Ohio State Hosts Indiana for Regular Season Finale – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 30, 2015
RELATED INFO
- Game Notes
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- Live Stats: Friday | Live Stats: Saturday | Live Stats: Sunday
- 2015 Schedule
- 2015 Season Stats
- Student-Athlete Spotlight: Taylor Watkins
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State softball team concludes its 2015 regular season and will honor six players this weekend when it welcomes Indiana to Buckeye Field for a three game series. The two teams meet on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a 2:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday and 4:00 p.m. start on Sunday.
FOLLOWING ALONG
Sunday’s contest can be seen live on the Big Ten Network. Dean Linke will handle play by play duties while former Michigan pitcher Jennie Ritter will be the color analyst. Friday and Saturday’s game will be steamed live on BuckeyeVision (subscription required). A link to live stats for all three games will be available on OhioStateBuckeyes.com and Twitter updates at @OhioState_SB.
BUCKEYES IN A NUTSHELL
- Following last weekend’s three-game series at Northwestern, Ohio State stands at 26-21 and 9-11 in the Big Ten.
- Eight players that have started at least 30 games are batting .300 or better, led by Erika Leonard (.383, 42 RBI, 10 home runs, 21 runs scored) and Maddy McIntyre (.381, 45 RBI, 49 runs scored, 14 home runs, .545 on base percentage).
- The other .300 or better hitters are Caitlin Conrad (.377, 12 home runs, 42 RBI, 45 runs scored, 12 stolen bases), Cammi Prantl (.335, 30 RBI, 38 runs scored, 14 doubles, six home runs), Taylor White (.331, 19 RBI, 21 runs scored, eight stolen bases), Taylor Watkins (.320, 42 runs scored, 35 RBI), Anna Kirk (.316, 36 RBI, 32 runs scored) and Keelia Nester (.301, 18 runs scored).
- Conrad has 19 multi-hit games this season, the sixth most in single-season school history.
- In Big Ten games only, Leonard is hitting a blistering .407 with 30 RBI (1.5/game) and seven home runs. Not to be outdone, Conrad checks in with a .410 average, 15 RBI, 20 runs scored and a .532 on base percentage.
- Olivia O’Reilly leads the pitching staff in innings (127.0) and ERA (4.57). Sophomore Shelby Hursh is average over a strikeout per inning pitched (79.0 innings, 88 strikeouts).
- As a team, Ohio State has 11 saves on the year, the most in single-season school history. The previous record was 10 in 2014.
- The Buckeyes’ team batting average of .332 is the second highest in single-season school history (.333 in 2002 is the best).
TWEETABLE NOTES
- Ohio State ranks 20th nationally in average runs per game (6.89).
- Friday’s game will be the 400th in the career of head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly.
- Taylor Watkins is just four runs scored shy of tying the all-time school record held by Alicia Herron (168).
- Caitlin Conrad has reached base in 36 consecutive games.
- With three wins this weekend, Ohio State will finish above .500 in the Big Ten for the second straight year.
SCOUTING INDIANA
The Hoosiers currently stand in a tie for 10th place in the Big Ten with a 7-11 record. Indiana is coming off a 9-1 loss to Indiana State on Tuesday and are led offensively by infielder Erin Lehman, who is hitting at a .373 clip with 10 doubles, 25 runs scored and 41 hits. The biggest power hitters in the Hoosiers lineup are Kelsey Dotson (.352, 13 home runs, 45 RBI) and Shannon Cawley (.321, 10 home runs, 43 RBI). In the circle, Lora Olson has pitched a team-high 203.0 innings with a 6.41 ERA and 90 strikeouts.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE HOOSIERS
Ohio State and Indiana have met 97 previous times with the Hoosiers holding a 55-40-2 edge in the all-time series. In recent history, the Buckeyes have won 10 of 15 matchups dating back to 2009. Last year in Bloomington, the Buckeyes bounced back from dropping the series-opener on a walk-off home run to sweep a doubleheader by scores of 12-2 and 10-2.
THE CLASS OF 2015
Caitlin Conrad | OF | Richwood, Ohio
Entering the weekend, has played in 199 career games with 171 starts … went from a .200 hitter as a freshman to batting .377 as a senior with 12 home runs, 45 runs scored and 42 RBI … All-America and All-Region candidate … over the last two years, has driven in 81 runs in 102 games … member of the 2014 Big Ten All-Tournament team … hitting a team-best .410 this year in 20 Big Ten games … ranks sixth all-time in home runs (28).
Taylor Watkins | OF | Tucson, Ariz.
Will graduate as one of the most decorated players in program history … has started in each of the 210 games she’s played in as a Buckeye … four runs shy of tying Alicia Herron for the career record (168) … a .341 career hitter with 229 hits, 164 runs scored, 124 RBI and 31 stolen bases … will graduate ranked in the Top 10 in batting average, hits, RBI, runs scored, walks and home runs … two-time All-Region choice … first team All-Big Ten in 2014.
Olivia O’Reilly | P | Sylvania, Ohio
Owns a 38-24 career record with a 3.56 ERA and 267 strikeouts, seventh most in school history … won a team-high 17 games last year, including eight in a row from 4/23-5/9, and had a 3.02 ERA … pitched 19.2 scoreless innings from March 12-16, 2014 … tossed a complete game earlier this year against Nebraska, giving up just four hits through six innings … three-time NFCA Academic All-America choice, OSU Scholar-Athlete, Academic All-Big Ten and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
Keelia Nester | INF | Columbus, Ohio
Joined the team shortly before the start of the 2014 season and became the starting shortstop before conference play began … was named the squads Rookie of the Year in 2014 … is batting .301 this year with 18 runs scored and seven RBI … has 54 hits, 44 runs scored and 21 RBI in 92 career games.
