Ohio State Softball Loses, 5-1, at Minnesota – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 26, 2003
Box Score
The Ohio State softball team (23-20; 4-8 Big Ten) lost, 5-1, at Minnesota (34-15-1; 10-6 Big Ten) in Minneapolis Saturday afternoon. Shortstop Jennifer Johnson (So., La Mirada, Calif.) scored the lone run for Ohio State in the bottom of the third inning, but the Golden Gophers laid on four runs at the top of the fifth to take the lead for good.
The Buckeyes got on the scoreboard first in the third inning. Johnson reached first on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second off sophomore Meghan Rowlands’ (Hilliard, Ohio) sacrifice bunt and crossed home off a single to left field by Karisa Evans (So., Franklin, Ohio). Catcher Stacy Hibma (Buena Park, Calif.) recorded the only other hit for the Buckeyes to open the third with a single up the middle, but pinch runner Nicole Lancaster (Fr., Magnolia, Ohio) was called out on the fielder’s choice that put Johnson on base.
Minnesota responded in the fifth by scoring four runs. Piper Marten hit a single up the middle and advanced when Jordanne Nygren walked. Veronica Roberts doubled to left field to score both Marten and Nygren and advanced to third base on the throw. Angie Recknor reached first on an Ohio State error, which crossed Roberts. Freshman pitcher Chelsea Baker (Gahanna, Ohio) then came in to relieve Katie Chain (Bolivar, Ohio). Minnesota’s Recknor advanced to third off a sacrifice bunt by Anne Thul and Recknor scored on the next play off a Shelly Nichols sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Minnesota scored the final run of the game at the top of the seventh inning. Roberts was walked and stole second before she advanced to third off a Recknor single through the right side. Nichols was intentionally walked, which loaded the bases and Roberts came home off a sacrifice fly out to left field by pinch hitter Andrea Smith.
Chain, who struck out six batters, was credited with the loss and moved to 10-11 overall, while Minnesota’s Marten earned the win and improved to 18-9 on the season.
The Buckeye defense was solid once again by leaving eight Golden Gopher batters on base, including two players each in the first, second and seventh innings.
Ohio State travels to take on the Badgers of Wisconsin Sunday, April 27, in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. ET in Madison, Wis.
