Juarez Pitches, Hits Ohio State Softball Past N.C. State, 2-0 – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2004
Box Score| Notes
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Ohio State freshman Jamee Juarez allowed just three hits, struck out nine batters and delivered a two-run single with two outs in the first inning that held up as the game-winning RBI to lead the Buckeye softball team to a 2-0 win vs. North Carolina State Saturday afternoon in the second day of the Winthrop Invitational in Rock Hill, S.C.
Juarez, a native of La Puente, Calif. (Wilson H.S.), was perfect through the first four innings of play. She retired the first 12 N.C. State hitters of the game, striking out five of the first eight. The Wolfpack got one runner aboard in the fifth inning, none in the sixth, but then loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning. Juarez worked out of the jam, however, with a pop out, strikeout and fly out to end the game.
Ohio State, which has won seven of its last nine games, improves to 10-6 on the season. N.C. State falls to 7-13.
Juarez’s two RBI were her team-leading 13th and 14th of the season. Her single through the left side of the infield scored freshman Nycole Koyano (Walnut, Calif./Walnut), who had singled, and pinch runner Jennifer Johnson (Jr., La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada), who replaced junior Ashley Cutcliff (Zionsville, Ind./University of Florida) following a walk.
Cutcliff and sophomore Chelsea Baker (Gahanna, Ohio/DeSales) both added a single for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State will meet Furman at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday. With a win vs. Furman, the Buckeyes will win their five-team group and enter Sunday’s championship bracket as the No. 1 seed. Ohio State will play the winner of the Western Illinois and Jacksonville State game, which will be played following the OSU-Furman contest.
###Go Bucks!###
