No. 7 Northwestern Welcomes Ohio State Friday and Saturday – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 12, 2007
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SETTING THE SCENE
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 7 Northwestern hosts the Ohio State softball team in Evanston, Ill., Friday at 4 p.m. CT and Saturday at noon CT as the Buckeyes play their first games since April 1. Ohio State (21-13, 4-0 Big Ten) has seen its last eight games cancelled because of snow or rain and will seek its first win at NU’s Sharon S. Drysdale Field since 2002. Northwestern (31-7, 6-1 Big Ten) is the defending Big Ten champion and national runner-up and is 4-1 at home this season.
Northwestern’s Web site, www.nusports.com, will have audio of both games streamed live and the game Saturday will feature a live video stream. The audio and video will be available through CSTV’s online All-Access package. GameTracker will also have both games live at www.OhioStateBuckeyes.com.
While Ohio State was sitting in hotels in East Lansing and Ann Arbor last weekend, Northwestern was able to play and win three games at Purdue and Indiana. The Buckeyes were cancelled again Wednesday against Wright State, marking their eighth-consecutive cancellation.
“We can’t control the weather, but we can control how we practice,” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “We had some good momentum going before these cancellations, so we’ll have to try to re-establish that momentum again. The kids are antsy to play because this is what we work all year for, but they understand that we can’t control the weather. Hopefully, it’ll give us a chance to get refreshed.”
The Buckeyes’ 4-0 start in the Big Ten is their first since 1990 when they won their first and only league title. The road games at Northwestern this weekend mark the second of three consecutive weekends on the road for the Buckeyes.
AROUND THE BIG TEN…
Once again this season, Penn State and Ohio State are travel partners and will face the same opponents each weekend. The Nittany Lions (16-12, 2-0) play a doubleheader at Northwestern Sunday.
Elsewhere around the league this weekend, Indiana (18-19, 1-5) and Purdue (19-25, 1-4) are at Wisconsin (19-11, 2-4) and Minnesota (13-14, 0-2), while Michigan (28-6, 1-1) and Michigan State (19-17, 0-2) are at Iowa (28-15, 4-2) and Illinois (23-14, 2-2).
NATIONAL LEADERS ON DISPLAY
In the first national statistical report released this week, Ohio State freshman Sam Marder was ranked second in walks (.97 per game), while senior Nycole Koyano was ranked sixth in triples (.15 per game).
Northwestern has several players among the national leaders, including senior Garland Cooper in home runs (2nd, .42 pg), RBI (5th, 1.32 pg) and slugging percentage (13th, .842). Sophomore Tammy Williams leads the nation in runs (1.39 pg) and is seventh in batting average (.496), while in the circle, senior Eileen Canney is 14th in strikeouts (10.0 pg).
OHIO STATE AT A GLANCE
The Buckeyes (21-13) have won seven of their last eight games and 12 of their last 16, but will seek to shake off an 11-day layoff when they visit Northwestern this weekend. Ohio State is hitting .272 as a team, which includes a .313 team batting average in its last 12 games.
Ohio State pitchers own a 2.68 staff earned run average, which is down nearly two full runs a game since February ended with a 4.59 ERA. The Buckeyes are 16-4 when they score first. They are 17-3 when they out-hit their opponent. Ohio State has outscored its opponents 27-12 in the first inning this season and 29-14 in the third. The Buckeyes’ current four-game winning streak is their longest of the season.
Ohio State owns signature wins over then-No. 22 Fresno State, then-No. 17 Cal and then-No. 26 Virginia Tech. Four of the Buckeyes’ losses have come against Top 10 teams.
Ohio State has 10 letterwinners and eight starters back from its 2006 squad that went 39-23 and 11-7 in the Big Ten and went to the Tucson Regional of the NCAA tournament. The Buckeyes have led the Big Ten in batting the last two years.
All three pitchers return in 2007, including senior Jamee Juarez and sophomores Kim Reeder and Courtney Pruner. Starters returning in the field include Juarez (P/3b, 2nd-team All-Big Ten), Lauren Daykin (c), captain Christina Douglas (1b), Nycole Koyano (2b, 2nd-team All-Big Ten/Region), Megan Schwab (lf, 2nd-team All-Big Ten/Region), Liz Caputo (cf) and Brittany Vanderink (rf/2b, 1st-team All-Big Ten/Region), while Pruner returns at designated player.
