Ohio State Softball Falls to Kentucky, 4-3, in Eight Innings – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 21, 2004
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team (27-18; 3-7 Big Ten) fell 4-3 in eight innings vs. Kentucky (23-24-1; 5-19 SEC) in game two Wednesday evening at Buckeye Field. The Wildcats tacked on two runs in the top of the eighth and Ohio State fell short as the squad dropped the non-conference game to UK. Two rookies were bright spots offensively for Ohio State as pitcher Jamee Juarez went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Nycole Koyano scored two runs.
Ohio State’s Juarez moved to 12-7 and Kentucky’s Gretchen Prugh improved to 5-7 on the season.
Kentucky’s Rachel Friberg nailed a home run to left field on the first pitch of the game to put the Wildcats up, 1-0, after the first half-inning. Ohio State’s Koyano was walked and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Karisa Evans. A Juarez single to left field brought home Koyano. Juarez advanced to second on the throw, but was left on base to end the inning tied with Kentucky, 1-1.
A Wildcat single by Friberg, who was left on base, in the top of the third would be the only player for either squad to get on base for four innings. UK’s Friberg broke the drought by doubling to left field at the top of the sixth. A sacrifice bunt by teammate Jessica Nance moved Friberg to second and a sacrifice hit that was dropped by the Ohio State right fielder scored Friberg.
With Kentucky up 2-1, Ohio State answered quickly and tied things up in the bottom of the sixth. Shortstop Jennifer Johnson singled to second base and Billie Jo Carder was brought in to run for her. Koyano was walked and moved to second off a sacrifice bunt by Evans. Freshman Megan Schwab reached first on a fielder’s choice and Carder was called out at home plate. A single by Juarez brought Koyano home and tied the game after six innings. Neither team scored and the game was sent in to extra innings.
Kentucky’s Friberg hit a single to left centerfield and was called out at second base when Nance reached first on a fielder’s choice. A double to left field by Amber Janneck brought in Nance. Meghan Cooper was walked. A Buckeye error by Johnson sent Campbell to first, Cooper to third and scored Janneck. Kentucky ended the inning up, 4-2.
In the bottom of the eighth, Johnson reached first on a Kentucky error by the shortstop. Johnson advanced to second off a wild pitch and rounded to third base when Koyano was caught at first. A single up the middle by Evans scored Johnson and brought the game to 4-3 with one out. Schwab hit a sacrifice slap that put Evans on second with two outs. Juarez walked, but Baker was out at first and Kentucky held on for the 4-3 victory.
The Buckeyes travel to Illinois and Iowa for Big Ten competition this weekend. Ohio State and Illinois play at 7 p.m. EDT Friday night and at 1 p.m. EDT Saturday in Champaign, Ill. The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes face off in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday in Iowa City.
