Bobcats Come to Columbus For Midweek Contest – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 20, 2015
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State softball team plays its final midweek game Tuesday when it welcomes in-state for Ohio to Buckeye Field. First pitch is slated for 5:00 p.m. The Buckeyes and Bobcats are renewing a series that has seen 87 previous meetings (Ohio State holds a 46-21 advantage).
FOLLOWING ALONG
Fans can see tomorrow’s game live on BTN Plus (subscription required). A link to live stats will also be available at OhioStateBuckeyes.com in addition to Twitter updates at @OhioState_SB.
BUCKEYES IN A NUTSHELL
- Following a series win over Rutgers last weekend, Ohio State is 24-19 overall and has won five of its last eight games.
- At the plate, the tandem of Caitlin Conrad, Erika Leonard and Maddy McIntyre continues to lead the way offensively. They have combined to hit 33 home runs, drive in 114 runs and are hitting a collective .384.
- Last weekend, McIntyre became the first Buckeye this year to enter the 40-40 club (40 RBI, 40 runs scored) with a solo home run in Friday’s 4-3 win over Rutgers. The next day, Caitlin Conrad joined the club. The last time Ohio State has two players to up 40/40 numbers was in 2010.
- McIntyre and Conrad moved into a tie for eighth place on the single-season home run list (12). The record is held by Marder (19, 2009).
- Over the last 15 games, Leonard has improved her batting average 125 points and has hits in 13 of those 15 contests.
- Ohio State stole three bases in its doubleheader split against Rutgers, raising its season total to 46, nearly twice as many as all of last year (24).
- With 13 multiple RBI games, McIntyre is just five more away from tying the single-season school record of 18 set by Wendy Allen in 2002.
- In the circle, Lena Springer and Shelby Hursh each provided impressive performances last weekend against the Scarlet Knights. Springer pitched the final two innings in Friday’s 4-3 win and did not give up a hit. The next day, she went seven innings and allowed just two earned runs in the first game of a doubleheader before picking up a save in the second game. Shelby Hursh pitched 5.2 solid innings in game two, allowing just one run and six hits.
TWEETABLE NOTES
- Ohio State’s .331 team batting average is the second highest in school history (.333 in 2002 is first).
- The Buckeyes have hit 11 three-run home runs this year.
- As a pinch hitter, Jayla Saibene is batting .400 and Alex Bayne .364
- The last time Ohio State had two 40/40s was 2010 (Sam Marder, Alicia Herron).
- The Buckeyes have never had two 40/40s and three 30/30s (they’re on pace for it this year).
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Ohio, the defending Mid-American Conference Tournament champions, is 14-24 this season and most recently split a doubleheader against Toledo on Saturday. The Bobcats are led offensively by Kaylin Clarke (.360, 20 RBI, 14 runs scored, two home runs) and Sloan Walker (.344, 23 runs scored, .447 on base percentage). In the circle, Lauren McClary (2-12, 5.74 ERA) has pitched a team-high 78.0 innings while Clarke is second with 66.0 innings (7.21 ERA, 6-5 overall record).
LAST TIME VS. OHIO
Olivia O’Reilly pitched a complete game shutout in the first game and Evelyn Carrillo hit a game-tying grand slam in the second as the Ohio State swept Ohio in a non-conference doubleheader last year at Buckeye Field.
Carrillo hit a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game at 9-9 and Keelia Nester won it with an infield single that scored Melaina Saalfeld as Ohio State claimed a dramatic 10-9 come-from-behind victory to secure the doubleheader sweep.
IN THE CAREER RECORD BOOKS
- Taylor Watkins is third all-time in runs scored (159) and nine shy of tying record holder Alicia Herron (168, 2009-2012). She’s also fifth in hits (224), seventh in RBI (119), ninth in batting average (.338) and eighth in home runs
- Caitlin Conrad is sixth in home runs (28), 13th in batting average (.318), seventh in runs (129) and eighth in RBI (118).
- Maddy McIntyre is sixth in walks (86) and ninth in home runs (16).
- Olivia O’Reilly is tied for eighth in wins (38) and strikeouts (257).
- Cammi Prantl is fourth in doubles (41) 12th in batting average (.337) and 13th in runs scored (106).
RUTGERS SERIES NOTES
- In 17 conference games thus far, three regular starters are hitting over .400 — Conrad (.426, 13 RBI, seven home runs), Leonard (.417, 24 RBI, eight home runs) and McIntyre (.400, 16 RBI, six home runs)
- One night after McIntyre became the first member of this year’s 40-40 club, Conrad joined this afternoon and now has 40 RBI and 40 runs scored. The last time Ohio State had two players reach the 40-40 mark was 2010 (Alicia Herron and Sam Marder).
- McIntyre and Conrad moved into a tie for eighth place on the single-season home run list (12). The record is held by Marder (19, 2009).
- As a team, the Buckeyes have 10 saves on the year, tying the single-season school record set last year.
- Over the last 15 games, Leonard has improved her batting average 125 points and has hits in 13 of those 15 contests.
- Ohio State stole three bases on the day, raising its season total to 46, nearly twice as many as all of last year (24).
- With 13 multiple RBI games, McIntyre is just five more away from tying the single-season school record of 18 set by Wendy Allen in 2002.
