Ohio State’s Juarez Shuts out Utah, 1-0 – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 23, 2007
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FULLERTON, Calif. – Senior Jamee Juarez pitched her 22nd career shutout and the Buckeyes scored on a two-out, bases-loaded passed ball for the game’s only run as the Ohio State softball team topped Utah, 1-0, Friday night at Cal State Fullerton’s Anderson Field.
With the win, Ohio State head coach Linda Kalafatis notches her 350th win at Ohio State as the Buckeyes improve to 16-12 overall and 2-2 on its spring break trip. Defending Mountain West Conference champion Utah falls to 17-10-1.
“Jamee has thrown good games all year,” Kalafatis said. “She battled both an injury and several Top 10 teams early in the season, which is why her record is at 5-7 and doesn’t show how good she is, but she is getting in a rhythm now and it’s the perfect time to do that with the Big Ten season right around the corner.”
Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) walked none and struck out eight to become the third OSU pitcher to reach the 600 career strikeout mark (601). She was perfect through three innings and allowed just four singles in the game – two each in the fourth and sixth innings – but worked out of the jam both times.
“Utah got those two hits in the fourth inning but I just tried to step up and shut them down,” Juarez said. “I never thought I’d get to 600 strikeouts and be mentioned with the best pitchers in Ohio State history. When I first started as a freshman I thought I was lucky to get two or three strikeouts in a game. I just have tried to do my best and this is a big honor.”
Against Utah starter Meghan Dyer (12-6), the Buckeyes got runners into scoring position in each of the first four innings but did not score. That changed in the fifth, however, when Ohio State loaded the bases and scored on a two-out passed ball. Senior Megan Schwab (Glendale, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain) hit a one-out double and went to third on a line drive single off the pitcher by senior Lauren Daykin (Melbourne, Australia/Manatee C.C., Fla.). Junior Liz Caputo (Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly) drew a two-out walk to load the bases and a slightly outside pitch to senior Nycole Koyano (Walnut, Calif./Walnut) was not handled by Utah catcher Hailey Davenport, allowing Schwab to scamper home.
Ohio State plays twice Saturday as its spring break trip in Los Angeles comes to a close. In Fullerton, the Buckeyes face San Diego State at 10 a.m. (PT), followed by a noon (PT) game against Cal State Fullerton.
### Go Bucks! ###
