Reeder, Marder Sweep Big Ten Weekly Honors – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the first time since 2002, Ohio State has swept the Big Ten weekly softball honors as Kim Reeder was named the league’s pitcher of the week and Sam Marder was named the player of the week, the conference announced Tuesday. The duo helped lead the Buckeyes to a 5-3 record at the South Florida adidas Invitational in Clearwater, Fla., last weekend.
Reeder (So., Salinas, Calif./Notre Dame H.S.) went 3-1 in the circle last weekend with a 1.28 earned run average 19 strikeouts in 27.1 innings pitched that included a three-hit shutout over No. 26 Virginia Tech. Marder (Fr., Calabasas, Calif./Calabasas) hit .455 (10-for-22) with three doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI while posting a .600 on-base percentage with eight walks, including a school-record five against Hofstra.
The weekly league honor is the first for both players and marks the first time the Buckeyes swept the awards since March 26, 2002, when Wendy Allen was named player of the week and Katie Chain was pitcher of the week.
“I have said for some time that Sam has a chance to be one of the best hitters to come through our program,” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “And she is certainly holding true to that. Kim is extremely competitive and has thrown some really good games lately. It’s good to see these players get recognized for their contributions. Our team did a nice job last weekend of working through some things and coming together and Kim and Sam’s contributions were a big part of that.”
Reeder threw complete games in three of her four starts last weekend and went 6.1 innings in the other while giving up only two extra-base hits in her 27.1 innings. The honor for Reeder comes a week after she threw her first career no-hitter at Alabama-Birmingham March 3. On the season, Reeder is 8-3 with a 2.11 ERA (sixth in Big Ten) and 57 strikeouts in 66.1 innings pitched. She has thrown complete games in five her last six starts and is 6-1 in her last seven decisions. Opponents are hitting only .195 against her (fourth in Big Ten).
Marder, who hits in the No. 3 spot for the Buckeyes and did not commit an error in 33 chances last weekend, homered against Robert Morris and Central Michigan in back-to-back games. In Silver Flight quarterfinal and semifinal wins Marder went a combined 4-for-7 with four RBI. On the season, she leads Ohio State in batting average (.364), home runs (7, second in Big Ten), RBI (23, second and Big Ten), on-base percentage (.551, first in Big Ten) and walks (19, second in Big Ten).
Ohio State (12-10) hosts the Buckeye Invitational this Saturday and Sunday at Buckeye Field in Columbus. The event includes Oakland and Binghamton and begins at noon Saturday.
### GO BUCKS! ###