Head coach Linda Kalafatis is in her 11th year at Ohio State and is one of three coaches in the Big Ten with more than 600 wins. Since 2000, the Buckeyes are 281-159 for a .640 winning percentage, which ranks third in the Big Ten during that time.
A LOOK AT THE WILDCATS
Defending Big Ten champ and national runner-up Northwestern (31-7, 6-1 Big Ten) dropped its conference opener at home to No. 10 Michigan March 30, 11-4, but beat the Wolverines the next day, 4-3, and is now 6-1 in the Big Ten. The Wildcats’ only losses this season have come to teams that appear in the national polls. Northwestern has won 11 games by run-rule this season and is averaging 6.1 runs per game, which is on pace to shatter the school record of five runs per game.
The Wildcats have 12 letterwinners back from their 2006 team that went 50-15 and knocked off Alabama, Tennessee and UCLA to reach the national championship series against Arizona. Led by two-time defending Big Ten player of the year Garland Cooper (.38, 16 HR, 50 RBI) and Tammy Williams (.496, 10 HR, 35 RBI), Northwestern is hitting .307 as a team. In the circle, the duo of 2006 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Eileen Canney (16-7, 2.13 ERA) and freshman Lauren Delaney (15-0, 1.15 ERA) average nearly nine strikeouts per game. Head coach Kate Drohan is in her sixth season at Northwestern.
INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
The Buckeyes will see two of the best pitchers in the Big Ten this weekend in Northwestern senior Eileen Canney (16-7, 2.13 ERA), the 2006 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, and undefeated freshman Lauren Delaney (15-0, 1.15 ERA). Both are strikeout pitchers with 335 Ks between them. Facing them will be an OSU offense that leads the Big Ten in batting average in league games at .363.
At the plate, the top of NU’s line-up is among the best in the league and includes Katie Logan (.372, 10 SB), Tammy Williams (.496, 10 HR, 13 SB) and two-time Big Ten player of the year Garland Cooper (.386, 16 HR, 50 RBI). OSU sophomore pitcher Courtney Pruner notched two wins against Northwestern last year but has not started a game yet this year, while the Buckeyes’ two starting pitchers, senior Jamee Juarez and sophomore Kim Reeder, are a combined 0-2 in their careers against the Wildcats.
BUCKEYES VS. WILDCATS
The Buckeyes are 25-52-3 all-time against Northwestern. At Buckeye Field, Ohio State owns a 16-9 series advantage, but in Evanston the Wildcats are 23-9 against the Buckeyes since 1989. This weekend marks Ohio State’s first ever trip to Evanston when the Wildcats are ranked.
Of note, the last six regular season meetings between these two teams have been sweeps, with three for each team, including one on the opponents’ home field. Ohio State swept the series in 2001, 2002 (at NU) and 2006, while Northwestern swept the series in 2000, 2003 and 2004 (at OSU). The series was cancelled in 2005 at Evanston because of poor weather.
LAST YEAR: OSU GOES 2-1 vs. NU
Last year, then-No. 15 Northwestern came to Columbus April 9 with an eight-game winning streak, but the Buckeyes swept the Wildcats, 2-1 and 3-2. Ohio State’s then-senior co-captain Chelsea Baker hit a walk-off home run in the opener and the Buckeyes came from behind to with the nightcap with three unanswered runs that included a home run from Megan Schwab and an RBI single from Baker.
In the circle, Ohio State’s then-freshman Courtney Pruner stole the show. In the opener, she entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the seventh inning and struck out three consecutive batters, setting up Baker’s walk-off bomb. Pruner then made her first collegiate start in game two and tossed a six-hit, seven strikeout complete game. Host Northwestern then topped Ohio State, 4-0, in the Big Ten Tournament May 13.
BUCKEYES-WILDCATS CONNECTIONS
Ohio State sr. LF Megan Schwab (Glendale, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain HS) played club softball with Northwestern sr. OF Katie Logan (Tempe, Ariz./Corona del Sol HS). OSU jr. 2B Brittany Vanderink (Hiram, Ohio) played on a travel team last summer with NU sr. 1B Garland Cooper (Mission Viejo, Calif.) and sr. P Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.). NU jr. OF Kristen Salamon is from Kent, Ohio.
