Ohio State Softball Uses Two Homeruns to Beat Michigan State, 2-0 – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 20, 2003
Stats
The Ohio State softball team (23-17; 4-5 Big Ten) used two homeruns to beat Michigan State (28-13; 7-5 Big Ten), 2-0, Sunday in game one at Buckeye Field. Sophomore Ashley Cutcliff (Zionsville, Ind.) and senior Rogeanna Hottinger (Newark, Ohio) each knocked one out of the park in the second and fifth inning, respectively. Junior pitcher Kristi DeVries (Corona, Calif.) was credited with the win and senior Katie Chain (North Canton, Ohio) earned the save when she entered at the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and caught Michigan State’s Elizabeth Peterson looking.
Brittney Green and Lewis kept Michigan State’s hopes alive in the final inning by sandwiching a Jessica Beech walk with a single to right centerfield and left field, respectively, to load the bases. Chain entered the game to assume the pitching duties for Ohio State and caught Peterson looking to solidify the Buckeye win.
Cutcliff and Hottinger were both 1-for-2 on the day while senior Jenn Link (Yorba Linda, Calif.) was 1-for-3. The only other scoring opportunity for the Buckeyes came in the bottom of the third when sophomore Karisa Evans (Franklin, Ohio) walked and Link singled to centerfield. Kristine Himes (Sr., Bolivar, Ohio) reached on a fielder’s choice, which resulted in Evans getting called out at third to close the inning, leaving Link and Himes on base.
Ohio State’s defense was solid by leaving nine Spartans on base, including three at the bottom of the first and seventh inning. Michigan State’s Sandy Lewis doubled down the right-field line and advanced to third off Tiffany Wallace’s single to second base in the first. The bases were loaded when Natalie Furrow, who was 1-for-2, walked, but Lacy Hauxhurst popped up to Ohio State’s third baseman Himes.
In the fourth, Furrow singled, but would not reach home. The sixth inning opened up with Lewis, who went 2-for-3, being walked, and Peterson reaching on a Buckeye error. Shortstop Margaret Schick was brought in to run for Peterson, but the Buckeyes would force three consecutive outs to close the inning.
Michigan State pitcher Jessica Beech was credited with the loss and moved to 20-6 on the season.
