Buckeyes Finish off Fall Season with Two Wins Sunday at Charity Classic – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Chris Spielman speaks to all teams and fans before Ohio State wraps up 4-0 weekend
COLUMBUS, Ohio On day two of the Ohio Collegiate Charity Classic, in what is one of Central Ohio’s biggest fundraisers for the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research, the Buckeyes beat Toledo, 6-1, and Kent State, 4-0.
Before the day got started, Chris Spielman, former All-American and All-Pro linebacker and husband of Stefanie Spielman, addressed all teams, officials, family and friends, stressing the importance of breast cancer research and thanking people for their continued support. He then threw out a ceremonial first pitch.
“I thought Chris Spielman gave a wonderful talk to kick off the day we were honored to have him here on Stefanie’s behalf, and as he said, it is not her disease; it’s everybody’s disease,’” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “Again, we are so grateful to the Troopers, umpires, trainers, high school coaches, our grounds crew and the staff at Fred Beekman Park for all their contributions to this tournament and ultimately to breast cancer research.”
In the circle, sophomore Lindsay Bodeker and junior Kim Reeder teamed up to shut down Toledo and Kent State, respectively, combining for 12 innings, striking out seven and giving up only one run. At the plate, freshman Brittany Goodchild led the Buckeyes, going 3-for-6 with two RBIs.
“We played both of these teams earlier in the fall our first weekend out and I challenged our team to be better the next time we played them,” Kalafatis said. “I think we did that. I thought Kim Reeder was very good again today. She is stepping up in the leadership role on the mound and on the team. We played solid defensively and had timely hitting all ingredients to winning.”
In the intense heat that reached near 90 degrees, Ohio State beat Toledo, 6-1, as three Buckeyes each drove in five runs. Goodchild and junior Courtney Pruner both drove in two runs each, while freshman Dee Dee Hillman posted one RBI in the top of the fourth. Senior Liz Caputo was 2-for-2 and sophomore Whitney Cooper added a single. In a complete five-inning appearance, Bodeker gave up six hits, allowing only one run.
To close out a perfect weekend with a 4-0 win over Kent State, Reeder threw a seven-inning shutout, striking out four and allowing only one walk. Senior Brittany Vanderink set the pace for Ohio State with a lead-off homerun, followed shortly by Cooper, who posted a homerun in the bottom of the fourth. Goodchild continued her three-game hitting streak, going 2-for-3 and was joined by freshman teammate Nic Perales who also went 2-for-3, while Pruner singled in the third.
The Charity Classic marks the end of the Buckeyes’ fall season. Ohio State will be back in action in February, where the Buckeyes will be on the road until their first home game at Buckeye Field against Houston, March 18.
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Contact: Tim Stried, stried.3@osu.edu