BUCKEYES IN THE BIG TEN
As of April 9: Ohio State ranks seventh in the Big Ten in batting (.272), fifth in pitching (2.68 ERA) and eighth in fielding (.954). Freshman Sam Marder is tied for the lead in walks (33, 2nd in nation), ranks ninth in slugging percentage (.674) and 10th in runs batted in (30). Senior Nycole Koyano ranks second in triples (5, 6th in nation) and fifth in stolen bases (13). Junior Brittany Vanderink is tied for ninth in stolen bases (11) and is tied for sixth with senior Christina Douglas in sacrifice bunts (8).
Among the league’s pitchers, senior Jamee Juarez ranks fifth in ERA (1.82), eighth in strikeouts (111), fourth in fewest walks allowed (20) and ninth in innings pitched (104.0). Sophomore Kim Reeder ranks seventh in opposing batting average (.212), 10th in innings pitched (102.2) and strikeouts (96) and is tied for seventh in wins (11).
STREAKS ON THE LINE…
Junior Brittany Vanderink owns a team-best 12 game hitting streak, which is one shy of her career longest. The longest hitting streak at Ohio State since 1998 when hitting streaks were first kept is 18 games by Anna Smith in 2002.
Six other Buckeyes also own hit streaks, including a six game streak by senior Nycole Koyano and a four game streak by senior Christina Douglas. Koyano leads the Buckeyes with 13 multiple-hit games this season, including seven in her last 11 games. During that time, Koyano is batting .410 (16-39).
Senior Jamee Juarez has won her last six decisions and is closing in on Ohio State records for career wins (64, record is 67) and innings pitched (664.2, record is 677.1).
RECORD BOOK WATCH
Senior Nycole Koyano owns 101 walks, which rank second in OSU history and are 17 shy of the school record. She ranks second all-time in stolen bases (71) and fourth all-time in runs scored (140, 2 shy of second place). If Koyano leads the Buckeyes in runs this season, she will be the first to do that all four years.
Senior Jamee Juarez ranks third all-time in career RBI (112) and is ranked in the Top 3 in four career pitching statistics, including innings pitched (No. 2, 664.2), wins (No. 2, 64), strikeouts (No. 3, 618, 6 shy of No. 2) and shutouts (No. 2, 22, four shy of No. 1).
Senior Megan Schwab is third all-time with 44 doubles (1 shy of No. 2) and fourth with 17 home runs. Schwab’s 106 RBI are third and her 109 runs scored are seventh. She has started 97 consecutive games for the Buckeyes, the longest streak on the team.
Sam Marder’s 33 walks this season are already an OSU freshman record and her 30 runs batted in are six shy of the record, set by Juarez in 2004. Five Buckeyes rank among the Top 15 in career batting average at Ohio State, including Brittany Vanderink (.335), Liz Caputo (.333), Nycole Koyano (.320), Megan Schwab (.313) and Jamee Juarez (.298).
HEAD COACH Linda Kalafatis
Head coach Linda Kalafatis is in her 11th season at Ohio State and in her 19th season as a collegiate head coach. She is OSU’s all-time wins leader (355-245, .591) and is one of three Big Ten coaches with more than 600 career wins (628-360-2, .634). Six times the Buckeyes have won at least 30 games under Kalafatis, who has guided OSU to the NCAA tournament three times (2002, 2004, 2006). She is assisted by former collegiate All-Americans Ali Viola (Nebraska) and Erica Beach (Arizona State).
BUCKEYE FIELD TO GET $5.1M FACELIFT
Buckeye Field, home of Ohio State softball since 1988, will get a $5.1 million renovation as soon as the 2007 season is over. The new 1,500 seat stadium will include indoor and outdoor batting cages, a three-plate bullpen, 650-square foot press box, player clubhouse, lounge and locker room, new dugouts, coaches and umpires locker room and a concession area.
