Ohio State Softball Beats Michigan State, 8-7, in Eight Innings – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 17, 2004
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team (26-15; 3-5 Big Ten) beat Michigan State (24-17; 4-6 Big Ten), 8-7, Saturday at Buckeye Field. Four runs in the top of the fifth inning put Ohio State up, 7-5, but Michigan State answered with two scores in the seventh and sent the game into extra innings. A pair of Buckeye rookies combined to account for the winning run of the game. In the top of the eighth inning, Megan Schwab, who was 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, doubled up the middle and scored when Nycole Koyano hit a double down the left field line. Koyano went 2-for-4 with an RBI on the afternoon. The Buckeye defense stopped Michigan State in the final half-inning and OSU earned its third conference victory.
Ohio State led 7-5 heading into the seventh, but Michigan State tallied two runs by Natalie Furrow and Jessica Beech to tie the game. Ohio State’s Jamee Juarez, who improved to 12-6 on the year, intentionally walked two batters, which loaded the bases with one out. Janette Hurtado reached on a fielder’s choice when Buckeye shortstop Jennifer Johnson threw Michigan State’s Elizabeth Peterson out at home plate to account for the first out. The Ohio State defense stepped up as centerfielder Meghan Rowlands caught a fly ball and Johnson caught a foul fly ball to close the inning and send the game into extra innings.
Ohio State’s Chelsea Baker nailed a double to far left field to open the game and advanced on a Koyano single. Koyano was called out as she tried to advance to second on the play. A Karisa Evans’ single scored Baker and while she went to second off a sacrifice bunt by Juarez, Evans was left on base to close the first. Michigan State answered quickly by tacking on three runs in the bottom of the opening inning and bringing the score to 3-1. Nicole Mercado singled to left field. Mercado advanced and starting pitcher Jessica Beech reached first on an error by Ohio State shortstop Johnson. Natalie Furrow was caught swinging before Elizabeth Peterson singled to the shortstop. Brittney Green nailed an RBI single up the middle to bring home Mercado and Dayna Feenstra brought in two runs with a hit down the left field line.
Ohio State’s Kristi DeVries, who was 3-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBI and one run, hit a double to right centerfield in the bottom of the second inning. Johnson was brought in to pinch run for DeVries and scored when rookie Schwab hit a triple to right field. Schwab crossed home on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3. Baker singled and Koyano was walked, but both base runners were left on base.
The Spartans answered with two runs of their own and regained the lead, 5-3. Victoria Morache reached first on an error by Ohio State’s Johnson and advanced to second after Mercado was out. A Beech single to left field sent Morache to third and Morache and Beech crossed home off a Peterson single to the shortstop.
Both the Buckeyes and Michigan State went three-up, three-down in the third inning. DeVries opened the fourth with a double to left field, but was caught when Michigan State turned a double play on the next Ohio State batter. Schwab singled to right field, but was left on base as well. Juarez saw just three Spartan batters in the bottom of the fourth as the Ohio State defense maintained control to set up a crucial fifth inning.
Four Buckeye players scored in the fifth, which gave Ohio State a 7-5 advantage. After one out, Evans got things started with a single up the middle and Juarez and Pozzi followed her lead by hitting a single and double, respectively. Pozzi was credited with one RBI when Evans scored for OSU. With two outs, DeVries hit a double to left field and brought in both Juarez and Pozzi. With the score 6-5 in favor of the Buckeyes, pinch hitter Ashley Cutcliff stepped up and nailed a single, which scored DeVries and put the Buckeyes up, 7-5, with two innings left in regulation.
Michigan State’s Beech and Furrow each singled in the bottom of the seventh and advanced off a Peterson single. On the same play, an Ohio State fielding error scored Beech and Furrow to tie the game at 7-7, which forced the extra inning and resulted in the Buckeye winning run.
Ohio State takes on the Wildcats of Northwestern in a doubleheader at noon Sunday at Buckeye Field.
Game Notes: – Megan Schwab’s triple in the second inning was her second of the season.
– The Buckeyes celebrated senior day by holding a postgame ceremony for departing seniors Kristi DeVries, Beth McAbier and Breana Pozzi.
– The Buckeyes move to 9-9 all-time vs. Michigan State under head coach Linda Kalafatis.
