Softball Falls to Michigan, 2-1 – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 21, 2001%^$
%^$%^$%^$Box Score%^$%^$%^$%^$
%^$COLUMBUS, Ohio– In front of a capacity crowd at Buckeye Field, the Ohio State softball (35-13 overall, 9-4 in the Big Ten), currently tied for second place in the Big Ten, was edged by first-place Michigan, 2-1 in a defensive struggle that snapped OSU’s five game Big Ten win streak.%^$
%^$Wendy Allen (Fr., Moreno Valley, Calif./Moreno Valley) took the loss for the Buckeyes. She allowed six hits and struck out seven of the 28 batters she faced. She is now 6-3 for the season. Marissa Young picked up the win to help Michigan to its 20th consecutive win. The Wolverines are now 13-0 in the conference.%^$OSU had four hits off Young. Marie Barda came in relief in the fifth to pick up the save. She allowed no hits.%^$
%^$”We played a solid game,” Linda Kalafatis, OSU head coach, said. “I told the team the only difference was they came through one more time than us. It was just that simple. They manufactured a couple of runs. We had some chances and didn’t capitalize, but I thought we played great softball.”%^$
%^$After five scoreless innings, Michigan had just two hits. The Wolverines took a 2-0 lead with four hits in the top of the sixth inning.%^$
%^$Shortstop Rebecca Tune singled to left field to score third baseman Stephanie Volpe – who opened the inning with an infield single – from second base. Mary Conner, who pinch ran for designated hitter Monica Schock, scored on a single to left center field by Young.%^$
%^$OSU answered with a run in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Jenn Link (So., Yorba Linda, Calif./Sonora) reached first on a walk to open the Buckeyes half of the inning. She moved to when Anna Smith (Jr., Walnut, Calif./Diamond Bar) dropped down a sacrifice bunt. A single to left field by Stacy Roth (Jr., Wauseon, Ohio/Wauseon) scored Link from second to cut the Michigan lead to 2-1.%^$
%^$Barda was called in relief and retire the next two batters in the sixth and then retired the Buckeyes in order in the seventh.%^$
%^$OSU and Michigan play game two of the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
