No. 25 Ohio State Eliminates Penn State, 10-2, in Big Ten Quarterfinals – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 10, 2007
Box Score
Box Score .PDF
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Fourteen Buckeyes batted in an eight-run third inning as the 25th-ranked and top-seeded Ohio State softball team topped Penn State, 10-2, Thursday night in five innings in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament at Buckeye Field. Ohio State (36-16) advances to a semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. Friday against the winner of fourth-seeded Iowa and fifth-seeded Purdue, who meet at noon Friday.
In its first time hosting the Big Ten tournament, Ohio State advances to the semifinals for the second-consecutive year and improves to 17-0 at home this season. It was a balanced effort Thursday night, as every Buckeye in the starting lineup scored exactly one run and a pinch-runner added one more run for Ohio State’s 10 runs.
“We hit the ball really firmly today so I have to give credit to the hitters” Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. “We knew their pitcher liked to work the edges, so we worked on visualizing the pitch all week.”
Penn State (26-23), which was swept in Columbus last weekend as the Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship, sees its Big Ten tournament run ended for the second-consecutive year by Ohio State, which eliminated the Nittany Lions last year in Evanston. In the third inning, the first eight OSU batters to come to the plate all reached base and scored as the Buckeyes would go on to notch their first ever mercy rule victory in the Big Ten tournament.
Sophomore Kim Reeder (Salinas, Calif./Notre Dame H.S.) struck out three and scattered six hits to improve to 16-7 this season, equaling her wins mark from a year ago when she tied the OSU freshman victories record. In support of Reeder, senior Christina Douglas (Mesa, Ariz./Dobson) went 3-for-3 with four runs batted to pace the Buckeyes’ 10-hit attack.
Against Penn State junior Jenn Reynolds, who did not throw at all against Ohio State last weekend in the two-game series, the Buckeyes turned two first inning walks into runs to take a 2-0 lead. In the third, the Buckeyes jumped on anything Reynolds threw over the plate, including a three-run double by Douglas and a two-run single by junior Liz Caputo (Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly). And when Reynolds didn’t throw it over the plate, three of the four batters she walked in the inning also scored. Freshman Sam Marder (Calabasas, Calif./Calabasas) added an RBI double in the frame.
Postgame Quotes – Ohio State 10, Penn State 2
Ohio State Head Coach Linda Kalafatis
On Ohio State pitchers Kim Reeder and Jamee Juarez
“These guys are both No. 1 for us. Penn State only saw Kim Reeder one time through the line-up (Sunday in OSU’s 4-0 win). We knew their pitcher liked to work the edges, so we worked on visualizing the pitch all week. I thought our kids were able to see the pitch really well today.”
On the game
“I have to credit our hitters. We earned a few walks, which helped us out. Both teams went with different pitchers. I am glad we decided to go with Reeder.”
On the All- Big Ten awards announced Thursday
“I enjoyed listening to the line-up with so many of our girls named on the All-Big Ten team. Seven of our nine starters were called. The awards are a reflection of how they play.”
Christina Douglas, OSU senior first baseman
On pulling ahead in the third inning
“It was a great feeling getting eight runs in the third inning. It set the game into the right motion for us. At that point we knew we were going to win. We knew it would be over early – we could just feel it. There was no way we were going to let them come back and score runs.”
Kim Reeder, OSU sophomore pitcher
On being chosen to pitch the game
“Jamee and I compliment each other very well. When we get into a jam we are able to get each other out.”
On the pressure of the game
“The pressure of the game does not change much. Coach has taught us to go into each inning as if it was 0-0 because if we start to slack, the other team could catch up little by little.”
Postgame Notes – Ohio State 10, Penn State 2
– Ohio State extended its program-record streak of consecutive games without being shut out to 30 games Thursday.
– The Buckeyes are now 30-5 this season when they score first.
– Buckeyes at the plate: The three hits for senior Christina Douglas were her most of the season and were one shy of career high of four hits against Minnesota in 2005.
– In the last three games, all against Penn State, Douglas is batting .625 (5-for-8).
– Buckeyes in the circle: Sophomore Kim Reeder threw her 13th complete game of the season Thursday and improves to 14-1 in her career at Buckeye Field.
– Weather: Mostly sunny and 83 degrees at first pitch. No wind and humid.
### GO BUCKS! ###
