 0.68 ERA and 13-5 record. Freshman Wendy Allen is third with a 0.75 ERA. She is 5-2 for the season. Freshman Kristi DeVries is seventh in the conference with a 1.16 ERA. She has a record of 11-5.%^$
%^$K IS FOR KRISTI
%^$Kristi DeVries entered this week third in the conference with 136 strikeouts. She has had a solid rookie campaign at the collegiate level and was particularly dominating during OSU’s 12-game win streak and in a no-hit effort against Eastern Michigan. DeVries was nearly unhittable during OSU’s 12-game win streak. While amassing five wins and tossing four shutouts, DeVries pitched three one-hitters and struck out an alarming 61 batters, more than half of the 114 she faced. Against Buffalo (March 16), she gave up just one hit and struck out 18, including 12 in a row at one point. Against Robert Morris March 20, she nearly threw a perfect game, giving up her only hit of the afternoon with one out in the seventh inning. She registered 13 strikeouts in the effort. In OSU’s first game at the Buzz Classic, she struck out 15 against Campbell while giving up one hit. She struck out five and allowed five hits in the win over North Carolina. DeVries tossed her first-career no-hitter in a 10-0 win over Eastern Michigan to continue her dominance.%^$
%^$STRIKE THREE
%^$Heading into this weekend, OSU leads the Big Ten with 301 strikeouts, 35 more than second-place Wisconsin. Kristi DeVries has 136, Katie Chain has 116 and Wendy Allen has 49.%^$
%^$ONE AND DONE
%^$Katie Chain’s one-hit performance in the 10-0 shutout of Toledo in game two of the doubleheader marked the fifth time this season an OSU pitcher has tossed a one-hitter. All of the single-hit efforts have come in the last 15 games. Kristi DeVries has tossed three one-hitters and Chain has thrown two. DeVries one-hit Buffalo in a 6-0 win, Robert Morris in game-one of a doubleheader and in OSU’s first game at the Buzz Classic, a 2-0 win over Campbell.%^$
%^$EIGHT IS ENOUGH
%^$The 8-0 win over Eastern Michigan marked the 11th time OSU has tallied eight or more runs this season. The Buckeyes have won every contest in which they hit the eight-run barrier. The Buckeyes scored eight or more runs three times at the Buckeye Invitational, defeating Cleveland State, 12-1, IUPUI, 8-1, and Buffalo, 10-1.The Buckeyes opened the season with an 8-1 win over Northern Illinois at the Jameson Inn – Tiger Invitational. OSU reached the eight-run mark twice at the Campbell Cartier Classic in San Diego, defeating Utah State, 8-0, and Sacramento State, 8-4.%^$
%^$HAVE MERCY
%^$OSU’s 8-0 over Eastern Michigan marked the eighth time the Buckeyes have earned a win in less than seven innings because of the eight-run mercy rule. Four of those mercy rulings came during the Buckeyes’ 12-game win streak. OSU blanked Utah State, 8-0, at the Campbell-Cartier Classic in San Diego. OSU defeated Cleveland State, 12-1, and Buffalo, 10-1 at the Buckeye Invitational. OSU defeated Southern Charleston, 8-0, Toledo, 10-0, and Miami (Ohio) 8-0.%^$
%^$DAYTON GAMES CANCELED
%^$OSU’s scheduled doubleheader at Dayton was canceled Tuesday, marking the second time a twin bill with an in-state opponent has been canceled this season as a result of weather conditions. The Buckeyes scheduled home-opener for March 6 against Youngstown State was canceled because of the cold. The game has been rescheduled for April 24 at 3 p.m.. It has yet to be determined if the Dayton doubleheader will be rescheduled.%^$
%^$DeVRIES ALL-INVITE AGAIN
%^$Freshman pitcher Kristi DeVries earned all-invitational honors for the third time this season when she was named Most Valuable Player of the Buckeye Invitational. In the opening game of the invitational, DeVries tossed a one-hitter against Buffalo, striking out an eye-opening 18 batters in the process, including 12 in a row at one point, a streak that saw her strike out the side in the second, third and fourth innings. At the plate, DeVries batted .357 (5-for-14) with a single and two RBI. At the Golden Panther Invitational in Miami, Fla., DeVries hit .313 (5-for-16) with two runs batted in for the five-game invitational. In the pitching circle, DeVries posted an earned run average of 0.95, allowing just two earned runs and six hits in 14.2 innings of work, while striking out 19. DeVries also was named to the all-invitational team at the Jameson Inn-Tiger Invitational, held Feb. 9-11 in Auburn, Ala.%^$
%^$DeVRIES ALMOST PERFECT
%^$Pitcher Kristi DeVries was nearly perfect in game one of the doubleheader with Robert Morris. DeVries, who struck out 18 batters and allowed just one hit in her last outing last Friday, carried a perfect game into the seventh inning. With one out in the inning, Robert Morris rightfielder Natalie Aloi became the first Colonial to reach base, hitting a single to left field. DeVries then retired the final two batters on a foul out and strikeout, respectively. DeVries struck out 13 of the 22 batters she faced and did not give up a walk.%^$
%^$ENGLISH STILL RECOVERING
%^$Outfielder Holly English, the lone senior on the OSU roster, who has been out the past two weeks, is expected to miss the next two weeks while she recovers from abdominal surgery.%^$
%^$ON DECK
%^$OSU returns home to Buckeye Field to play host Michigan State in a doubleheader Friday, April 20, at 2 p.m. The Buckeyes will then play host to Michigan in a two-day set. First pitch for Saturday is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday the game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
