No. 16 Softball Defeats Tokyo In Game One Of Chevron Invitational, 7-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 20, 2003
Box Score
HONOLULU, Hawai’i-The No. 16 Softball team (14-6) took game one of the University of Hawai’i/Chevron Invitational Thursday by defeating the Tokyo Women’s College of P.E., 7-2. The win was highlighted by an Ashley Cutcliff (So., Zionsville, Ind.) three-run home run in the bottom of the first and a Stacy Hibma (Fr., Buena Park, Calif.) two-run double in the bottom of the fifth.
Chelsea Baker (Fr., Gahanna, Ohio) pitched the first four innings for OSU, striking out five, to earn the win and Andrea Tribuzi (Fr., Plano, Texas) pitched the final two innings, also striking out five, for the save. Baker also went 1-for-2 at the plate.
The Buckeyes took a 3-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back. After Karisa Evans (So., Franklin, Ohio) and Breana Pozzi (Jr., Petaluma, Calif.) walked to open the inning, Cutcliff drove a Yuko Nakamura pitch over the center field fence to give OSU the early advantage.
The score remained 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth before the Buckeye added two more. Nicole Lancaster (Fr., Magnolia, Ohio) and Pozzi led off the inning with back-to-back singles and advanced to second and third on a passed ball. Two batters later, Hibma smacked a bases loaded double to left-center to score Lancaster and Pozzi.
Tokyo would not be denied, however, as they put two runs on the board in the top of the sixth courtesy of a Yuki Takeno two-run single to right-center, cutting Ohio State’s lead to 5-2. The Buckeyes responded right away their very next at bat. Pinch-hitter Kristine Himes (Sr., Bolivar, Ohio) drove a double to right-center to score Amy Ellis (Sr., Erie, Pa.) who reached on a single to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Elizabeth Kacsanek (Sr., Uniontown, Ohio) singled through the left side of the infield allowing Himes to score from second.
The game will not be included on Ohio State’s official season record or statistics. The tournament games with Hawai’i, Pacific and Wisconsin will.
The Buckeyes will take on Wisconsin and Pacific at 6 and 8 p.m. EST, respectively, Friday. OSU will then take on Hawai’i at 6 p.m. Saturday with the remainder of the tournament decided by seeding.
