DeVries Perfect as Ohio State Softball Tops Wright State, 8-0, in Dayton – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 6, 2004
Box Score| Notes
DAYTON, Ohio – Ohio State senior Kristi DeVries pitched a perfect six innings as the Buckeye softball team took an 8-0 win in six innings vs. Wright State Saturday afternoon at the University of Dayton Flyer Invitational. Of the 18 batters DeVries faced, she struck out s season-high 10 of them and retired the remaining eight with four groundouts and four pop outs.
It is the first perfect outing for DeVries, a native of Corona, Calif. (Corona), who ranks second in the Ohio State career record book with 46 wins and 454 strikeouts.
“I knew my defense was behind me and when I have the support of everyone is really helps my confidence,” DeVries said. “We have been working really hard and it just feels great.”
Junior Natalie Hales (Canton, Ohio/Eastern Michigan) blasted a three-run homerun in the second inning as Ohio State (7-6) sent five runners across the plate in the frame. Following Hales’ homer, senior Beth McAbier (Carrollton, Ohio/Carrollton) doubled off the top of the wall in leftfield and later scored on a double by freshman Megan Schwab (Glendale, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain). An RBI single by junior Karisa Evans (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) then scored Schwab.
Freshman Jamee Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) smacked a two-RBI single in the fourth inning and junior Ashley Cutcliff (Zionsville, Ind./University of Florida) added an RBI single in the sixth inning, which put the Buckeyes up by eight runs to end the game. The mercy rule victory was the second for Ohio State Saturday, as the Buckeyes also defeated Dayton, 9-1, earlier in the day.
“We have set some big goals coming into this tournament,” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “We played a very tough preseason schedule and our bats have been on the edge of coming up with something big. Today we made that happen. We hit the ball where it was pitched and supported our pitchers with great defense.”
Hales ended the day with a career-high three RBI and was one of four Buckeyes with two hits.
“We are playing with a lot of confidence,” Hales said. “We proved in fall ball that we were the best team in Ohio and we came here this weekend ready to prove that again and show what Ohio State is all about.”
Hales also added a double and was joined on the two-hit list by Evans, Cutcliff and Schwab.
Ohio State will face IUPUI at 9 a.m. Sunday before the bracketed portion of the tournament begins at 11 a.m.
