No. 19 Softball Holds Off Portland State, 5-4 – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 1, 2003
Box Score
FULLERTON, Calif.-The No. 19/20 Ohio State softball team (7-6) completed day two of action Saturday by defeating the Portland State Vikings (2-7), 5-4, in its fourth game of the Cal State Fullerton/Worth Invitational. The Buckeye offense came alive with 10 hits over the seven innings to help secure the win. Kristi DeVries (Jr., Corona, Calif.) pitched 6.2 innings for her fifth win of the season and the Buckeyes took advantage of four Portland State errors and some clutch hitting to earn the victory.
Senior Kristine Himes, who was one of three Buckeyes with two hits, led the way offensively, going 2-for-3 with two RBI’s and a run scored. Annie Dedic (Sr., Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Karisa Evans (So., Franklin, Ohio) also went 2-for-3. DeVries went 1-for-4 with two RBI’s.
The Vikings trailed, 5-2, heading into the bottom of the seventh and made the game interesting on a two-out, two-run double by Erin Stokey to draw within one. The Buckeyes then turned to Katie Chain (Sr., North Canton, Ohio) who came on to record the final out and earn her first save of the year on a groundout by Tiffany McHenry.
The Vikings drew first blood with one run in the bottom of the second. Nichole Ivie led off the inning with a single up the middle and then advanced to second two batters later on a Kari Mills single to short and to third on an error by Buckeye shortstop Billie Jo Carder (Fr., Plano, Texas). Ashley Tennant then hit a slow roller to third baseman Kristine Himes (Sr., Bolivar, Ohio) who bobbled the ball, allowing Ivie to score from third and Tennant to reach safely at first. DeVries then struck out Viking batter Rachel Manibusan to end the inning. The Buckeyes came right back in the top of the third when Evans scored from third on a DeVries two-out single to left field. Evans started with a one out single to center, which was followed up by a Himes infield single to third base. Evans then advanced to third on a Beth McAbier (Jr., Carrollton, Ohio) fielder’s choice as Himes was out at second on the play. DeVries then smacked the RBI single to left to tie the game.
The Buckeyes opened up the game in the top of the fifth, scoring three more. Jennifer Link (Sr., Yorba Linda, Calif.) led off the innings with a single through the left side. Evans then followed up with a bunt-single before Link and Evans advanced to second and third on an errant throw by Viking pitcher Michelle Hext. Himes was next up and delivered a single through the left side to score Link and Evans and give Ohio State a 3-1 lead. With Himes at third base and one out, DeVries grounded out to second to knock in Himes and extend Ohio State’s lead to 4-1.
The Vikings would answer again in the bottom half of inning five when Kayla Lewis scored from second on a Maggie DeWall single to center field.
In the sixth, the Buckeyes would tack on an important insurance run. With two outs, Link walked and then stole second, her fourth of the year. After Evans walked, Himes hit a grounder back to the pitcher and a bad throw allowed Link to score the fifth and game-winning run for the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes are back in action at 8 a.m. PT Sunday as they take on No. 7 Cal State Fullerton in the final game of the Cal State Fullerton/Worth Invitational.
