Buckeyes Fall to No. 15 Fresno State Comeback, 3-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 26, 2004
Box Score| Notes
FRESNO, Calif. – The Ohio State softball team dropped a hard-fought contest to 15th-ranked Fresno State Friday night, 3-2, in the second game of a double-header in Fresno, Calif. The Buckeyes held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 during the game, but the host Bulldogs scored two runs in the sixth inning and went on claim their second one-run victory over Ohio State on the day.
Ohio State (17-10) out-hit Fresno State (27-12), 9-8, marking the first time this season in 17 games the Buckeyes were defeated when out-hitting their opponent.
“We had great intensity and energy tonight,” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “Unfortunately that didn’t translate into wins. Our pitchers were very good tonight and the team showed great competitiveness. We just need to find a way to play for seven innings.”
After dropping the opening game of the double-header, 1-0, Ohio State scored first in the second game as sophomore Billie Jo Carder (Celina, Ohio/Celina) reached base on a third strike passed ball, was moved to second base by junior Meghan Rowlands (Hilliard, Ohio/Bishop Ready) and then to third base by freshman Megan Schwab (Glendale, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain). Freshman Nycole Koyano (Walnut, Calif./Walnut) then delivered an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Carder.
Fresno State answered with one run of its own off four hits in the bottom of the third inning, but the Buckeyes regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning with a two-out rally. Junior Natalie Hales (Canton, Ohio/Eastern Michigan) singled, advanced to second on a single by junior Jennifer Johnson (La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada) and scored on an RBI single down the left field line by Rowlands. Fresno State came back, however, with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off a three-base throwing error by OSU and later an RBI single. The Bulldogs then held Ohio State scoreless in the top of the seventh inning to end the game.
Freshman Jamee Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) went the distance in the circle for Ohio State, striking out two batters. She also contributed at the plate with a 2-for-4 effort. Rowlands went 2-for-2, Koyano went 2-for-4 and junior Ashley Cutcliff (Zionsville, Ind./University of Florida) went 1-for-3 with a double.
Ohio State will return to action in Columbus next weekend as the Buckeyes take on their first two Big Ten opponents of the season. Minnesota will visit Buckeye Field for a 6 p.m. game Friday and a noon game Saturday, while Wisconsin will be in town for a noon double-header Sunday.
“We’re looking forward to a good, hard week of practice as we prepare to play two really good Big Ten teams in Minnesota and Wisconsin,” Kalafatis said. “It’s one of our two home Big Ten weekends, so we’re hoping to make the most of it.”
