Ohio State Sprints Past Purdue, 8-0, for Sweep – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 28, 2007
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Senior Jamee Juarez nearly missed the game against Purdue Saturday because she was sick, but fans at Buckeye Field would never have guessed it after Juarez pitched a two-hitter and tied a career high with five runs batted in to lead the Ohio State softball team to an 8-0 win in five innings. With the win, the Buckeyes sweep Purdue, improve to 10-0 at home this season and 29-15 overall and keep their first-place spot in the Big Ten standings at 10-2.
Purdue (28-31-1, 6-9 Big Ten) mustered only two singles against Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson), who struck out three, walked none and retired 15 of the 17 batters she faced to improve to 15-8 overall this season and 7-1 in the Big Ten. Juarez, who earned the win over Purdue in relief Friday night, has won her last six consecutive decisions.
“Jamee was sick, but even when she’s not feeling well, she puts in her best effort,” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “Purdue might have had a little bit of a letdown after we came back to win last night, but they have a lot of young players and they will be very good in years to come. They challenged us, but we were able to put the numbers on the board. In softball, anyone can beat anyone on any given day. We need to show up ready and intense to play Indiana tomorrow. I’ve told our team for a few weeks now that we control our own destiny and we control how we play.”
Ohio State scored five runs in the third inning and three more in the fifth to end the game after five innings. Juarez had a two-run triple in the third inning and a three-run home run off the Ohio State logo on top of the scoreboard in right-centerfield to compile five RBIs in the game, equaling her career-best RBI day against No. 22 Oregon on Feb. 25, 2006 in Palm Springs when she homered in three consecutive at bats.
After falling behind 5-0 Friday night before they came back to win, the Buckeyes would not let their win be as drama-filled Saturday. Freshman Sam Marder (Calabasas, Calif./Calabasas) put the Buckeyes on the board first with a three-run home run in the third inning for her team-leading 10th long ball of the season, which ties the Ohio State record for homers by a freshman.
In the third inning, senior Nycole Koyano (Walnut, Calif./Walnut) was hit by a pitch and junior Brittany Vanderink (Hiram, Ohio/Crestwood) doubled, then both scored on Marder’s homer. With two outs, sophomore Courtney Pruner (Akron, Ohio/Ellet) and senior Christina Douglas (Mesa, Ariz./Dobson) singled and scored on Juarez’s triple.
Ditto in the fifth inning when Pruner and Douglas singled again and were brought home by Juarez. This time, though, they didn’t have to sprint as Juarez sent the ball out of the park for her fourth home run of the season and 13th of her career.
Ohio State’s fifth, sixth and seventh batters in the line-up went a combined 7-for-9 in the game as Pruner went 3-for-3 and Douglas and Juarez both went 2-for-3.
The Buckeyes welcome Indiana to Columbus Sunday for a doubleheader starting at noon.
### Go Bucks! ###
