Big Ten Season Begins on the Road for Ohio State Softball Team – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 29, 2005
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Coming off an 11-3 record in March and sporting a 16-8 record overall, the Ohio State softball team opens Big Ten play this weekend with single games at Wisconsin Friday (6 p.m., CST) and Saturday (noon, CST) and a double-header at Minnesota Sunday (noon, CST).
Ohio State, which will play its next 10 games all within the Big Ten Conference, is 3-0 at home this season but is not home again until Apr. 15-17 for games against Iowa and Illinois.
The Buckeyes own the Big Ten’s best offense with a .323 batting average and .409 on base percentage. Ohio State also leads the league in triples (12) and ranks second in stolen bases (45) and slugging percentage (.512) and has struck out the fewest number of times in the Big Ten.
ROAD GAMES MATCH OSU RECORD
For just the second time in program history, the Buckeyes will face their first three Big Ten opponents all away from Columbus. The 1987 OSU squad also opened its Big Ten schedule with three road opponents, including games at Michigan, Northwestern and Indiana.
Facing the Badgers and Golden Gophers on the road this weekend, Ohio State will then travel to Michigan State next weekend. The current road stretch is the just the third such overall six-game span of Big Ten road games in program history. What the 1987 Buckeyes first did, last year’s OSU squad duplicated when it played its final six league games all away from home.
When Ohio State hosts Iowa April 15, it will mark the Buckeyes’ first Big Ten home game since Apr. 18, 2004, when OSU hosted Northwestern.
BUCKEYES FARE WELL IN MARCH
Ohio State is hoping the momentum gained in March with an 11-3 record will carry over into the start of Big Ten play. The Buckeyes were 11-3 in March this season, building on a string of five consecutive seasons with stellar March records. Ohio State was 12-4 in March in 2004 and 2003, 20-7 in 2002 and a 17-7 in 2001. Winning streaks during those years included seven games in 2005 and 2004, nine in 2003, 14 in 2002 and 12 in 2001.
ALREADY TOPPING 2004 TOTALS
Just halfway through the 2005 season, several Buckeyes have already bettered their statistical totals from a year ago. Sophomore Megan Schwab has hit seven home runs after having three all of last year, while sophomore Nycole Koyano has five triples after having none in 2004. Junior Billie Jo Carder has four doubles, compared to three last season, and 11 RBI, already more than the 10 she had as a freshman and sophomore combined.
Sophomore Christina Douglas has 21 hits, three home runs and 17 RBI this season after having 11 hits, one homer and seven RBI in 2004. Junior Stacy Hibma has three home runs, matching the career total of her first two seasons. Sophomore Jamee Juarez is 12-6 in the circle with 107 strikeouts after compiling a 13-10 record with 118 strikeouts in 2004. Those with batting averages significantly up from last year include Carder (.255 in 2004, up to .345), senior Ashley Cutcliff (.329 up to .440), Douglas (.216 up to .304), Hibma (.237 up to .333), Juarez (.279 up to .383), Koyano (.327 up to .371), junior Nicole Lancaster (.000 up to .267) and Schwab (.295 up to .443).
Chief among Ohio State’s team numbers up from last year, the Buckeyes’ 12 triples are more than the seven they had in 2004. In addition, Ohio State has already turned as many double plays (9) as it had all last season, and is on pace to better its’ 25 home runs (21 so far in 2005), 70 stolen bases (45 in 2005) and 230 runs (152 in 2005).
SCHWAB, JUAREZ KEEP STREAKING
Sophomores Megan Schwab and Jamee Juarez have extended their career-best hitting streaks to 10 games and eight games, respectively, heading into the Big Ten opener Friday at Wisconsin. Schwab’s 10-game hitting streak tops her previous best of seven games set a year ago. She is batting .612 (19-for-31) during her current 10-game streak.
The eight-game streak for Juarez has bettered her previous career-best of six games, and she is batting .385 (10-for-26) over the course of those eight games. However, perhaps the most impressive streak for Juarez comes from inside the circle, where she has had the decision in Ohio State’s last seven games (5-2 record) and in 10 of 11 games overall (8-2 record). Juarez was 2-4 in her first six decisions before winning nine consecutive games from Feb. 27 to March 24.
