Wisconsin Shuts Out No. 16 Softball, 1-0 – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 21, 2003
Box Score
HONOLULU, Hawai’i– The No. 16 Ohio State softball team (14-7) lost to Wisconsin (10-9), 1-0, in a pitchers dual between Ohio State’s Katie Chain and Wisconsin’s Andrea Kirchberg Friday at Rainbow Wahine Stadium. The Buckeyes managed just three hits off Kirchberg (8-7) and Wisconsin scored the winning run in the top of the seventh to earn the victory.
In the Badger seventh, Diana Consolmagno lined single to center, scoring Anastasia Miller from third for the game’s only run. The Buckeyes, though, avoided an additional Wisconsin run when centerfielder Rogeanna Hottinger (Sr., Newark, Ohio) threw out Boo Gillete at home on the play. Kristi DeVries (Jr., Corona Calif.) assisted with the out.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Annie Dedic (Sr., Yorba Linda, Calif.) gave the Buckeyes one last chance as she reached on a sharp single to center and advanced to second on a passed ball. Pinch hitter Amy Ellis (Sr., Erie, Pa.) then struck out swinging to end the game.
The Buckeyes were able to mount a small rally in the bottom of the sixth as well, but were turned away leaving two runners on base. Rowlands reached on an error by the shortstop and Evans singled down the left field line, giving the Buckeyes runners at first and second with no outs. Kirchberg then struck out the next three Ohio State batters (Carder, Himes and Cutcliff) to end the Buckeye sixth.
The Badgers threatened with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the second, but were turned away when Meghan Rowlands (So., Hilliard, Ohio) made a running catch near the fence in left. Chain turned away another Badger scoring attempt in the top of the sixth. After Wisconsin’s Meghann Reiss slapped a two out double over the head of Karisa Evans (So., Franklin, Ohio) in right, Chain retired Wisconsin’s Erin Barnharst who struck out looking to end the inning. The Buckeyes next take on Pacific at 3 p.m.
