Ohio State Edges Michigan State, 6-4 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Friday, April 10

East Lansing, Mich.

Ohio State

20-16, 4-6

Michigan State

16-22, 1-9

Ohio State

Michigan State

Ohio State Edges Michigan State, 6-4 – Ohio State Buckeyes

4/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

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April 10, 2015

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EAST LANSING, Mich. — Erika Leonard went 3-for-4 with a go-ahead home run and Shelby Hursh picked up her third save of the season as Ohio State kicked off a three-game series with Michigan State by outlasting the Spartans, 6-4, at Secchia Stadium of Friday afternoon. With the win, Ohio State is now 20-16 on the year and 4-6 in the Big Ten.

In the top of the first, Cammi Prantl hit what appeared to be a two-run home run to center field, but Caitlin Conrad, who had reach on a hit by pitch, was called out for not stepping on third as she rounded the bases, making the home run just a solo shot. Michigan State matched that hit in the bottom of the first, as leadoff hitter Kassidy Kujawa hit a deep one to right field. The Spartans scored their second run of the inning on a bases loaded passed ball.

Michigan State threatened with runners on first and second in the bottom of the second, but a diving catch in center field by Conrad with two outs ended the inning and saved at least one run from scoring.

Leonard gave the Buckeyes a 3-2 in the top of the fourth with her sixth home run in the eight games, a towering two-run shot to right centerfield that scored McIntyre, who had reach on a lead-off single. Conrad then delivered her team-leading 17th two-out RBI when she singled through the left side, scoring Taylor White from second base to give Ohio State a 4-2 lead. The threat ended with a bases-loaded strikeout.

White delivered a key two-out RBI double in the top of the fifth when he belted a 1-0 pitch all the way to the wall in left center, scoring Anna Kirk from first base. For White, it was her fifth double of the season and 17th RBI.

After Michigan State was able to score two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a walk and three hits, Shelby Hursh relieved O’Reilly and promptly struck out Destinee Luna and Jacquie Reiser to end the threat.

A leadoff walk for Michigan State in the sixth inning gave the Spartans life, but Alyssa McBride pop up a bunt to third base, which was caught by Ashley Goodwin, who then alertly threw to first base to double off Ellie Stoffer. The inning was completed on a fly out to left field.

Kirk provided a key insurance run in the top of the seventh on a RBI single and scored McIntyre. In the bottom of the seventh, Hursh walked the first two batters but then struck out Sanders Long and before a difficult catch in foul territory by Goodwin ended the game.

O’Reilly (11-6) went 4.1 innings to earn the win, while Hursh struck out four in just 2.2 innings. In addition to Leonard’s day at the plate, Conrad, Prantl, Kirk and White also drove in runs. Conrad reached base in all four of her plate appearances, getting hit twice, delivering a RBI single and also walking. She has reached base in 25 consecutive games.