BUCKEYES 2-2 OVER SPRING BREAK
Ohio State is coming off a 2-2 record on its six-day spring break tour through Southern California last week. Behind two home runs from Megan Schwab and a two-hitter from Jamee Juarez, the Buckeyes topped Cal State Fullerton, 6-1, March 23. A day later, Loyola Marymount forced OSU into five errors in game one of a double-header and three more in game two to sweep the Buckeyes, 3-2 and 11-10. Ohio State came back March 26 and shut out California-Riverside, 5-0, behind Schwab’s two doubles, a two-run homer from Christina Douglas and a nine-strikeout effort from Juarez.
OHIO STATE QUICK HITS
Ohio State is batting .323 (best in Big Ten) compared to .249 for its opponents. The Buckeyes have more than twice as many doubles (36-15) and six times as many triples (12-2). OSU has outscored its opponents 152-100 overall, which includes 20-11 in the first inning and 35-13 in the fourth inning. Twice this season the Buckeyes have scored eight runs in the fourth frame.
Ohio State is 11-for-28 (.393) when the bases are loaded with three grand slams. In 157 innings played, the Buckeyes’ leadoff batter has reached base 70 times (.446). OSU increases its average to .367 with runners in scoring position and to .510 (26-for-51) with a runner on third base and less than two outs. Buckeye pitchers have wracked up 143 strikeouts, while OSU hitters have struck out only 98 times and have 68 percent more walks (84 to 50).
The Buckeyes are 9-1 when holding their opponents to two or fewer runs. OSU is 7-0 when scoring in the first inning and 15-2 when scoring first in the game. Ohio State is 15-1 when outhitting or having the same number of hits as its opponent.
BUCKEYES IN THE BIG TEN
Ohio State’s .323 batting average is best in the Big Ten, as are the Buckeyes’ 12 triples and .409 on base percentage. OSU has also struck out the fewest times in the Big Ten (98), and ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten in both stolen bases (45) and slugging percentage (.512).
Individually, Megan Schwab owns the Big Ten’s best batting average (.443) and slugging percentage (.886). She is tied for fifth in doubles (8) and home runs (7) and her .500 on base percentage ranks third behind teammate Nycole Koyano’s .530 mark, which ranks second. Koyano leads the league in triples (5), ranks third in walks (21) and her .371 batting average is eighth, while Jamee Juarez ranks seventh in that category at .383. Brittany Vanderink is tied for second in the Big Ten in triples (3) and is tied for seventh in stolen bases (9), while Karisa Evans is tied for second in sacrifice bunts (7).
Juarez ranks sixth in the Big Ten in innings pitched (98.1) and her 18 appearances are tied for fifth. Her 12 wins are tied for third.
NOTING THE BUCKEYES
Chelsea Baker’s two-run home run in the seventh inning against 19th-ranked Georgia Tech March 6 was her second of the season and fifth of her career. Her last five appearances have come as a pinch runner and she has scored a run in four of those games.
Liz Caputo has five multi-hit games this season. Her .300 batting average is best among the freshmen and her 14 RBI are third-most on the team. She has started in 15 games this season, including four of the last six. Her 12 RBI are tied for third on the team. A team-leading 10 of those RBI have come with two outs. Caputo has been to the plate with the bases loaded six times this season, more than any other Buckeye, and has three hits with the bases full. One of those hits was a grand slam against Long Island Feb. 27, a game in which she had an OSU freshman record seven RBI.
Billie Jo Carder is batting .345, fifth-best on the squad and 90 points better than her .255 average a year ago. She has already bettered almost all of her numbers from 2004, including games started (17-13), hits (20-13), doubles (4-3), RBI (11-6), on base percentage (.387-.250) multiple-hit games (6-1) and stolen bases (4-0). Carder had a career-high four hits in Ohio State’s 12-7 win over Marshall in the championship of the Buckeye Invitational March 20. Her grand slam against Mississippi State March 6 helped vault OSU to an 11-0 win. Carder is batting .429 with runners in scoring position, which ranks third on the team.
Ashley Cutcliff has three hits and three RBI in her last two games, which includes a home run March 24. Her 10 career homers are tied for seventh in OSU history. Cutcliff’s .440 average is second-best on the team this season.
