Ohio State Softball Drops Game One vs. Wisconsin, 5-4 – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 27, 2003
Box Score
The Ohio State softball team (23-21; 4-9 Big Ten) lost, 5-4, at Wisconsin (16-24; 5-12 Big Ten) in game one Sunday afternoon at Goodman Diamond. The Buckeyes came back in the fourth inning to tie the game and pulled ahead 4-3 in the sixth, but Wisconsin responded with back-to-back runs in the seventh and eighth innings to capture the conference win.
At the bottom of the second inning, Wisconsin’s Meghann Reiss hit a single shot home run to right centerfield to put the first run of the game on the board. Natalie Phillips was walked and teammate Boo Gillette doubled to centerfield, which put Phillips on third base. A Kris Zacher double to left field brought both runners home and upped Wisconsin’s advantage to 3-0.
Ohio State answered by scoring three runs at the top of the fourth. With two outs, senior Amy Ellis (Erie, Pa.) singled off a bunt and shortstop JJ Johnson (La Mirada, Calif.) reached on an error by Wisconsin. On the same play, the centerfielder for UW overthrew to third base in an effort to catch Ellis, but the ball went into the Badgers’ dugout and Ellis and Johnson where each given a base, which crossed Ellis and put Johnson on third. Senior Jenn Link (Yorba Linda, Calif.) doubled to left field, which brought in Johnson. Another Wisconsin error put sophomore outfielder Karisa Evans on first and brought home Link.
Ohio State’s go-ahead run came in the sixth when sophomore Meghan Rowlands (Hilliard, Ohio), who was pinch running for Johnson after she reached first on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second off a Link single to left field, made it to third off a Wisconsin error and scored on a passed ball.
Wisconsin would match the Buckeyes’ effort with a run at the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 4 and send it to extra innings. Erin Barnharst was put on base when she was hit by a pitch and reached third off a double by Anastasia Miller to left centerfield. The Ohio State defense was tough and responded to Miller’s double when Rogeanna Hottinger (Newark, Ohio) throw reached catcher Annie Dedic (Yorba Linda, Calif.) in time to stop Diana Consolmagno from scoring. On the same play, Dedic’s quick reaction resulted in the third out of the inning when she hit Kristine Himes (Bolivar, Ohio), who caught Miller at third.
The Buckeyes could not convert in the top half of the extra inning, but Wisconsin’s Reiss doubled to left field, advanced off a single by Sheena Padovan and crossed home when Zacher singled to the shortstop.
Freshman pitcher Chelsea Baker (Gahanna, Ohio) was brought in to relieve Kristi DeVries (Corona, Calif.) in the third inning. Senior Katie Chain (North Canton, Ohio) entered in the bottom of the eighth with a runner on second, but was unable to save Ohio State. Baker was credited with the loss and moved to an even 2-2 on the year. Wisconsin’s Andrea Kirchberg earned the win and moved to 14-16 on the season.
