Ohio State
Michigan
Ohio State Falls In Game One vs. Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 6, 2012
COLUMBUS, Ohio– The Ohio State softball team fell, 10-2, in game one of a three game series against No. 20 Michigan Friday evening at Buckeye Field. The Buckeyes (23-12, 5-2 Big Ten)posted an early 2-0 advantage, but the Wolverines (25-10, 6-1 Big Ten) rallied to score one run in the second, five runs in the third, three runs in the fifth and one run in the seventh to claim the win.
The Buckeyes jumped out to the early lead in the bottom of the first when senior captain Alicia Herronknocked a two-run blast off the right field foul pole vs. UM starting pitcher Haylie Wagner. The long ball was Herron’s 11th of the season and she has now reached base safely in 30-consecutive games.
However, the Maize and Blue rebounded quickly to cut the team’s lead to 2-1 when Sara Driesenga sent an opposite field home run over the right field wall against OSU starter Mikayla Endicott.
In the top of the third, Michigan claimed its first lead of the game with five runs on three hits and one OSU error. Ashley Lane tied the game, 2-2, following an RBI double down the left field line. The Wolverines made it 3-2 following a throwing error by Endicott in front of the circle, allowing Lane to cross the plate from second. Michigan continued its rally on a two-run home run over the right center wall by Sara Driesenga .
After Ohio State went in order in the bottom half, the Wolverines continued their offensive momentum when Lane hit a three-run home run over the right field wall in the top of the fourth to end Endicott’s day in the circle.
Freshman pitcher Olivia O’Reillyreplaced Endicott in the circle with no outs for her seventh appearance of the season. She ended Michigan’s offensive surge with three-consecutive outs, including a strikeout. O’Reilly went on to throw four innings, limiting the UM bats to one run on one hit with three strikeouts.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Buckeyes began the at-bat with back-to-back singles by junior Megan Coletta and freshman Maddy McIntyre. But the potential rally stalled when Wagner left the two Buckeyes on base following a strikeout and groundout.
The Wolverines added their final run in the top of the seventh following a solo homer by Driesenga.
Senior pitcher Mikayla Endicottreceived the loss to fall to 14-8 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten play. Endicott threw three innings, allowing nine runs on nine hits. Wagner improved to 18-4 overall, allowing two runs on six hits in seven innings of work.
The Buckeyes and Wolverines will conclude the series with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Saturday.
GAME NOTES
•Senior captain Alicia Herron reached base safely for the 30th-consecutive game with her two-run home run in the bottom of the first. She now has 11 home runs this season and 46 in her career.
•Freshman Maddy McIntyre claimed her third multi-hit game of 2012.
•Herron collected her 12th multi-hit game and 11th multi-RBI performance.
•Freshman Olivia O’Reilly tied her season high with four strikeouts.
