Ohio State Gets Past Portland State, 7-6, in Extra Innings – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 11, 2006
Box Score
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Ohio State softball team scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning and went on to notch a 7-6 extra-inning win over Portland State Saturday in the Hilton Las Cruces Invitational hosted by New Mexico State. OSU junior pitcher Jamee Juarez came on in relief for the final two innings to earn the win and help the Buckeyes improve to 2-0, while Portland State falls to 0-3.
Portland State scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the contest at 5-5 before Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) retired the side in the seventh inning and allowed just one run in the bottom of the eighth. Portland State, picked to finish second in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, falls to 0-3.
By international tie-breaker rule, Juarez was placed on second base to lead off the eighth inning and advanced to third on a single by OSU junior Megan Schwab (Glendale, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain), who then stole second to put both runners in scoring position. Senior Billie Carder (Celina, Ohio/Celina) then grounded to shortstop, with Juarez scoring on the play and Schwab following her across the plate when the throw from the PSU shortstop got away from the catcher.
OSU senior Chelsea Baker went 3-for-3, tying her career-high, with an RBI for the Buckeyes and freshman Courtney Pruner (Akron, Ohio/Ellet) knocked a two-run home run for her first collegiate hit.
OSU freshman starting pitcher Kim Reeder (Salinas, Calif./Notre Dame H.S.), in her collegiate debut, allowed a leadoff single to begin the game and PSU’s Laura Segall would later score to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead, but Reeder would not allow Portland State another run until the Vikings got four in the sixth inning. Reeder finished the game with four strikeouts.
Baker (Gahanna, Ohio/DeSales) knocked her third single of the game in the fifth inning, bringing Pruner, the all-time home run leader in Ohio high school history, to the plate. She launched a two-run shot over the wall in right centerfield to put Ohio State up, 5-1.
OSU Junior Nycole Koyano (Walnut, Calif./Walnut) led off the third inning with her second home run of the season and finished the contest with two runs scored. Koyano walked to lead off the game, stole second base and advanced to third on an errant throw by the PSU catcher on the play. She crossed the plate two batters later when Baker lofted a single over the head of the second baseman to score Koyano and give OSU a 1-0 lead.
The Vikings tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning and then held the Buckeyes scoreless in the top of the second, but Reeder was in the midst of retiring 12 consecutive batters to give OSU the opportunity to regain the lead. The Buckeyes did just that in the top of the third when Koyano led off with her second home run in as many days, this time a solo shot down the right field line. After hitting one home run her first two seasons, Koyano now has two this season, including a grand slam in the season opener Friday night against New Mexico State.
Ohio State added another run in the third when Baker singled to the left side and then scored on an RBI single by Juarez.
The Buckeyes will take on Colorado State at 4:40 p.m. (MST) Saturday.
### GO BUCKS! ###
