Ohio State
7-1
Buffalo
3-7
Watkins, Conrad, White Lead Buckeyes to Win Over Buffalo – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 15, 2015
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ARLINGTON, Texas – Taylor Watkins tied her career high with five RBI as Ohio State scored nine times in the final two innings to pull away for a 15-6 victory over Buffalo on the final day of the Maverick Invitational on the campus of UT-Arlington. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 7-1 on the season.
In addition to Watkins’ big day, freshman Taylor White also went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and Anna Kirk also added a two-run blast in the first inning. In all, Ohio State hit three home runs on the day and has 11 though eight games. Olivia O’Reilly was the winning pitcher, going four innings and allowing four runs while Shelby Hursh picked up a save in relief.
For the second straight game, Ohio State’s offense was quick starting. Caitlin Conrad led off the game with a triple, her second of the weekend, and Taylor Watkins scored her on a sacrifice fly. A two-out walk by Maddy McIntyre brought Anna Kirk to the plate, who connected on a two-run home run to right center, extending the Buckeye lead to 3-0.
The Buckeyes maintained their three-run lead until the top of the fourth inning. Kirk led off the frame with a walk and then Taylor White drove her in with a two-run blast to right center that made the score 5-0. For White, it was her second home run of the weekend. Ohio State added another run when an error allowed Conrad to reach and Nester to come around from first to score.
In the bottom of the fourth, Buffalo got back into the game thanks to a grand slam by Danielle Lallos. The Bulls started out the frame with back-to-back hits (a single and double), followed by a fielder’s choice and infield single to the pitcher. O’Reilly was able to avoid further damage thanks to a ground out and fielder’s choice.
The Bulls notched a lead-off single in the bottom of the fifth, prompting Alex DiDomenico to come in to relive O’Reilly. A sacrifice bunt, fielder’s choice and strikeout ended the inning without any further damage.
A five-run sixth inning put the game out of reach, as Ohio State had four hits and were aided by one Bulls error. Pinch hitter Bailee Sturgeon started it off with a walk and Leonard followed by reaching on an error by the first baseman. Three straight hits followed (two singles and a double), pushing four runs across. Maddy McIntyre drove in the fourth run of the inning on a RBI single up the middle.
Buffalo refused to go quietly, getting a pair of RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 11-6, but relief pitcher Shelby Hursh shut the door on the rally, getting a fielder’s choice (force at home plate) and strikeout to maintain the Buckeyes’ five-run cushion.
In the seventh, Ohio State scored four times on a two-run RBI single from Watkins and a two-run home run to left field by Prantl.
The Buckeyes return to action on Friday, Feb. 20 when it travels to the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., facing UNLV and Fresno State.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: O'Reilly, Olivia (2-0)
L: MILLER, C. (2-2)
S: Hursh, Shelby (2)
Batting:
2B: Conrad, Caitlin 1 ; Watkins, Taylor 1
3B: Conrad, Caitlin 1
HR: Prantl, Cammi 1 ; Kirk, Anna 1 ; White, Taylor 1
RBI: Conrad, Caitlin 2 ; Watkins, Taylor 5 ; Prantl, Cammi 2 ; McIntyre, Maddy 1 ; Kirk, Anna 2 ; White, Taylor 2 ; Nester, Keelia 1
SH: Leonard, Erika 1
SF: Watkins, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Conrad, Caitlin 2 ; Watkins, Taylor 1 ; Fehrenbach, Kirstie 1 ; Prantl, Cammi 1 ; McIntyre, Maddy 1 ; Kirk, Anna 2 ; White, Taylor 1 ; Sturgeon, Bailee 1 ; Leonard, Erika 1 ; Bayne, Alex 1 ; Nester, Keelia 3
SB: White, Taylor 1
CS: Watkins, Taylor 1
HBP: Leonard, Erika 1
Batting:
2B: EARNHARDT, A 1
HR: LALLOS, D. 1
RBI: CURTISS, A. 1 ; NORCIO, S. 1 ; LALLOS, D. 4
SH: GAMBONE, L. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: EARNHARDT, A 1 ; KOCH, K. 1 ; NEVEZ, K. 2 ; LALLOS, D. 2
