Two More Records Now Belong to Juarez as Ohio State Tops Wright State in Game Two – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 1, 2007
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two more school records were handed over to senior Jamee Juarez in game two of a doubleheader at Buckeye Field Tuesday as the Ohio State softball team notched another 8-0 win over Wright State. Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) allowed only one hit and struck out 10 of the 17 batters she faced in the five-inning mercy-rule win to take over the OSU all-time strikeouts record at 698, while at the same time notching her 27th career shutout, also an Ohio State record.
The Buckeyes (33-15, 12-2 Big Ten) improve to 14-0 at home this season and, thanks to Juarez’s solo home run in the fifth inning, notch their fourth mercy-rule win in their last six games. Wright State (19-30, 6-7 Horizon) falls to 0-16 all-time at Buckeye Field.
Juarez, who improves to 17-8 this season, now owns Ohio State career records for wins (72), innings pitched (712.0), strikeouts (698) and shutouts (27). With the sweep Tuesday of the Raiders that included a two-hitter from sophomore Kim Reeder (Salinas, Calif./Notre Dame H.S.) in the opener, the Buckeyes extend their season-best winning streak to six games and keep building momentum for this weekend’s showdown with Penn State at Buckeye Field, where Ohio State could win the Big Ten title with two wins.
“We wanted to use today’s games to get Kim and Jamee some work and keep us sharp for this weekend,” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “They were quick games, which is good because that means we’re scoring a lot of runs and keeping the other team off the bases, but that also cut off playing time for some players. We were hoping to get Megan Miller some innings today and a few others, but we’ll take the two wins for sure.”
Juarez, who owns three career no-hitters, tossed her sixth-career one-hitter, allowing only a bloop single in the second inning. Katie Chain (2000-03) was the previous record of all four career records now in Juarez’s name, most recently strikeouts (692) and shutouts (26).
“I don’t really think about breaking records,” Juarez said. “I’m excited now that I know about it, but I just go out and play and give my best performance in every game. I was hoping these games would keep us on track for this weekend and help set the tone. It kept us prepared in all aspects of the game, defensively and even with hitting. I think it gave us the preparation and confidence we will need when we play Penn State. And it was great to see Kim (Reeder) throw so well today. It will reinforce her confidence for this weekend.”
In game two Tuesday, Ohio State scored twice in the first inning, three times in the second, twice in the fourth and then Juarez’s fifth home run of the season ended the game after an hour and 15 minutes. Junior Brittany Vanderink (Hiram, Ohio/Crestwood) tripled twice to tie the OSU single game record and scored on her first triple when WSU threw away the ball from the outfield.
“After all the emotion of a Big Ten weekend and to come out here on a Tuesday, I thought we showed up ready to play,” Kalafatis said. “Every game counts and the kids all did their jobs today. I thought our bunters executed well and we were consistent offensively. We came up with a few big innings and I am happy for Brittany (Vanderink) on hitting her first home run (in game one) and adding two triples.”
Ohio State travels to Akron Wednesday for a single game at 5 p.m. After that, the Buckeyes host Penn State Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. both days with the Big Ten title on the line.
### Go Bucks! ###
