Chain Perfect in Softball’s 8-0 Win Over Miami (Ohio) – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 2001
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Pitcher Katie Chain (So., North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) was perfect in leading the Ohio State softball team (26-11 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) to a 8-0 win over in-state Mid-American Conference opponent, Miami (Ohio).
Chain struck out nine of the 15 batters she faced and didn’t allow a ball to reach the outfield in her first-career perfect game. Chain improves to 12-5 for the season with the win.
Before Chain even stepped inside the pitching circle to begin her perfect effort, she had a 4-0 advantage on the scoreboard.
Anna Smith (Jr., Walnut, Calif./Diamond Bar) led off the game with a walk. Wendy Allen (Fr., Moreno Valley, Calif./Moreno Valley) smacked a triple to left center field to score Smith. Two batter later, Kristine Himes (So., Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) singled to right field to bring home Allen. Amy Ellis (So., Erie, Pa./Ball State), making her first start at second base in place of an injured Jenn Link (So., Yorba Linda, Calif./Sonora), followed with a single to left field. Sarah West (Jr., Galloway, Ohio/Hillard Davidson) reached first on a throwing error by third baseman Kristina Mortoloni. The error allowed Himes to score from third and Ellis to score from second, prompting a pitching change for the RedHawks.
After giving up four runs in three hits in 0.1 of work, starter Amber Arnold was replaced by her sister, Abby Arnold, at pitcher. Amber Arnold falls to 7-7 with the loss.
OSU would tally just three more hits over the next four innings, but still managed to end the game early with eight runs. West put the Buckeyes up 5-0 in the third inning with a solo home run over the fence in left center field.
The Buckeyes added four runs in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded on three walks. Ellis smacked a single to shortstop that ricocheted into foul territory, allowing all three runs to score and give OSU an 8-0 cushion.
Ellis had two hits and three runs batted in on the afternoon. Wendy Allen was 2-for-3 with an RBI on her triple.
Chain made sure the game was not extended beyond the fifth inning, striking out the side to end the game.
OSU will play host to Eastern Michigan Wednesday in a doubleheader at Buckeye Field. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.
