Buckeyes Head to Michigan State For Weekend Series – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 9, 2015
RELATED INFO
- Game Notes
- 2015 Schedule
- 2015 Statistics
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COLUMBUS, Ohio— Looking to build momentum on its series-closing win over Nebraska last Sunday, the Ohio State softball team takes to the road for a weekend series at Michigan State. First pitch of the first game is slated for 4 p.m. on Friday while the second and third games will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, at MSU’s Secchia Stadium.
FOLLOWING ALONG
A live stream of Friday and Saturday’s games will be available at BTN Plus (subscription required). Fans can also follow the action via Gametracker. A link will be available on the calendar tab of OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Twitter updates can be found at @OhioState_SB.
BUCKEYES IN A NUTSHELL
- After winning the series finale against Nebraska last Sunday, Ohio State stands at 19-16 overall, 3-6 in the Big Ten.
- Maddy McIntyre and Erika Leonard have been swinging the hottest bats as of late. McIntyre is second on the squad in batting average (.376), RBI (33), first in runs (32), slugging percentage (.741), on base percentage (.518) and second in home runs (eight). Over the last 15 games, she’s hitting at a .463 clip (19-for-41) with four home runs and 18 RBI.
- Leonard has improved her average by nearly 100 points over the last seven games. She’s 15-for-26 (.577) with five home runs, 15 RBI, two doubles and a 1.231 slugging percentage. She hit two home runs in a 9-5 extra innings win over Maryland on March 29, including the game-tying blast with two outs in the seventh inning.
- Seven other regular starters are batting over .300 — Caitlin Conrad (.381, 30 runs, 35 RBI, nine home runs), Kirstie Fehrenbach (.345, one double, one triple, 17 runs), Cammi Prantl (.339, 25 runs, 20 RBI, five home runs, 10 doubles), Taylor White (.323, 16 RBI, 18 runs, eight stolen bases), Keelia Nester (.313, 12 runs, six stolen bases), Anna Kirk (.313, 27 RBI, 27 runs, six home runs) and Taylor Watkins (.309, 34 runs, 23 RBI).
- In the circle, Olivia O’Reilly leads the squad with 100.1 innings pitched and checks in with a 3.98 ERA. She is coming off a complete-game victory Sunday vs. Nebraska in which she allowed just four hits over the first six innings. Sophomore Shelby Hursh is averaging over a strikeout per inning (61.2 IP, 71 Ks).
- Through 35 games, the Buckeyes’ have hit 39 home runs. They hit 37 all of last season (55 games). They also have 37 stolen bases, compared to 24 during the entire 2014 campaign.
- Eight players are hitting for a better average 35 games into the season this year as compared to 2014. Additionally, as a team, Ohio State’s batting average is up by 44 points.
- Conrad owns a 24-game reached base streak, which began on Feb. 22 vs. Utah.
- Over the last 10 games, Ohio State is average 9.3 runs/game and 11.4 hits/game.
TWEETABLE NOTES
- Ohio State holds a 62-41 advantage in the all-time series with Michigan State, including a perfect 3-0 mark in 2014.
- The Buckeyes have won nine straight in the series, dating back to 2011.
- In Caitlin Conrad’s 11-game hitting streak, she is 17-for-41 (.415) with 4 HR and 10 RBI.
- Conrad is just three multi-RBI games away from tying the single-season record of 18
- The Buckeyes have played six extra-inning games this year and are 5-1 in those contests.
- The next run that Cammi Prantl scores will be the 100th of her career.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Under 21st-year head coach Jacquie Joseph, Michigan State currently stands at 16-21 overall and 1-8 in the Big Ten after being swept last weekend by Rutgers. At the plate, Alyssa McBride, a senior from Mattawan, Mich., leads the team with a .407 average. She also had four doubles, 14 RBI, 21 runs scored and a .456 slugging percentage. McKinzie Freimuth, a first basemen, checks in with a .322 average, 15 RBI and 18 runs. In the circle, Kristina Zalewski is 12-9 in 126.1 innings with a team-best 2.94 ERA and 111 strikeouts.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH MICHIGAN STATE
Ohio State and Michigan State have met 103 previous times, with the Buckeyes taking 62 meetings. The Buckeyes swept the Spartans to begin Big Ten play last year, beginning a 5-1 stretch that opened the conference season. Ohio State won by scores of 13-6, 11-7 and 5-4 and hit .432 as a team.
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 35 games this year, the Buckeyes’ OPS is .903 and three players have an OPS of 1.000 or higher — Maddy McIntyre (1.259), and Caitlin Conrad (1.129) and Erika Leonard (1.025). McIntyre leads the team with a .518 on base percentage and .741 slugging percentage. Conrad is second in both categories (.422 on base, .706 slugging).
A BUCKEYE STATE FLAVOR
Ohio State’s roster has a distinctly Ohio flavor, as 13 of the 22 players hail from the Buckeye state. On those 13, eight are considered local to the Columbus area, including three from the same high school — Teays Valley.
The Buckeyes have been able to tap in to traditionally fertile recruiting grounds, as five players call California home — Cassidy Clough (San Diego, Calif.), Maddy McIntyre (San Diego, Calif.), Alex Vargas (Chula Vista, Calif.), Ashley Goodwin (Riverside, Calif.) and Taylor White (Granada Hills, Calif.).
