Ohio State Softball’s 19 Hits Fuels 14-4 Win vs. North Carolina A&T – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 12, 2004
Box Score| Notes
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Behind a season-high 19 base hits, including nine extra-base hits, the Ohio State softball team topped North Carolina A&T, 14-4, Friday afternoon in the first day of the Winthrop Invitational in Rock Hill, S.C. The Buckeyes scored 11 of their season-high 14 runs in the last two innings to improve to 8-6 on the season.
Sophomore Chelsea Baker (Gahanna, Ohio/DeSales) pitched five scoreless innings with four strikeouts to earn her first win of the season. She also had a career best day at the plate with three hits, which included her first career double and homerun. Her two-run homer capped a six-run sixth inning for the Buckeyes
Ohio State, winners of five of its last seven games, saw N.C. A&T load the bases with three infield singles in the first inning, but Baker was able to work out of the jam and retire 11 of the next 15 batters she faced.
“We did not play as well as we would have liked early on,” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “But I like the way we answered. We left too many runners on base early, but after that we stepped it up. It’s always a good sign to score in the late innings. They (N.C. A&T) scored four runs late, but we didn’t lay back and came right back out and scored more.”
Freshman Nycole Koyano (Walnut, Calif./Walnut) produced her first career three-hit performance, while three Buckeyes, including senior Beth McAbier (Carrollton, Ohio/Carrollton), junior Ashley Cutcliff (Zionsville, Ind./University of Florida) and sophomore Stacy Hibma (Buena Park, Calif./Valley Christian) all went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBI, tying their career high. Baker singled in the third inning, doubled off the fence in left centerfield in the fifth inning, then one inning later connected on her homerun to nearly the exact same spot.
“We came out fired up and it was a good way to start the tournament,” Baker said. “I hadn’t been making good contact lately, but it just came together today.”
Junior Karisa Evans (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin), freshman Jamee Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) and freshman Megan Schwab (Glendale, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain) each contributed a pair of hits to the Ohio State attack, as well.
Sophomore Andrea Tribuzi (Plano, Texas/Plano East) pitched the final two innings for the Buckeyes, striking out three and not allowing an earned run.
Ohio State will take on tournament host Winthrop at 8 p.m. Friday.
## GO BUCKS! ##
