Bayne, O’Reilly Lead Buckeyes to 5-4 Win Over Nebraska – Ohio State Buckeyes

Sunday, April 5

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

19-16, 0

Nebraska

20-17, 0

Nebraska

Ohio State

Bayne, O’Reilly Lead Buckeyes to 5-4 Win Over Nebraska – Ohio State Buckeyes

4/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

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April 5, 2015

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COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sophomore Alex Bayne came off the bench to deliver two big hits and RBI and the Ohio State offense picked up three critical insurance runs in the sixth inning of a 5-4 victory on Sunday afternoon over Nebraska at Buckeye Field. With the win, OSU is now 19-16 overall, 3-6 in the Big Ten while Nebraska falls to 20-17, 8-3.

Bayne, a native of Manvel, Texas who had just 16 at-bats coming in to the day, was inserted as a pinch hitter in the third inning and immediately came through, smacking a double to right center field that scored Taylor White from first base. Bayne was out on the play trying to stretch the double into a triple.

That one run would stand up all the way to the bottom of the fifth when Bayne once against put Ohio State on the scoreboard. Her single to right field scored Anna Kirk, who had reach on a sacrifice bunt.

Ahead 2-0, the Buckeyes added three key insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, started off by back to back hits from Taylor Watkins and Cammi Prantl. A walk to Maddy McIntyre loaded the bases, prompting a Nebraska pitching change. The next batter, Erika Leonard, dropped a single into right field, scoring Watkins. Leonard was out on the play trying to stretch her single into a double. On the next play, Kirk put down a suicide squeeze, with Prantl being called safe at home. In a wild sequence, McIntyre was eventually called out a home while some heads-up base running allowed Kirk to come all the way around from first base to score, giving Ohio State a 5-0 lead. The inning ended on a ground out by Keelia Nester.

Those three insurance runs proved to be critical in the next inning, as Nebraska refused to go quietly. Kat Woolman led off the inning with a double to right center, followed by a ground out that advanced her to third. The next batter, Laura Barrow, singled home Woolman, making the score 5-1. Following a walk to Kiki Stokes, MJ Knighten hit a three-run home run to center field, pulling the Cornhuskers within one, 5-4. Pitcher Olivia O’Reilly was able to seal the deal, however, getting consecutive ground outs from Steph Pasquale and Kylee Muir to end the game.

O’Reilly (10-6) had one of her most efficient outings of the season, pitching a complete game while scattering seven hits, including four over the first six innings. Eight different players recorded a hit for Ohio State, led by Bayne’s two-for-two effort. With a third-inning single, Caitlin Conrad extended her hitting streak to 11 games.

The Buckeyes return to action on Tuesday, April 7 when they travel to State College, Pa. to face Penn State in a doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m. The games can be seen live on the Big Ten Network.

NOTES

Over the three-game weekend series, three players hit .400 or better — Kirk (5-8, .625, four RBI, one home run), Leonard (5-11, .455, four RBI, one home run) and Watkins (4-10, .400, two runs scored).
O’Reilly led the way in the circle with 14.0 IP. After throwing 170 pitches in a complete game yesterday, she threw just 112 today.
In addition to Conrad’s 11-game hitting streak, Leonard has also picked up a hit in seven straight contests
Conrad has reached base in 15 consecutive games while McIntyre has reached in 10 straight.
Over the last 15 games, McIntyre and Leonard have combined to drive in 35 runs while going 35-for-77 (.454)