Ohio State Travels to Michigan State and No. 8 Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 5, 2007
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SETTING THE SCENE
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team takes its 4-0 Big Ten record on the road this weekend at league foes Michigan State and No. 8 Michigan. The Buckeyes (21-13) take on the Spartans (19-17, 0-2 Big Ten) at Old College Field in East Lansing at 4 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday, followed by a twin bill at 1 p.m. Sunday against the Wolverines (28-6, 1-1 Big Ten) at Alumni Field.
GameTracker will have live statistics at www.OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Links are found on the softball schedule page.
The Buckeyes’ 4-0 start in the Big Ten is their first since 1990 when they won their first and only league title. This weekend is the first of three consecutive weekend road trips for Ohio State inside the Big Ten, as the Buckeyes will not play another home Big Ten game until April 27.
During that stretch, however, Ohio State will play nonconference Wednesday night doubleheaders at home. The two games scheduled for this past Wednesday night were cancelled because of weather, but the Buckeyes will give it another go next Wednesday, April 11, against Wright State.
AROUND THE BIG TEN…
Once again this season, Penn State and Ohio State are travel partners and will face the same opponents each weekend. Like the Buckeyes, the Nittany Lions (16-12, 2-0) swept Wisconsin (17-11, 0-4) last weekend, but were rained out against Minnesota (13-14, 0-2). In a key league series last weekend, Michigan and Northwestern split two games in Evanston. Elsewhere around the league this weekend, Illinois (23-14, 2-2) and Iowa (28-13, 4-0) travel to Wisconsin and Minnesota, while No. 7 Northwestern (28-7, 1-1) is at Purdue (19-14-1, 1-3) and Indiana (18-17, 1-3). OHIO STATE AT A GLANCE
The Buckeyes (21-13) have won seven of their last eight games and 12 of their last 16. Ohio State is hitting .272 as a team, which includes a .313 team batting average in the last 12 games. Last weekend, the Buckeyes hit .373 with runners on base. 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.
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.
INSIDE THE MATCH-UPS
Michigan State and Ohio State own similar offensive statistics. The Buckeyes are batting .272 and average 4.2 runs a game, while the Spartans are hitting .281 and average 4.6 runs per game. Michigan State leads the Big Ten in triples (16, OSU has 6) and strikes out only 4.6 times per game, second-fewest in the conference (OSU is fifth at 5.2 kpg). The Spartans’ pitching staff ranks 10th in the league with a 3.51 ERA (OSU is fifth, 2.68).
Michigan owns the Big Ten’s best pitching staff (1.46 ERA, 8.0 kpg, 1.5 walks/pg) and is the league’s best fielding team (.983 fielding pct.). The Wolverines rank fourth in hitting (.300, 4.5 rpg).
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Michigan State (19-17, 0-2 Big Ten) won six of its last eight games before entering conference play last weekend, when the Spartans got swept at No. 7 Northwestern (11-3, 8-3). Michigan State, which is 0-1 at home this season, has eight starters back from its 2006 team that went 34-25 and 9-11 in the Big Ten and is led by sophomore Kara Weigle (.379, 4 HR), who leads the Big Ten in triples (8) and ranks third in RBI (39). In the circle, sophomore Megan Hair (7-7, 2.95 ERA) and senior Rachel Turney (6-8, 3.58) have started 30 of MSU’s 36 games. Head coach Jacquie Joseph owns 431 wins in 14 seasons in East Lansing and 567 in her 19 year career.
BUCKEYES VS. SPARTANS
Ohio State is 49-38 all-time against Michigan State. The Buckeyes won 14 in a row in from the Spartans from 1992-95 but the series is even at 13-13 since. Last year in Columbus, Ohio State swept a doubleheader from MSU, 13-4 and 4-0.
A LOOK AT THE WOLVERINES
Defending Big Ten tournament champion Michigan was 23-1 through its first 24 games this season, but the Wolverines are 5-5 since then to see their record sit at 28-6 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten. Michigan is 3-0 at home and opened conference play with an impressive 11-4 win at No. 7 Northwestern last Friday (NU won Saturday, 4-3). The Wolverines feature one of the best pitching staffs in the nation with senior Lorilyn Wilson (16-3, 1.42 ERA, 186 K) and freshman Nikki Nemitz (12-3, 1.61 ERA, 74 K). Juniors Alessandra Giampaolo (.444, 16 2B) and Angela Findlay (.385, 17 RBI) lead the UM offense.
