Louisville Takes Two From Buckeyes – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 18, 2015
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- Box Score: Game One | Box Score: Game Two
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COLUMBUS, Ohio– Louisville came from behind to claim a 9-7 win in the first game and then triumphed 14-4 in the second game to take Wednesday’s doubleheader over Ohio State in the home opener at Buckeye Field. The Buckeyes are now 13-9 on the season while Louisville improves to 15-7.
Game One: Louisville 9, Ohio State 7
The Cardinals scored five runs in the top of the seventh, keyed by a two-out RBI double from Nicole Pufahl and a two-run single by Hailey Smith, for a come-from-behind victory in the first game of the afternoon.
Ohio State trailed 4-3 entering the bottom of the sixth but was able to score four runs to take a 7-4 lead. Maddy McIntyre tied the game at 4-4 with a solo home run, her fifth long ball of the year, and then double by Alex Bayne put a runner in scoring position for Kirstie Fehrenbach, who moved Bayne over to third with a single to third base. The next batter, Caitlin Conrad, singled through the right side, scoring Bayne, and an error at first base allowed Fehrenbach to score from third base.
In the seventh, Louisville hit a lead-off single before the next batter, Whitney Arion, was retired on a groundout. Kayla Soles then drove in a run with a RBI single but Sidney Melton reached on a fielder’s choice for the second out of the inning. Four of the five runs Louisville scored in the inning came with two outs.
The Buckeyes jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after two innings thanks to a two-run home run in the first inning by Anna Kirk. For Kirk, it was her fifth round-tripper of the season, tying her with McIntyre and Conrad for the team lead. In the second, Fehrenbach hit a single to the shortstop that scored McIntyre, who had reached on a lead-off walk.
The Cardinals were able to tie the score in the third inning via a three-run home run from Maryssa Becker, who sent a 2-0 pitch over the center field fence. It scored Kelsi Jones and Jordan McNary, who had reached on a single and walk, respectively.
In the circle, starter Olivia O’Reilly went 3.2 innings and allowed seven hits and three earned runs. Shelby Hursh pitched 2.2 innings of relief, allowing just three hits while striking out three. Conrad went 2-for-4 at the plate with a RBI while McIntyre also had two hits and reached base safely in three of her four plate appearances.
Game Two: Louisville 14, Ohio State 4
Louisville scored seven times in the second inning to open up an 8-0 lead and completed the doubleheader sweep with a 14-4 triumph.
The Cardinals’ seven second-inning runs came of four hits and three walks. A three-run home run by Pufahl was the biggest blow of the inning, but Louisville also added a two-run single, RBI single and bases loaded walk.
Louisville added five more runs in the fourth inning on a two-run home run from Brittany Sims, two-run RBI double by Tiarra Sanabria and a wild pitch that allowed Kayla Soles to score.
Ohio State was able to plate four runs in the bottom of the fourth as Taylor Watkins started the rally with a single up the middle. She than advanced to second on a passed ball and Prantl followed with a single to shortstop, advancing Watkins to third. Kirk drove in Prantl with a fielder’s choice and then McIntyre loaded the bases with a single through the right side. Erika Leonard’s sacrifice fly made the score 13-2 and Jayla Saibene and Taylor White drove in two more runs with a single and fielder’s choice, respectively.
Watkins had a 2-for-3 game at the plate that included a double. In the circle, Lena Springer started and was relieved in the third inning by Hursh.
Ohio State returns to action on Friday, March 20 when it welcomes No. 4 Michigan to Buckeye Field for the first game of a three-game Big Ten-opening series. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