Noting the Buckeyes…
Buckeyes in the Circle
OSU Pitchers: Tied for Big Ten lead in saves (4), rank 5th in the Big Ten in ERA (2.68) and 5th in strikeouts per game (6.4) … own 17 complete games, 4 shutouts and 3 no-hitters in 34 outings this season … have thrown 15 cg in last 24 g … no-hitters have come from Reeder (2) and Juarez.
Jamee Juarez, sr., RHP (9-7, 2 s, 1.82 ERA, 111 SO, 104.0 IP)
In 2007: Has won last 6 decisions … leads staff in strikeouts … among Big Ten leaders and continues to move up all OSU pitching records (see below) … owns a 5.6-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio … went 2-0 with save vs. Minn., Wis. … went 3-0 in LA on spring break (22 SO, 1 BB, 1.02 ERA) … threw no-hitter 3/18 vs. Oakland (13 SO) … 4 of her losses have come to No. 1 Ariz., at No. 5 Ariz. St., No. 9 Okla. and No. 26 VaTech … threw complete game 4-hitter in 2-1 win vs. No. 22 Fresno St. 2/23.
In the Big Ten: 5th in ERA, 8th in SO, 9th in IP, 9th in APP (22), 4th in fewest BB (20), 10th in opp. avg. (.233)
2007 highs: Innings: 7.2; Hits: 11; Runs: 4; Earned runs: 3; Walks: 4; Strikeouts: 13.
2007 lows: Innings in a start: 3.0; Hits in 5 inn.: 11; Hits in 6 inn.: 7; Hits in 7 inn.: 0; Hits in 7+ inn.: 4 (7.2 IP).
Career statistics: 64-40, 2.04 ERA, 618 SO, 664.2 IP, 59 CG
Career highlights: OSU MVP last two years … ranks 2nd all-time at Ohio State in shutouts (22), wins (64) and innings pitched (664.2) … 3rd in strikeouts (618) … set OSU single-season wins record as soph. (25). 2006 Recap: 17-11, 2.48 ERA, 196 SO, 189.1 IP … 2nd-team All-Big Ten … threw 10-inning shutout of Auburn in NCAA tournament (2nd of her career) … ranked 10th in the Big Ten in innings pitched, 7th in strikeouts, 10th in wins (tied with OSU’s Reeder) and t-4th in games started (31) … threw 1st career no-hitter 3/24 at Long Beach State.
Kim Reeder, so., RHP (11-5, 1 s, 2.52 ERA, 96 SO, 102.2 IP)
In 2007: 2 no-hitters this season (3/3 at UAB, 3/18 vs. Oakland) … Big Ten Pitcher of the Week March 13 … among Big Ten leaders (see below) … leads staff in opp. batting avg. (.212) … threw 9 K, 7 hit complete-game win vs. Wisconsin Apr. 1 … shut out No. 26 VaTech 3/10 (7 IP, 3 H) … threw 2-hitter in 3-1 win over BSC March 4 … went 25.1 straight innings without allowing an earned run … threw 11-strikeout cg in win vs. BYU 2/23 … got win vs. Cal 2/24 with 4.2 innings of 1-run relief … got win in season-opener vs. New Mexico (5.2 IP, 6 K) … UAB Magic City Classic all-tourn. team.
In the Big Ten: T-7th in wins, 7th in opp. avg. (.212), 10th in IP, 10th in SO, T-5th in fewest HR allowed (4)
2007 highs: Innings: 7.2; Hits: 8; Runs: 7; Earned runs: 6; Walks: 8; Strikeouts: 11.
2007 lows: Innings in a start: 2.2; Hits in 5 inn.: 3; Hits in 6 inn.: 4; Hits in 7 inn.: 0.
Career statistics: 27-16, 2.13 ERA, 254 SO, 282.1 IP.
2006 Recap: 16-11, 1.91 ERA, 158 SO, 179.2 IP … tied OSU freshman wins record … allowed 1 earned run in 15.2 innings vs. Top 10 opponents … threw 4 3-hit shutouts in April … led staff in ERA … among OSU frosh pitchers all-time, 179.2 innings pitched 3rd, 158 strikeouts 2nd, 1.91 ERA 10th, 4 shutouts tied-3rd, 15 complete games tied-third … 5-3 in Big Ten, 1.56 ERA … Crimson Classic All-Tourn. Team 3/5, including a 3-1 win at #4 Alabama 3/3.