- Prior to the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Buckeyes honored their 1990 team, the first squad in program history to win a Big Ten title. Several former players were in attendance, including All-American Shauna Bowman and head coach Gail Davenport, who won 220 games as the Buckeyes coach from 1989 through 1996.
ALL-AMERICA/ALL-REGION CANDIDATES
Caitlin Conrad | Sr. | OF | Richwood, Ohio/North Union
2015: Has reached base in 32 straight games … has a hit in 16 of the last 19 games … hit three home runs in a doubleheader vs. Nebraska (4/4) … first member of this year’s 30-30 club (30+ RBI, 30+ runs) and joins McIntyre in the 40/40 club … second on the team in batting average (.389), first in hits (58), total bases (109), and triples (three) as the leadoff hitter … second on the squad in slugging percentage (.732), RBI (40) and runs (40) and third in on-base percentage (.455) … team captain … has nine assists from her spot in right field/center field … ranks in the Top 15 in Big Ten in five categories — batting average (14th), slugging percentage (12th), hits (fifth), total bases (5th) and home runs (15th) … has a 1.187 OPS (on base + slugging), second best on the team … 18 multi-hit games and 11 multi-RBI games … hitting .404 in the last 15 games with 12 RBI, four doubles, four home runs and a .865 slugging percentage.
Maddy McIntyre | Rs.-Jr. | SS | San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo
2015: First on the team with a .390 average … leads the team in runs scored (44), slugging percentage (.810), on base percentage (.542) and OPS (1.352) … second member of the 30-30 club this year (37 runs, 37 RBI) and first in the 40/40 group … is 19-or-42 (.452) with 22 RBI, 21 runs scored, four doubles and seven home runs over the last 15 games … has hit safely in 17 of the last 21 games … in a doubleheader vs. Pittsburgh on March 31, went 4-for-6 with seven RBI, two doubles, one home run and three runs scored … ranks fourth in the Big Ten in on-base percentage and fourth in slugging … 12 multi-hit and 13 multi-RBI games … came into the season with four career home runs and has 12 already in 2015 … team captain … has reached base in 18 straight games.
Erika Leonard | Rs.-Jr. | 1B | Cincinnati, Ohio/Mother of Mercy/Florida State
2015: Over the last 15 games, has improved her batting average by 125 points … currently hitting .370 with 33 RBI, nine home runs and a .670 slugging percentage … multiple hits in seven of the last 14 games … had three home runs and eight RBI in a doubleheader sweep of Maryland (3/29) … hitting .417 in Big Ten-only games (10th best in the league) … sixth in the conference with 24 RBI in 17 Big Ten games … all seven of her nine home runs have come with runners on base … she and Maddy McIntyre have combined to drive in 48 runs over the last 15 games.
RUTGERS REWIND
Buckeyes 4, Scarlet Knights 3
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.
Scarlet Knights 3, Buckeyes 2
The Scarlet Knights’ Dresden Maddox gave up just one earned run over 6.1 innings and a Buckeye error in the sixth inning scored what proved to be the winning run as Rutgers prevailed, 3-2.
Buckeyes 8, Scarlet Knights 4
The Buckeyes’ offense struck for seven runs over the first three innings to erase an early 3-0 deficit as Ohio State salvaged a doubleheader split and secured the series victory. Leonard and Conrad each hit two-run home runs and Watkins added a solo blast in the offensive effort.
THE POWER CLUB
Ohio State is enjoying some of its best power numbers in school history this year. Through 43 games, the team has 54 home runs, just 14 off the school record of 68 set in 2009. In addition, it has 112 extra base hits, the third most since 2009.
Top Team Home Run Numbers
2009: 68
2010: 58
2015: 54
2012: 39
2005: 37
2013: 37
2014: 37
2007: 32
MAKE B1G PLANS
For the first time since 2007, the Big Ten Tournament is coming to Columbus. From May 7-9, the conference championship will take place at Buckeye Field, where Ohio State was 10-2 last year. Twelve of the conference’s 14 teams will qualify for the tournament, which kicks off with four games on Thursday, four quarterfinals games on Friday and the semifinals and championship game on Saturday.
DOWN WITH OPS
Last year, the 16 teams that advanced to Super Regionals had an average OPS (on base percentage + slugging percentage) of .943 and at least one player with an OPS of .980 or higher. Through 43 games this year, the Buckeyes’ OPS is .927 and three players have an OPS of 1.000 or higher — Maddy McIntyre (1.352), and Caitlin Conrad (1.187) and Erika Leonard (1.101). McIntyre leads the team with a .542 on base percentage and .810 slugging percentage. Conrad is second in both categories (.455 on base, .732 slugging).
PACKIN’ THEM IN
Through 10 home dates thus far in 2015, Ohio State is averaging 632 fans, the third highest total in the Big Ten. Two crowds this year have drawn over 1,000 people – March 21 vs. Michigan (1,389) and April 18 vs. Rutgers (1,124). Over the last two years, the Buckeyes have four crowds of 1,000 or more.
April 13, 2014 vs. Purdue: 1,589
March 21, 2015 vs. Michigan: 1,389
April 27, 2014 vs. Northwestern : 1,194
April 18, 2015 vs. Rutgers: 1,124
UNIFORM WATCH
Ohio State’s 2015 record when it wears…
White jersey/red pants: 2-0
White jersey/white pants: 6-5
Gray jersey/gray pants: 7-7
Red jersey/red pants: 9-8