Christina Douglas has played in all but one game this season and has made 21 starts, all at first base. She was named to the all-tournament team of the Buckeye Invitational March 18-20 after hitting .500 (4-for-8) in the event with two doubles, a grand slam and eight RBI. Her six game hitting streak from Feb. 27 to March 6 was the best of her career. All of her 2005 statistics are already better than her 2004 totals, including her 17 RBI, which are tied for second on the squad this season.
Karisa Evans is batting .300 overall and raises that to .379 with runners on base. Her career batting average of .327 is eighth-best in school history. Evans has started in 21-of-24 games this season at three different positions, and OSU is 10-4 when she starts in right field. Nicole Gragson pitched six solid innings against Iowa (now ranked No. 23) March 6 in the championship game of the Buzz Classic. Her six innings, as well as her four strikeouts, are her career best. She had her first collegiate win March 4 when she went four innings to beat SDSU.
Natalie Hales has a hit in four of her last six games and hit her fourth career home run March 23 in OSU’s 6-1 win at Cal State Fullerton. Four of her six hits this season have come with two outs. Jennifer Johnson owns a team-best 47 fielding assists in 2005 and her 36 putouts rank fifth.
Stacy Hibma has three home runs in her last six games played. She blasted two home runs against Boston March 5, her career-best, then hit a three-run homer against Eastern Michigan March 18. Over spring break last week she batted .429 (3-for-7). Stephanie Hill was in the starting lineup March 5 vs. Boston in the flex spot and has entered the game as a pinch runner 15 times this season, most on the team. She has scored eight runs this season and has four stolen bases.
Jamee Juarez continues to add to her stellar numbers this season. In the circle, she sports a 12-6 record with 107 strikeouts and won nine consecutive games from Feb. 27-March 24. She is already on the brink of surpassing her totals from last season when she was 13-10 with 118 K’s. Her 225 career strikeouts are seventh all-time at OSU. At the plate, she currently has an eight-game hitting streak, during which time she is batting .385 (10-for-26). Juarez was named to the all-tournament team of the Buckeye Invitational when she pitched OSU to each of its three wins in the event and batted .556 (5-for-9). Overall this season, she is batting .383, third-best on the team, and she raised that to .406 with runners on base, also third on the team. Juarez has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week twice in 2005.
Nycole Koyano has started in 22 of Ohio State’s 24 games this season and has at least one hit in seven of the last eight games. She leads Ohio State in runs scored (21) and walks (21). Her .371 batting average is fourth on the team and her .530 on base percentage is second. Koyano hit her team-leading fifth triple of the season March 20 vs. Marshall, which is already tied for the fifth-most triples in a season in OSU history (see later note). Koyano was named to the all-tournament team of the Buckeye Invitational March 18-20 after batting .556 (5-for-9). Koyano set an OSU single-game record in the Buckeyes’ season-opening 8-0 win vs. Rutgers with two triples. She went 4-for-4 with three RBI in that game, both career-bests.
Nicole Lancaster had a career-best day March 5 against SDSU when she went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, an RBI and a double. She is batting .286 (4-for-14) this season. Meghan Rowlands had five hits in her first 12 at bats this season, including the game-winning RBI vs. Pittsburgh, Feb. 19. She went 2-for-3 against Eastern Michigan March 18 with a triple and an RBI and had her fourth two-hit game of the season March 24 at Loyola Marymount. She has started in 17 games this season, including the last eight consecutive games.
Megan Schwab has started in 22 games this season and is currently in the midst of a career-best 10-hitting streak. In those 10 games she is batting .612 (19-for-31). She leads Ohio State in batting average (.443), hits (31), doubles (8), home runs (7), slugging percentage (.886) and has a 1.000 fielding percentage. Schwab leads the team in multiple-hit games (9) and multiple-RBI games (10). Twice this season she has hit two home runs in a game and she has already driven in more runs (28) and hit more homers (7) than she did in the 59 games she played in last season. She was named to the all-tournament team of the Buzz Classic March 4-6 and the Buckeye Invitational March 18-20. Her .581 average with runners in scoring position, .481 average with two outs and .673 success rate advancing runners are all best on the team.