Megan Miller, fr., RHP (1-1, 6.76 ERA, 10 SO, 19.2 IP)
In 2007: Threw 1 inn. relief vs. Minnesota 3/31 … of OSU’s 2 wins at season-opening ASU Kajikawa Classic, Miller had the win in one and the save in the other … became 3rd OSU freshman ever to pitch in 5-straight games … got win in 9-3 over Northridge Feb. 10 with 4 innings of one-run relief … made 1st collegiate start Feb. 24 vs. Cal (2.1 IP, no decision) … had save in 4-3 season-opening win over New Mexico (1.1 IP, 0 R) … tossed 2 innings of scoreless relief at No. 5 Arizona State Feb. 11.
2007 highs: Innings: 4.0; Hits: 5; Runs: 6; Earned runs: 5; Walks: 2; Strikeouts: 2.
2007 lows: Innings in a start: 2.1; Hits in 5 inn.: N/A; Hits in 6 inn.: N/A; Hits in 7 inn.: N/A.
Courtney Pruner, so., LHP (0-0, 28.0 ERA, 1 SO, 1 IP)
In 2007: Pitched vs. No. 1 Arizona (0.0 IP), Feb. 9 and Oklahoma (0.2 IP) Feb. 25 and vs. Wisconsin Apr. 1 (.1 IP).
2007 highs: Innings: .2; Hits: 3; Runs: 4; Earned runs: 4; Walks: 1; Strikeouts: 0.
2007 lows: Innings in a start: N/A; Hits in 5 inn.: N/A; Hits in 6 inn.: N/A; Hits in 7 inn.: N/A.
Career statistics: 6-1, 3.43 ERA, 50 SO, 53 IP.
2006 Recap: 6-1, 2.96 ERA, 49 SO, 52.0 IP … got 1st two collegiate wins on April 9 vs. #15 Northwestern, 1st in relief (1 IP, 3 K w/ bases loaded), then in 1st start (7 IP, 6 H, 7 K) … with runners on base, batters hit just .186 against her, best on the OSU staff (lowered to .143 in league games) … went 3-0 in Big Ten with 1.53 ERA … one of only 2 left-handed pitchers in the Big Ten (Wisconsin freshman Leah Vanevenhoven was the other).
Buckeyes in the Field
#27 Cortney Cannon, soph., c, R/R (0 AB): 2007: has not seen game action yet (injury).
Career: Saw action in 9 games last season … batted .300 (3-for-10) … started game-two vs. Toledo 4/11 at DP (1-for-4, 2 RBI) … had a pinch-hit single vs. Wright State 4/26.
#33 Liz Caputo, jr., cf, L/R (.279, 0 HR, 5 RBI): 2007: has started in CF all but 2 games and hit in the No. 9 spot in all but 3 games … hitting .333 (9-27) in last 9 games … hit 6th inning game-winning RBI in 4-2 win over Minnesota 3/30 … batting average ranks 5th on team … went 4-for-7 in 2 games Feb. 24 (vs. Texas, vs. Cal) … went 2-for-2 in the season-opening win over New Mexico.
Career: .333 career hitter … 2nd-team all-region and All-Big Ten selection as a freshman … missed 51 games as a soph. because of broken tibia 2/19/06 … went 4-for-4 in the 2006 season-opener at New Mexico St. … had pinch-hit single vs. Michigan 4/22/06 in first at bat after the injury … as a freshman, batted .367 with 4 homers, 19 RBI, team-best .516 in league games … OSU’s 2005 Rookie of the Year … as a freshman, .710 slugging percentage and .516 on-base percentage in Big Ten games were best on the team … 7 RBI vs. Long Island 2/27/05 set OSU freshman record.
#21 Whitney Cooper, fr., ss, R/R (.129, 1 HR, 2 RBI): 2007: has started at SS in 16 games and hit in the No. 8 spot in 14 games … homered against then-No. 1 Arizona’s Taryne Mowatt Feb. 10 in Tempe … 38 defensive assists 2nd on team … 3 of 4 hits this season have come against ranked teams … had 5 assists in win over #22 Fresno State Feb. 23 … had 5 putouts in two different games.
