Buckeyes Come Back to Top Colorado State, 8-7, in Extra Innings – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 11, 2006
Box Score
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – For the second time Saturday, the Ohio State softball team won in extra innings as the Buckeyes improved to 3-0 with an 8-7 win over Colorado State at the Hilton Las Cruces Invitational. A double by OSU’s Chelsea Baker in the bottom of the eighth inning sent OSU junior Nycole Koyano across the plate from second base for the game-winning run after Koyano’s collision with CSU catcher Shannon Causgrove dislodged the ball.
Ohio State led 6-1 after four innings but the Rams scored five times in the sixth inning and once in the top of the seventh to take a 7-6 lead. OSU senior Stacy Hibma (Buena Park, Calif./Valley Christian) knocked a two-out, two-strike single in the bottom of the seventh and one batter later freshman Courtney Pruner (Akron, Ohio/Ellet) hit a two-out, two-strike triple to score Hibma from first base to tie the game at 7-7.
With the international tie-breaker rule in effect, Colorado State began the top of the eighth with a runner at second base and would eventually load the bases, but Hibma had thrown out a Ram attempting to steal third base earlier in the inning and OSU junior pitcher Jamee Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) re-entered the circle to get the Buckeyes out of the jam, setting up the game-winning double to right field by Baker (Gahanna, Ohio/DeSales) to score Koyano (Jr., Walnut, Calif./Walnut), who began the inning on second base.
Colorado State, which finished third in the Mountain West Conference last year with an overall record of 30-22, falls to 1-2.
Juarez worked a total of six innings, striking out five batters, and improved to 3-0 on the season. She pitched into the sixth inning before being relieved by Pruner, who made her collegiate pitching debut with the appearance. Pruner worked two innings, allowing two hits and no earned runs.
For the third time in three games this season, Koyano walked to lead off the game. She later scored on an RBI single by junior Megan Schwab (Glendale, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain). OSU went up 2-0 in the second inning when sophomore Brittany Vanderink (Hiram, Ohio/Crestwood) walked and scored on an RBI single by Koyano.
The Ohio State lead increased to 3-0 in the third inning when Schwab walked, moved into scoring position on a single by senior Billie Carder (Celina, Ohio/Celina) and then scored on a double by Juarez.
Colorado State scored a lone run in the fourth inning before the Buckeyes sent three more runners across the plate in the fifth inning to go up, 6-1. Junior Christina Douglas (Mesa, Ariz./Dobson) singled and went to third on a single by Carder. The two then pulled off a double steal to score Douglas. A Juarez single scored Carder and sophomore Stephanie Hill (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville), pinch running for Juarez, scored following a single by Hibma.
Sunday will mark the conclusion of the Hilton Las Cruces Invitational when Ohio State will take on Utah at 9 a.m. (MST) and Texas-San Antonio at 11:30 a.m.
### GO BUCKS! ###
