Three-Run Rally In Sixth Inning Lifts Buckeyes over Rutgers – Ohio State Buckeyes

Friday, April 17

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

23-18, 0

Rutgers

23-13, 0

Rutgers

Ohio State

Three-Run Rally In Sixth Inning Lifts Buckeyes over Rutgers – Ohio State Buckeyes

4/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

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April 17, 2015

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning, keyed by a home run from Caitlin Conrad and RBI single from Anna Kirk, and Lena Springer shut the door in the seventh to give Ohio State a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Rutgers on Friday night at Buckeye Field. With the win, Ohio State is 23-18 overall, 6-7 in the Big Ten while the Scarlet Knights fall to 23-13, 7-6.

Rutgers went ahead 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning when Liz Adams hit a solo home run to left field that just cleared the fence. A key double play in the inning, however, prevented any further damage as Springer, in relief of starter Olivia O’Reilly, got an inning-ending fly out to center by Melanie Slowinski.

The sixth inning started with Conrad’s home run, a blast to right field that was her team-leading 11th of the year. Conrad has now hit safely in 17 of the last 18 games and has 38 RBI and 38 runs scored on the year. The next batter, Cammi Prantl, singled to second base before Maddy McIntyre walked. Prantl and McIntyre each moved up a base on a passed ball, and Erika Leonard walked to load the bases. Taylor Watkins then hit a deep fly ball to left field that scored Prantl, making the score 3-3. Kirk then knocked a 2-2 pitch through the right side, scoring McIntyre for the go-ahead run. A ground out and fly out ended the threat.

Springer, who earned her fourth win of the year, had an uneventful seventh inning, getting the first batter to line out to center, the second to pop up to shortstop and the third to foul out to first base. She did not allow a hit in two innings of relief work and improves her record to 3-1 in the last 15 games (3.50 ERA, 24.0 innings pitched).

Rutgers’ starter, Alyssa Landrith, pitched six innings and scattered six hits. In the bottom of the fourth inning, she gave up a towering home run to left field by McIntyre, her 11th of the year. With the home run, McIntyre also entered the 40-40 club for the season (41 runs, 40 RBI). She is the first player since Alicia Herron in 2012 (48 runs, 48 RBI) to reach that mark.

With 11 home runs each, McIntyre and Conrad are now 11th on the single-season home run list. Sam Marder holds the record with 19 in 2009.

Rutgers scored twice in the second inning on a RBI single from Sierra Maddox and wild pitch. The Scarlet Knights, however, left 11 runners on base, including twice stranding the bases loaded.

Due to forecasted rain in the area on Sunday, Ohio State and Rutgers will play a doubleheader tomorrow to complete the series beginning at 2 p.m. Prior to the game, the Buckeyes will honor the 1990 squad, the first in program history to win a Big Ten title.