#8 Lauren Daykin, sr., c/dp, R/R (.220, 0 HR, 6 RBI): 2007: had game-tying and game-winning RBIs in wins over Minnesota and Wisconsin (both doubles off the wall) … has started 21 games (16 C, 5 DP) and played in 22 games overall … has at least 1 hit in 6 of last 7 games … had 4 game hitting streak into 1st weekend of Big Ten play … 106 putouts rank 3rd on team.
Career: Career .238 hitter … native of Australia and a member of the junior national team … 2006 2nd-team Academic All-Region and Academic All-Big Ten … homered off Arizona All-American Alicia Hollowell in 2006 NCAA tournament … hit .275 in Big Ten games as a junior … upped avg. to .303 with runners in scoring position and led team in that dept. in Big Ten games (.556) … hit .636 (7-for-11) with a runner on third and less than two outs … batted .326 at Buckeye Field … started all 18 Big Ten games at catcher in 2006 … played junior college softball in Florida two years and hit 30 home runs.
#31 Christina Douglas, sr., 1b, L/L (.289, 1 HR, 12 RBI): 2007: OSU captain … is 8-for-8 with a runner on 3B and less than 2 outs … batting team-best .583 at Buckeye Field this season … has committed only one error in last 137 chances … has started all but 3 games at 1B and played in all but one … owns 4 game hit streak, during which time she is hitting .667 (6-9) … went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI in win over #17 Cal Feb. 24 … hit 2-run HR in 9-3 win over Cal State Northridge Feb. 10.
In the Big Ten: T-4th sacrifice bunts (8)
Career: .265 career hitter with 9 HR, 68 RBI and 26 2B … has homered off two All-American pitchers – 4/22/06 vs. Michigan’s Jennie Ritter and 3/3/06 vs. Alabama’s Stephanie Van Brakle … hit .397 at Buckeye Field in `06 … led team with 10 sacrifice bunts as a junior … 2006 Buckeye Invitational all-tournament team … hit .293 as a soph. and .320 in Big Ten games … OSU’s 2005 Most Improved Player when she led team in doubles (12), was No. 2 in RBI and runs scored … played RF as freshman.
#1 Arlynda Flores, fr., UT, R/R (0 AB): 2007: has pinch-run in 4 games.
#44 Tory Haddad, fr., 3b/c, R/R (.176, 0 HR, 2 RBI): 2007: has started 8 games (7 at 3B, 1 at DP) and played in 14 overall … played in all 4 games in Birmingham March 3-4 and in 4 of 8 games last weekend in Clearwater … has team-high 4 pinch-hit at bats.
#22 Jamee Juarez, sr., RHP/3b, R/R (.268, 2 HR, 16 RBI): 2007: (Pitching notes above) … hitting .370 (10-27) in last 8 games … OSU’s best 2-out hitter (.360, 9-25) … 2nd on team in success rate advancing runners (.569) and home batting average (.450) … has started all 34 games (16 P, 18 3B) … hit walk-off HR in 3-2 win over Fordham March 8 … has had hit streaks of 5 and 4 games this season … collected 100th career RBI Feb. 24 in win over #17 Cal … went 2-for-4 vs. #17 Cal to extend season-long hitting streak to 5 games … went 2-for-3 in season-opening win over New Mexico Feb. 10.
Career: .298 career hitter with 11 HR … ranks 3rd in OSU history with 112 RBI … OSU’s 2005 and 2006 MVP … 2005 and 2006 2nd-team All-Big Ten … has played in 202 games in career (all but 3) … tied OSU and Big Ten record with 3 HR vs. #22 Oregon 2/25/06 … led team 2006 in multiple RBI games (10), bases loaded hits (5–12), 2-out RBI (14), average with a runner on third and less than two outs (.706) and was 2nd in doubles (11) … hit .397 at Buckeye Field in `05 … Buckeye Invitational all-tournament team … Big Ten Player of the Week twice in 2005 (2/22, 3/1) and Pitcher of the Week once (5/9) … set OSU freshman RBI record (36 in 2004).