ALL-AMERICA/ALL-REGION CANDIDATES
Caitlin Conrad | Sr. | OF | Richwood, Ohio/North Union
2015: Has reached base in 24 straight games … hit three home runs in a doubleheader vs. Nebraska last Saturday … first member of this year’s 30-30 club (30+ RBI, 30+ runs) … Tops on the team in batting average (.381), hits (48), RBI (35) total bases (89), and triples (3) as the leadoff hitter … second on the squad in slugging percentage (.706) and third in on-base percentage (.422) … has scored 30 runs … team captain … has six assists from her spot in right field … ranks in the Top 15 in Big Ten in five categories — slugging percentage (13th), hits (sixth), RBI (13th), total bases (10th) and home runs (15th) … has a 1.129 OPS (on base + slugging), second best on the team … 15 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games … currently on a 11-game hitting streak … hitting .412 in the last 15 games with 11 RBI, four doubles, four home runs and a .765 slugging percentage.
Maddy McIntyre | Rs.-Jr. | SS | San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo
2015: Second in the team with a .376 average … leads the team in runs scored (32), slugging percentage (.741), on base percentage (.518) and OPS (1.259) … second member of the 30-30 club this year (32 runs, 33 RBI) … is 19-or-41 (.463) with 18 RBI, six doubles and four home runs over the last 15 games … has hit safely in 11 of the last 14 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 sixth in the Big Ten in on-base percentage and ninth in slugging … ten multi-hit and 10 multi-RBI games … came into the season with four career home runs and has eight already in 2015 … team captain … has reached base in 10 straight games … over the last 15 games, is batting a team-best .463 with 18 RBI, 17 runs scored and four home runs.
UNIFORM WATCH
Ohio State’s 2015 record when it wears…
White jersey/red pants…………… 1-0
White jersey/white pants…………. 5-5
Gray jersey/gray pants……………… 5-6
Red jersey/red pants……………….. 8-6
NEBRASKA REWIND
Nebraska 7, Ohio State 5
Nebraska scored twice in the top of the seventh inning and break a 5-5 tie and secured a 7-5 victory in the opening game of Saturday’s doubleheader. The Cornhuskers got a one-out RBI singles by Kylee Muir and a two-out RBI single from Laura Barrow for the game-winning runs.
At the plate, Ohio State outhit Nebraska 11-10. Three of those hit came off the bat of Leonard, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Prantl, McIntytre and Kirk also had two hits. In the circle, Olivia O’Reilly pitched a complete game, giving up six earned runs and striking out two.
Nebraska 11, Ohio State 7
The Buckeyes and Cornhuskers combined to hit nine home runs in an offensive showcase that saw Nebraska complete the doubleheader sweep.
Conrad went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo shots while Kirk added a three-run blast in the fifth inning. Watkins (3-for-4, one run scored) also had a multi-hit game. For Nebraska, Steph Pasquale hit two home runs and drove in five, including a three-run shot as part of a four-run third inning.
Ohio State 5, Nebraska 4
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.
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 and 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. 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 runner allowed Kirk to come all the way around from first base to score, giving Ohio State a 5-0 lead.
NEBRASKA 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.
- Over the last 15 games, McIntyre and Leonard have combined to drive in 35 runs while going 35-for-77 (.454).
30-30 CLUB
The first member of the 30-30 club for 2015 was redshirt junior Maddy McIntyre, who surpassed mark in last Tuesday’s doubleheader vs. Pittsburgh. She now has 32 runs and 33 RBI. Caitlin Conrad joined the group this past weekend and now checks in with 35 RBI and 30 runs scored. Last year, it took until the 40th game of the season for the first person to get to the 30-30 mark and the Buckeyes ended the season with just two members of the club. This year, three other players are on pace to surpass the mark — Cammi Prantl, Taylor Watkins and Anna Kirk.
IN THE BIG TEN STATS
- Maddy McIntyre is ninth in slugging percentage (.741), sixth in on-base percentage (.518), and 14th in runs scored (32)
- Caitlin Conrad is third in total bases (89), 14th in slugging percentage (.706), third in hits (48), 13th in RBI (35) and first in triples (three)
- Shelby Hursh is eighth in opposing batting average (.249), 13th in strikeouts (71) and tied for seventh in saves (two)
- Alex DiDomenico is second in saves (three)
- Olivia O’Reilly is 15th in ERA (3.98), 13th in opponent batting average (.274) and 11th in innings pitched (100.1)
CLIMBING THE CAREER CHARTS
- Taylor Watkins currently ranks seventh in RBI (112), seventh in hits (216), ninth in batting average (.340), eighth in home runs (18), fourth in runs scored (151) and sixth in walks (80). She is 17 runs shy of tying the all-time school record of 168 set by Alicia Herron (2009-12).
- Caitlin Conrad currently ranks sixth in home runs (25), 12th in runs scored (119), eighth in RBI (105) and 15th in doubles (31).
- Cammi Prantl is tied for seventh in doubles (38), 10th in batting average (.340) and 15th in runs scored (99).
- Olivia O’Reilly currently ranks 10th in strikeouts (241) and ninth in wins (36).
