Ohio State Softball Falls, 5-3, in Game One vs. Northwestern – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 18, 2004
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team (26-16; 3-6 Big Ten) lost to Northwestern (23-13; 6-5 Big Ten), 5-3, Sunday at Buckeye Field. Buckeye first base player Beth McAbier went 2-for-2 at the plate with 2 RBI. Northwestern’s Eileen Canney earned the win and improved to 13-2, while Courtnay Foster was credited with her third save this season. Ohio State’s Kristi DeVries fell to 8-9 on the year.
Northwestern was the first team to get a batter on base when Kristen Amegin singled to shortstop. Ohio State catcher Natalie Hales caught a foul fly ball behind the plate and rookie second baseman Nycole Koyano hit first baseman Beth McAbier to leave Amegin on base and close the top of the second inning.
In the top of the third, Northwestern’s Katie Logan singled to third base and Carri Leto’s hit to first base advanced her to second. Sheila McCorkle was walked, which loaded the bases with one out. Erin Mobley was out at first, but was credited with an RBI when Logan crossed home to put the Wildcats up, 1-0. Buckeye pitcher DeVries caught Garland Cooper swinging to end the inning.
The Buckeyes’ first hit came at the bottom of the third when first baseman McAbier singled to the shortstop. McAbier advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by Koyano. Nicole Lancaster was brought in to pinch run at second base for McAbier, but she was left on base when centerfielder Chelsea Baker was caught out at first base.
Wildcat Kristen Amegin opened the fourth with a homerun up the middle, which gave Northwestern a 2-0 advantage. DeVries struck out the next three batters for Northwestern to end the inning.
With two out in the bottom of the fourth, third base player Jamee Juarez singled to right centerfield, but was left on base.
In the top of the fifth, Northwestern’s Leto singled to right field and advanced to second on a passed ball. Wildcat Mobley tallied the second homerun of the game with a shot to right field, which scored Leto and sent NU up 4-0 over Ohio State.
Buckeye freshman left fielder Megan Schwab was walked to open the bottom of the fifth and went to second when designated player Breana Pozzi singled up the middle. Both Schwab and Pozzi advanced to second and third, respectively, off a passed ball. A McAbier single up the middle brought in Schwab and Pozzi and pulled Ohio State within two runs of Northwestern, 4-2. With two outs, Koyano hit a single to shortstop, which advanced McAbier, but McAbier got caught rounding second base when Northwestern’s second base player chased her down on the way to third.
The Wildcats went up 5-2 in the top of the sixth. Northwestern’s Amegin doubled down the left-field line, advanced to third when Manahan was out at first and was brought home when Dotson was called out at first base.
Ohio State’s Karisa Evans opened the bottom of the sixth inning by reaching on an error by Northwestern’s shortstop. With two outs, Schwab stepped up and nailed a double just left of centerfield and scored Evans, which brought the Buckeye to within two runs, 5-3, of the visiting Wildcats.
In the bottom of the seventh and with two outs, Baker singled to reach first and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but was left on base to end the game and give Northwestern the Big Ten victory.
Ohio State and Northwestern play game two immediately following the first contest. The Buckeyes play host to Kentucky in a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Buckeye Field.