#00 Nycole Koyano, sr., ss/2b, L/L (.318, 1 HR, 10 RBI): 2007: OSU’s leadoff hitter in all 34 games (reaches base as leadoff hitter at .434 rate) … owns 7 game hitting streak (.455, 10-22) … has 2 hits in 7 of last 11 games (.410, 16-39) … leads team in runs (24), triples (5), stolen bases (13-15), multiple-hit games (13) and defensively in assists (55) … 2nd on team in total bases (48) and 3rd in success rate advancing runners (.553) … batted .429 last weekend and is batting .400 at home … went 3-for-3 with HR in loss at UAB March 4 … batted team-best .429 in Tempe Feb. 9-11 to begin season … had game-winning RBI in 9-3 win vs. Northridge.
In the Big Ten: 2nd triples (5) … T-3rd stolen bases (13) … 10th total plate appearances (132)
Career: .320 career hitter with 8 HR … ranks 2nd in walks (101) and stolen bases (71-for-83) all-time at OSU and ranks 3rd in runs scored (140) … 2nd-team All-Big Ten and all-region as a junior … 3rd-team All-Big Ten as a soph. … aiming to be first Buckeye to lead team in runs 4 consecutive years … co-captain as a junior … led Big Ten in stolen bases in `06 (26-for-32) … batted 3-for-9 in NCAA tournament … hit .373 (28-for-75) in last 23 games of 2006 with 4 HR … Crimson Classic all-tourn. team 3/5/06 after batting .333 in 5 games … grand slam in `06 season-opener … set OSU frosh. record for walks (27) and stolen bases (16) in 2004.
#4 Leah Ledford, fr., of, R/R (.100, 0 HR, 2 RBI): 2007: has started 3 games and played in 11 … drove in 2 runs in win over Oakland (gm2) March 18 … made 1st collegiate start March 9 vs. Hofstra (RF) … played RF in win over Robert Morris March 8 … saw action in LF at No. 5 Arizona St. Feb. 11 when Megan Schwab left with an injury … has 3 pinch-hit at bats.
#13 Sam Marder, fr., c, R/R (.349, 7 HR, 30 RBI): 2007: Big Ten Player of the Week March 13 … featured in a Q&A on the Big Ten Web site March 14 … bats 3rd in line-up and has started all 34 games (18 C, 15 DP, 1 3B) … leads team in HR (7), RBI (30), total bases (58), on-base percentage (.545), slugging percentage (.674), 2-out RBI (12), walks (33, leads Big Ten, OSU freshman record), hit by pitch (4), average with runners on base (.382), average with runners in scoring position (.378) and multiple-RBI games (10, next Buckeyes has 3) … her 7 HR all came in her 1st 42 AB of season … batted .546 (10-for-22) in Clearwater March 8-11 with 3 doubles, 2 HR and 10 RBI … was walked school-record 5 times vs. Hofstra March 9 … UAB Magic City All-Tourn. Team March 4 … homered twice vs. #9 Oklahoma Feb. 25 … first OSU freshman to ever hit grand slam in first collegiate game (led OSU to 4-3 win over New Mexico Feb. 9).
Marder In the Big Ten: 1st BB (33) … T-2nd on base pct. (.545) … T-8th HBP (4) … 10th slg. pct. (.674)
#55 Megan Miller, fr., p, R/R (0 AB): 2007: (Pitching notes above).
#12 Michelle Reynolds-Parra, so., UT, L/R (0 AB): 2007: OSU’s top pinch-runner … has pinch-run in 25 games and scored 11 runs, including game-winner vs. Long Island March 10 … scored in 4-0 win over No. 26 Virginia Tech March 10.
#20 Courtney Pruner, soph., 1b/dp/LHP, L/L (.224, 3 HR, 18 RBI): 2007: (Pitching notes on page 7) … 2nd on team in RBI … has started all but 5 games and played in all but 2 … went 4-for-4 in DH vs. Oakland 3/18 … hit 7th-inning game-tying HR in eventual win over Long Island March 10 … went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in that game … hit team-best .444 in Palm Springs Feb. 23-25 with HR, 5 RBI, 5 R … scored career high 3 runs in win over #17 Cal Feb. 24.