Andrea Tribuzi made two pitching appearances in the Buzz Classic and has seven on the season. Brittany Vanderink is a perfect 9-for-9 in the stolen base department this season, which is best on the team and is tied for the fifth-most stolen bases ever at OSU for a freshman. She has made 11 starts this season and is batting .267, which jumps to .462 (6-for-13) with runners in scoring position. Vanderink’s three triples this season are tied for the second-most ever by a freshman at OSU and are one shy of the freshman record.
SIZING UP THE COMPETITION
Wisconsin brings a 9-11 overall record into the start of Big Ten play this weekend. The Badgers topped then-No. 23 Long Beach State 1-0 Feb. 25 and began the season 7-5, but are 2-6 since then. Three of the Badgers’ losses have come against ranked opponents in No. 7 UCLA, No 10 Texas A&M and No. 17 Oregon State. Wisconsin recently competed in the Florida Atlantic Invitational (3/18-3/20) and the Tulsa Invitational (3/4-3/6), where sophomore P Eden Brock and senior C/3B Boo Gillette were named to the all-tournament team. The Badgers return seven starters from a year ago on a team that had an overall record of 29-28, 6-14 in the Big Ten and 1-1 against the Buckeyes. Wisconsin’s offensive leaders include Kris Zacher (.375, 4 HR, 5 RBI), Boo Gillette (.369, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 2004 third-team All-Big Ten) and Anastasia Miller (.327, 4 HR, 9 RBI). Eden Brock leads the UW pitching staff with a 7-4 record and 2.03 ERA.
Minnesota, which hosts Penn State (15-11) Friday and Saturday prior to Ohio State’s arrival Sunday, has a record of 15-13, including a win over No. 24 Missouri Feb. 25, and is currently on a two game winning streak. Minnesota recently returned to Minneapolis following the completion of the Capital Classic in Sacramento, Calif., where it was victorious over Rhode Island and Kansas. The Golden Gopher offense is led by OF Stephanie Sward, who is batting .340. She is also leading the Big Ten in stolen bases with 17 and ranks third in hits with 32. Her accomplices Megan Higginbotham and Chrissy Ward are second and fifth, respectively, in steals with 13 and 10. Minnesota returns six starters from a year ago on a team that had an overall record of 33-23, 10-10 in the Big Ten and 1-1 against the Buckeyes.
OSU WINS BUCKEYE INVITATIONAL
Ohio State won all three of its games in the Buckeye Invitational last weekend to win the tournament and remain undefeated all-time in the four-year event with a 19-0 record. Outscoring their opponents 36-16 in the three games, the Buckeyes defeated Ball State and Eastern Michigan Friday before topping Marshall Sunday in the tournament’s title game.
Ohio State’s four sophomores were all named to the all-tournament team, including Christina Douglas, Nycole Koyano, Jamee Juarez and Megan Schwab. During the weekend, Douglas hit .500, Koyano hit .556, Juarez hit .556 and went 3-0 in the circle, and Schwab hit a tournament-best .700.
JUAREZ EARNS BIG TEN HONORS
Ohio State sophomore Jamee Juarez has been named the Big Ten softball Player of the Week twice this season. Her second honor came March 21 following her being named to the Buckeye Invitational all-tournament team after batting .556 (5-for-9) and pitching the Buckeyes to all three of their wins. Juarez totaled 15.1 innings pitched in the tournament and struck out 21 hitters, upping her career total to 194 strikeouts (see later notes).
Juarez earned her first conference player of the week award Feb. 22 after batting .700 (7-for-10) at the FAU Doubletree Classic in Boca Raton Feb. 18-20. She fashioned a 2-1 record in the circle with a 0.78 ERA in 18 innings pitched with 18 strikeouts.
KALAFATIS IN YEAR NINE AT OSU
Ohio State head coach Linda Kalafatis is in her ninth season at the helm of the Buckeyes’ softball program in 2005. She is already OSU’s all-time wins leader with 279 victories in Columbus (279-200-0, .579), and her overall record stands at 552-315-2 (.636) in 17 years as a collegiate head coach. Kalafatis has guided Ohio State to the NCAA tournament in two of the last three years and was named the 2002 Big Ten Coach of the Year. She is assisted by former Buckeyes Belinda Quisenberry and Chrissy Fowler.
### Go Bucks! ###
