Ohio State Softball Tops Loyola-Chicago, 3-0, In 2004 Home Opener – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 19, 2004
Box Score| Notes
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team posted a 3-0 shutout of Loyola-Chicago Friday afternoon in its 2004 home opener at Buckeye Field as part of the six-team Buckeye Invitational. Senior Kristi DeVries struck out 11 and allowed just one hit in winning her fifth consecutive decision as the Buckeyes played their first of four home games this weekend.
Ohio State (13-7) won for the eighth time in its last nine games and remains perfect in the Buckeye Invitational at 14-0 in the events’ fourth year. Loyola-Chicago falls to 8-12.
Ohio State junior Meghan Rowlands (Hilliard, Ohio/Bishop Ready) reached base in both of her two plate appearances, first by a walk and the next via a double off the top of the wall in centerfield, and scored on both occasions off RBI from freshman Nycole Koyano (Walnut, Calif./Walnut).
“Meghan (Rowlands) and CoCo (Koyano) teamed up pretty well,” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “Meghan got on twice and CoCo brought her in. Their pitcher did a good job of mixing it up and keeping out hitters off balance, but Kristi (DeVries) pitched really well tonight. She has so many ways to get hitters out and she used them all tonight.”
DeVries’ strikeout total ties her season high. In her last four outings she has allowed only one run.
Freshman Jamee Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) went 2-for-3 in the game, her second hit scoring sophomore Billie Jo Carder (Celina, Ohio/Celina), who had doubled in her first at bat of the season. Junior Karisa Evans (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) also doubled for Ohio State.
Ohio State will face Robert Morris Friday night in the Buckeyes’ second game of the Buckeye Invitational, which will also mark the first home night game in the history of Ohio State softball.
###Go Bucks!###