Five starters are back for Michigan, which went 44-15 last year, including 14-4 in the Big Ten, and advanced to the Women’s College World Series. 23rd-year head coach Carol Hutchins is 989-366-4 in Ann Arbor and has led the Wolverines to 12 NCAA tournament appearances, including the 2005 national championship.
BUCKEYES VS. WOLVERINES
Ohio State is 19-68 all-time against Michigan and is seeking its first win at UM’s Alumni Field since 1994, a span that has included 18 consecutive Wolverine wins. Michigan topped Ohio State last year in Columbus, 3-2 and 6-1.
OSU-OPPONENT CONNECTIONS
Ohio State fr. C/DP Sam Marder (Calabasas, Calif.) and fr. P Megan Miller (Woodland Hills, Calif.) and Michigan State fr. SS Bianca Mejia (Sylmar, Calif.) were all club softball teammates (Valley Breeze).OSU fr. 3B Tory Haddad (Valparaiso, Fla./Fort Walton Beach H.S.) played against MSU sr. INF Meghan Darhower (Niceville, Fla./Niceville H.S.) in high school softball and the two played in the same club system (High Intensity).
Michigan so. C Rachael Herrmann is from Owensville, Ohio (Cincinnati Hills). OSU sr. SS/2B Nycole Koyano (Walnut, Calif.) played club softball for the OC Lionettes) with UM sr. C Tiffany Worthy (Yorba Linda, Calif.).
BUCKEYES IN THE BIG TEN
Ohio State ranks ninth 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), ranks ninth in slugging percentage (.674) and 10th in runs batted in (30). Senior Nycole Koyano ranks second in triples (5) and fifth in stolen bases (13). Junior Brittany Vanderink is tied for eighth 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), sixth in strikeouts (111), fourth in fewest walks allowed (20) and eighth in innings pitched (104.0). Sophomore Kim Reeder ranks seventh in opposing batting average (.212), ninth in innings pitched (102.2) and strikeouts (96) and is tied for seventh in wins (11).
WE’RE GOING STREAKING…
Junior Brittany Vanderink enters the weekend with 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 take hit streaks into the weekend, 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). In five career appearances against Wisconsin, Juarez’s win over the Badgers Sunday was the first of her career among 64 victories.
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).
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).
OSU COMING OFF 4-0 WEEKEND
Ohio State is coming off its first 4-0 start to the Big Ten season since 1990, when the Buckeyes went on to win the league title. In two games each against Minnesota and Wisconsin, Ohio State won close games in the opener but won lopsided decisions in game two. In both of the close games, senior Lauren Daykin had the big hit with a game-tying two-RBI double in a 4-2 win over Minnesota and a game-winning RBI double in a 4-3 win over Wisconsin.
The Buckeyes collected a season-high 13 hits in game-two against Wisconsin Sunday in their first-ever series sweep of the Badgers. During the weekend, three senior batted over .400 at the plate, including Christina Douglas (.667, 6-9), Megan Schwab (.500, 6-12) and Nycole Koyano (.429, 6-14). In the circle, Jamee Juarez and Kim Reeder both went 2-0 with 2.10 and 2.62 ERAs, respectively, while Juarez added a save.
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.
Buckeyes in the Circle…
OSU Pitchers: Lead Big Ten in saves (4), rank 5th in the Big Ten in ERA (2.68) and 4th in strikeouts (218) … 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 last weekend 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, 6th in SO, 7th in IP, 8th in APP (22), 5th 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-6th in wins, 7th in opp. avg. (.212), 8th in IP, 9th in SO, 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).
Noting the Buckeyes
#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 No. 1 Arizona 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 last weekend (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 last weekend … 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) … enters weekend with 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) … 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)
#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.
#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 last 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 Apr. 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: Takes team-best 12 game hit streak into this weekend (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! ###
