Buckeyes Fall to Minnesota In 10 Innings, 1-0, In Big Ten Opener – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 2, 2004
Box Score| Notes
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State senior Kristi DeVries pitched a gem of a game Friday night in the Buckeyes’ Big Ten opener, but a visiting Minnesota squad scored an unearned run in the top of the tenth inning and made it hold up as the Golden Gophers took a 1-0 extra-inning victory over the Ohio State softball team at Buckeye Field.
DeVries (Corona, Calif./Corona) struck out a season-high 13 batters and allowed just five hits, but Minnesota’s Hailee Nanchy led off the 10th inning with a double and scored one pitch later on an Ohio State two-base throwing error.
“I thought we played with heart and were ready to play,” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “It’s really too bad that Kristi (DeVries) had to come away with a loss after pitching so masterfully.”
DeVries allowed just six of the 35 batters she faced to reach base and did not allow a base runner in six of her 10 innings.
Ohio State freshman Jamee Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) led off the second inning with a double and junior Jennifer Johnson (La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada) led off the fifth inning with a double, but both runners were left stranded. Freshman Nycole Koyano (Walnut, Calif./Walnut) and junior Karisa Evans (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) collected back-to-back singles to lead off the fourth inning and the Buckeyes eventually loaded the bases, but Minnesota worked its way out of the inning. Minnesota pitcher Piper Marten improves to 12-6 with the win. She entered the game ranked among best strikeout pitchers in the Big Ten with 138 strikeouts in 102.2 innings pitched, but was able to strike out just six Buckeyes in the 10-inning game. Ohio State ranks as the toughest team in the Big Ten to strikeout (.158 strikeout average).
“In the critical situations we couldn’t take advantage of a couple opportunities, but Minnesota did and won,” Kalafatis said. “Either we didn’t put the ball down in play or didn’t get that key hit, and I knew with (Minnesota pitcher) Piper Marten on the mound we wouldn’t have many opportunities.”
Ohio State sees their record slip to 17-11 overall, 0-1 in the Big Ten and 3-1 at home. Minnesota improves to 20-10 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. These two teams will meet again Saturday at noon at Buckeye Field.
### Go Bucks! ###
