Ohio State
Idaho State
Buckeyes down Idaho State 6-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 19, 2012
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In the fifth and final game of the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic, the Ohio State softball team defeated Idaho State, 6-2, Sunday morning at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Las Vegas, Nev. The Buckeyes wrap up their second tournament of 2012 with a 4-1 record and improve to 6-4 overall.
Starting pitcher Mikayla Endicottcontinued to guide the Buckeyes in the circle, improving to 3-3 overall after throwing five shutout innings, allowing four hits with three strikeouts and no walks. The native of Roseburg, Oregon, went 3-1 overall in the weekend, throwing 24.2 IP with 16 strikeouts.
The Buckeyes were led offensively over the weekend by senior tri-captain Alicia Herron, who went 7-for-18 with three home runs and two doubles and seven RBI. Senior Vanessa Spears batted .438 with seven hits and two runs scored. Junior tri-captain Megan Coletta batted.333 with two home runs and four RBI, while freshman Taylor Watkinswas 6-for-12 with a double, three runs scored and three RBI in three games played.
The Buckeyes notched a six-run first inning on four hits against the Bengals. Herron struck first for the Scarlet and Gray in top of the first when she notched an RBI single to left field, scoring senior right fielder Katie Simonton. Evelyn Carrillofollowed with an RBI single through right side to make it 2-0 in favor of Ohio State.
With the score 3-0 and the bases full of Buckeyes, Ohio State collected two runs on an ISU throwing error by the third baseman following a groundball by freshman Caitlin Conrad. The Scarlet and Gray then made it 6-0 when Spears sent a line drive into right field, scoring freshman second baseman Maddy McIntyre. Spears has now reached base safely in all 10 games in 2012.
Sophomore pitcher Kasie Kellypunched the Buckeyes’ 4-1 record for the tournament, relieving Endicott in the final two innings, allowing two runs with one strikeout. It was Kelly’s second appearance of the season.
The Buckeyes will next travel to the 2012 Cathedral City Classic for four games Feb. 24-26 in Palm Springs, Calif.
