Ohio State Softball Loses, 8-0, in Game Two vs. Michigan State – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 20, 2003
Stats
The Ohio State softball team (23-18;4-6 Big Ten) lost to Michigan State (29-13; 8-5 Big Ten), 8-0, Sunday in five innings at Buckeye Field. A strong fourth inning resulted in Michigan State scoring five runs and securing the victory for the Spartans. Senior pitcher Katie Chain (North Canton, Ohio) moved to 10-10 on the year and Michigan State’s Stephanie Christner earned the win to improve to 7-5.
Sophomore Karisa Evans (Franklin, Ohio) and senior Rogeanna Hottinger (Newark, Ohio) each tallied a hit, but the Buckeyes were unable to cross home plate.
After two innings with promising defense, Evans doubled to left field with two outs, but would not score for OSU. Hottinger’s hit came at the top of the fifth. With one out, Hottinger hit a single to left field and advanced to second on a Spartan error. Hottinger advanced to third on the next play, but that would be as far as the Newark, Ohio, native would get.
Michigan State’s Brittney Green scored first for the Spartans in the third inning by hitting a homerun to left field. Green’s squad would respond with five runs scored in the next inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Tiffany Wallace’s single to right field was followed by another Spartan homer by Natalie Furrow. After Lacy Hauxhurst reached on a walk and with two outs looming, MSU’s Christner doubled to left field, which brought in Hauxhurst. Jennifer Diesing was brought in to pinch run for Christner and advanced to third off a single from teammate Green, who subsequently stole second. Beech racked up another hit for the Spartans and advanced to second on the throw when Diesing crossed home plate. Freshman Andrea Tribuzi (Plano, Texas) was brought in to relieve Chain. MSU’s Green was brought in for the final run of the inning on a wild pitch before Peterson grounded out to second. The Spartans scored two runs in the fifth inning from Amy Szawara and Hauxhurst, which brought the merci rule into effect and ended the game. Furrow, who was 2-for-3 on the day, hit a double to left center before Szawara came into pinch run for her. Hauxhurst singled to left field and sent Szawara to third before she stole second. Janette Hurtado bunted to bring in Szawara. Christner’s fly out to centerfield on the next play created the opportunity for Hauxhurst to cross home for the second time and capture the conference victory for MSU.
The Buckeyes travel to take on the Golden Gophers of Minnesota at 6 p.m. and noon April 25 and 26, respectively, in Minneapolis. Ohio State will go immediately to Madison to face the Badgers in a doubleheader beginning at noon April 27.