Kirstie Fehrenbach | OF | Powell, Ohio
Transfer from Miami University … suffered injuries throughout her career but battled back to start 23 games this year in the outfield … batting .338 with 19 runs scored, five RBI and two triples …. had a career-high three hits vs. Pittsburgh (3/31/15) … OSU Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten.
Alex DiDomenico | P | Youngstown, Ohio
Had a career year as a sophomore in 2013, going 15-11 with a team-best 2.59 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 173 innings … had nine shutouts that year and 14 complete games … in limited action last year, went 3-3 with a 2.92 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 36 innings … her 228 career strikeouts ranks 11th all-time.
SINGLE SEASON RANKINGS
The Buckeyes are enjoying one of their most prolific years offensively, hitting .332 as a team with 62 home runs, 136 extra base hits, 324 runs scored and 50 stolen bases. Here is where those numbers rank all-time in single season school history:
Home Runs: 2nd (68, 2009)
Batting Average: 2nd (.333, 2002)
Runs Scored: 3rd (368, 2002)
Extra Base Hits: 3rd (144, 2009)
Stolen Bases: 8th (117, 2002)
40/40, 30/30
For the first time in school history, Ohio State has two members of the 40/40 club (McIntyre, Conrad) and three in the 30/30 club (Prantl, Watkins, Kirk). The last time there were multiple 40/40 players was 2010 — Alicia Herron (50 RBI, 41 runs) and Sam Marder (45 RBI, 40 runs).
By comparison, the 2002 team — regarded to be the best statistical offense in school history — did not have a 40/40 player but did have three 30/30s.
MAKE B1G PLANS
For the first time since 2007, the Big Ten Tournament is coming to Columbus. From May 7-9, the conference championships 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 47 games this year, the Buckeyes’ OPS is .940 and four players have an OPS of 1.000 or higher — Maddy McIntyre (1.368), and Caitlin Conrad (1.164), Erika Leonard (1.117) and Alex Bayne (1.057). McIntyre leads the team with a .545 on base percentage and .823 slugging percentage. Conrad is second in both categories (.459 on base, .704 slugging).
IN A PINCH
In addition to boasting one of the best offenses in school history, the Buckeyes also have plenty of viable options off the bench to pinch hit. Both Alex Bayne and Jayla Saibene have gotten 12 pinch-hit opportunities this year, with Bayne hitting .333 and Saibene .500. In last Sunday’s 20-17 win over Northwestern, freshman Cassidy Clough pinch hit in the sixth inning for McIntyre and drilled a three-run home run that gave the Buckeyes a 16-14 lead. As a team, Ohio State is 25-for-71 (.352) in pinch hit opportunities this year.
TWO-OUT RBI
Ohio State has 136 two-out RBIs this year, the most in single-season school history and three ahead of the previous record set by the 2002 Buckeyes (133). Conrad leads the way with 24 while Leonard is second with 23, Kirk has 18 and McIntyre 17.
2015: 136
2002: 133
2010: 119
2009: 118
2005: 112
2014: 102
2006: 100
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: 8-8
Red jersey/red pants: 10-9
IN THE CAREER RECORD BOOKS
- Taylor Watkins is third all-time in runs scored (164) and four shy of tying record holder Alicia Herron (168, 2009-2012). She’s also third in hits (229), seventh in RBI (124), ninth in batting average (.341) and eighth in home runs (19).
- Caitlin Conrad is sixth in home runs (28), 13th in batting average (.314), seventh in runs (134) and eighth in RBI (112).
- Maddy McIntyre is sixth in walks (91) and eighth in home runs (18).
- Olivia O’Reilly is tied for eighth in wins (38) and seventh strikeouts (267).
- Cammi Prantl is fourth in doubles (42) 12th in batting average (.337) and 12th in runs scored (112).
LAST TIME VS. INDIANA
Indiana 11, Ohio State 7
Kelsey Dotson hit a walk-off grand slam to give Indiana a 11-7 come-from-behind victory over Ohio State at Andy Mohr Field.
Leading 7-1 through five innings, the Buckeyes gave up five run in both the sixth and seventh innings to the Hoosiers. Despite the loss, Evelyn Carrillo, went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Jesse Machovina also had a big day, going 1-for-4 with a two-run home run, the first of her career.
Ohio State 12, Indiana 2
Six different players recorded multiple hits and Olivia O’Reilly earned her team-leading sixth win of the year as Ohio State opened a doubleheader with a convincing 12-2 victory over Indiana.
The Buckeyes’ offense got off to a fast start in the top of the first, scoring nine runs on nine hits while sending 15 batters to the plate.
Ohio State 10, Indiana 2
Ohio State’s offense continued its torrid pace in the second game, notching five extra base hits and scoring multiple runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings to claim a 10-2 victory.
The Buckeyes plated four run in the top of the second, the biggest hit coming from Carrillo, who singled to center field with the bases loaded to score two runs. Saibene started out the frame with a single, advanced to second on an error by the shortstop and eventually came around to score on a single from Machovina. Watkins also picked up an RBI in the inning with a single to left field.
