Leonard, McIntyre Lead Ohio State to Doubleheader Sweep – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 30, 2015
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COLLEGE PARK, Md.— Ohio State erupted for 18 runs on 17 hits in the first game and came from behind with eight runs in the seventh and eighth innings to complete a doubleheader sweep of Maryland on Sunday. The Buckeyes, who won two of three games over the weekend series, improve to 17-13 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten.
The brightest offensive star for Ohio State was redshirt junior Erika Leonard, who went five-for-eight on the day with three home runs and eight RBI. Leonard’s biggest hit came with two outs in the seventh inning of the second game when she belted a game tying home run, knotting the score at 3-3. Overall, the Buckeye bats collected 27 hits, scored 27 runs, hit six home runs and notched 12 extra base hits.
Game One: Ohio State 18, Maryland 6 (5 inn.)
Caitlin Conrad went three-for-five with a grand slam and four RBI while Leonard was two-for-four with a three-run home run and four total RBI as Ohio State opened up a busted open the game with a six-run fourth inning to pull away for a 18-6 victory in game one. The run and hit total is a season high.
The Buckeyes struck for two runs in the top of the first on a two-run home run by McIntyre, her sixth of the season. In the bottom of the inning, Maryland put three runs on the board, but six Buckeyes crossed the plate in the top of the second, keyed by a two-run doubles from Anna Kirk, Taylor Watkins and Cammi Prantl. In all, the six runs came on five hits and one Maryland error.
Ahead 8-3, Ohio State surrendered one run in the bottom of the third but put the game out of reach with six on four hits in the top of the fourth inning, all coming with two outs. The rally started when Watkins reached on a fielding error by the first baseman, followed by back to back singles from Kirk and Leonard. Pinch hitter Taylor White then singled to third, followed by Conrad’s grand slam, which made the score 12-4.
Four more runs crossed the plate in the top of the fifth, the biggest blow coming off the bat of Leonard, who belted a three-run home run to left center.
For the game, five different players collected multiple hits — Conrad (3-for-5, four RBI, one run scored), McIntyre (2-for-3, two RBI, three runs scored), Prantl (2-for-4, two runs scored), Watkins (3-for-4, three RBI, two runs scored) and Leonard (3-for-4, four RBI, two runs scored). In the circle, Olivia O’Reilly pitched a complete game to earn her team-leading ninth win of the year.
Game Two: Ohio State 9, Maryland 5 (8 inn.)
Down to their last out, the Buckeyes got a game-tying home run from Leonard in the bottom of the seventh and then scored six times in the eighth inning to complete the doubleheader sweep with a 9-5 extra innings win.
Training 3-1 entering the seventh, Watkins drew a one-out walk before Saibene flied out to left field. Leonard, however, sent a 2-0 pitch to deep left field, tying the game and sending it into extra innings. Ohio State was able to use that momentum in the eighth, scoring six times, keyed by a three-run home run from McIntyre, who belted a 3-2 pitch deep over the left center field fence. Other key hits in the inning included run-scoring RBI double from Prantl and a two-run home run from Leonard, her second of the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, Maryland threatened with a two singles and a walk, prompting a pitching change. O’Reilly came on in relief of starter Lena Springer and got a sacrifice fly, strikeout and game-ending fielder’s choice with the bases loaded to complete the comeback. For O’Reilly, it is her first save of the year.
In addition to going four-for-nine on the afternoon with a home run, triple and four RBI, Conrad also made the defensive play of the game — lying out to make a diving catch in right field and then getting up to double off a runner at third base to end the bottom of the fifth inning. The play saved Ohio State at least two runs.
After giving up three runs in the bottom of the first, Springer settled in and pitched six scoreless innings to pick up her second win of the year. At the plate, three different players made two hits — Prantl (2-for-4, one RBI, two runs scored), McIntyre (2-for-4, four RBI, one home run) and Leonard (2-for-4, four RBI, two home runs). The Buckeye bats also awoke late in the game, registering eight runs on seven over the final two innings against Maryland ace Kaitlyn Schmeiser.
In the three game series, Ohio State collected 37 runs of 37 hits, 15 extra base hits, six home runs and a overall team batting average of .378. McIntyre and Leonard were the most lethal hitters, combining to go 11-for-18 (.611) with five home runs, 16 RBI and 10 runs scored.
Ohio State returns to action on Tuesday, March 31 for a mid-week doubleheader against Pittsburgh. The first game is slated to start at 3 p.m. and admission, as always, is free.