Career: Career .236 hitter with 10 homers … 7 HR in 2006 2nd-most ever by an OSU freshman, 4 triples tied for most … homered off Arizona All-American Alicia Hollowell 2/25/06 (her first run allowed in 51 innings) … 2nd in Big Ten in triples (4) as frosh. … 33 RBI 3rd-most by an OSU frosh and 29 runs ranked 5th … 2 HR at Miami 4/19/06 … 1st collegiate hit was HR (2/11 vs. Portland St.) … all-time HR leader in Ohio high school softball history.
#7 Kim Reeder, soph., RHP, R/R (0 AB): 2007: (Pitching notes above). Career: Batted in 5 games (9 AB) in 2006 … had RBI single at Wisconsin April 30.
#9 Rebecca Schultz, fr., 3b, R/R (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI): 2007: has started 11 games (9 3B, 2 DP) … has seen action in 16 games overall (8 AB) … has 10 putouts, 12 assists and no errors.
#11 Megan Schwab, jr., lf, L/L (.248, 3 HR, 17 RBI): 2007: batting .435 (10-23) in last 8 games … has started all 34 games in LF … hit .500 1st Big Ten weekend and is batting .389 in home games … leads team in doubles (8) and is 2nd in 2-out RBI (11) … went 3-for-4 in 9-2 win vs. Wisconsin 4/1, including 2 hits (hr, 1b) in 4th inning … drove in 100th career run March 11 in win over UMass … owned 6 game hitting streak Feb. 23-March 3 … hit 3-run HR in near comeback vs. #10 Texas Feb. 24 … went 2-for-5 in win over #17 Cal Feb. 24.
Career: .313 career hitter … 17 career homers (4th at OSU), 44 doubles (3rd) and 106 RBI (4th) … 2nd-team All-Big Ten/all-region as junior … started all 62 games in `06 and led team in on-base pct. (.415), slugging pct. (.492), hits (61), doubles (12), total bases (89), average with two out (.375), pct. advancing runners (.620) … ranked second on `06 team in average (.337), at bats (181), average with runners on base (.333), average with bases loaded (.500) … went 3-for-10 in `06 NCAA tournament … Big Ten Player of the Week 4/10/06 … hit team-best .417 at Buckeye Field as junior … Buckeye Invitational all-tourn. team 3/19/06 … hit .362 as soph. with 7 HR and 33 RBI … 2005 first-team all-region and OSU’s co-Offensive MVP … led `05 Buckeyes in HR (7), RBI (33), total bases (81), multiple-hit games (14) and multiple-RBI games (11) … twice has hit 2 HR in a game (3/6/05 vs. Miss. St., 3/23/05 at Fullerton).
#17 Brittany Vanderink, jr., rf, L/R (.322, 0 HR, 6 RBI): 2007: Owns team-best 12 game hit streak (during that time hitting .356, 16-45) … bats 2nd for the Buckeyes … has started all 34 games, including last 18 at 2B … leads team in hits (37) and at bats (115) and tied for team lead in sac bunts (8) … 2nd on team in stolen bases (11) … had 6 game hitting streak March 8-11 (.391, 9-for-23) … drove in go-ahead runs in 10-7 win over #17 Cal Feb. 24 … went 4-for-5 in 2 games Feb. 10 in Tempe.
In the Big Ten: T-4th sac bunts (8) … T-7th SB (11) … 10th AB (115).
Career: .335 career hitter … 2006 1st-team All-Big Ten and all-region … 41-for-44 in career stolen bases … led `06 team in average (.359) overall and in Big Ten games (.459) … led `06 team in average with runners on base (.367) and with runners in scoring position (.391) … had career-best 13-game hitting streak in `06 (4th-best streak at OSU since 1998) … went 4-for-8 in the `06 NCAA tournament, including a 3-for-4 effort vs. Auburn May 18 which stands as OSU’s only 3-hit performance in NCAA tournament … hit .517 (30-for-58) in last 17 games of the `06 season … Big Ten Player of the Week 5/1/06 … was the toughest Buckeye to strike out last year (once every 7.8 at bats) … went 4-for-4 at Iowa 4/28/06 … batted .311 as a freshman and upped that to .364 in Big Ten games … tied OSU single-season record for triples by a frosh (4).
### GO BUCKS! ###
