Buckeyes Drop B1G Quarterfinal Contest To Nebraska, 5-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Friday, May 8

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

30-22

Nebraska

33-20

Ohio State

Nebraska

Buckeyes Drop B1G Quarterfinal Contest To Nebraska, 5-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes

5/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

May 8, 2015

Final Stats

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Despite Erika Leonard’s team-leading 15th home run in the top of the seventh, the sixth-seeded Ohio State softball team (30-22) saw its run in the Big Ten Tournament come to an end with a 5-2 loss to third-seeded Nebraska on Friday evening.

The Buckeyes were hurt by three costly errors that led to three Nebraska runs and left nine runners on base, including six in the first three innings.

Nebraska was first on the scoreboard thanks to a bases loaded walk, but the lead was short-lived as Caitlin Conrad’s single up the middle in the top of the second scored Alex Bayne, who had reached on an infield single. With one out and the bases loaded, however, a double play ended the threat.

The Cornhuskers went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the second when Kiki Stokes stole second base and an error allowed Laura Barrow to score from third. A Olivia O’Reilly strikeout of Alicia Armstrong, however, prevented any further damage. Back to back singles by Maddy McIntyre and Erika Leonard got a rally going for Ohio State in the top of the third, but a pop up and grounded left runners stranded at second and third.

Two critical runs came across for Nebraska in the bottom of the fourth when a single and two-out error allowed MJ Knighten to score after Kiki Stokes had crossed the plate. Ahead 4-1, the Cornhuskers added a key insurance run in the sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh, and that proved to be critical as Leonard’s two-out solo home run pulled Ohio State to within three, 5-2, in the bottom of the inning. A fly out to center field ended the game, however.

Ohio State’s offense did generate nine hits against Nebraska’s Emily Lockman, but only one of them was for extra bases. Leonard was 2-for-4 with a home run, her 15th in the last 24 games. In the circle, O’Reilly went four innings and gave up seven hits and two earned runs. Lena Springer and Shelby Hursh each pitch an inning in relief.

NOTES

Leonard finished the year with 60 RBI, the second highest single-season total in school history. She had 54 RBI in the final 24 games of the season.
For the first time in program history, four players had double-digit home runs — Leonard (15), Conrad (14), McIntyre (14) and Kirk (10).
Ohio State shattered its single-season batting average record, finishing at a .348 clip, 15 points higher than the previous record in 2002 (.333).
For the first time in program history, the team had two 50/50 players — Conrad (54 RBI, 52 runs) and McIntyre (50 RBI, 55 runs).
The Buckeyes scored the most runs in the single-season history of the program (380), averaging 7.3 per game.
Leonard’s .414 final season average is the fifth best mark in single season history while Conrad checks in at sixth (.399).
Cammi Prantl had a team-high 16 doubles on the season and will enter her senior year in 2016 with 44 in her career, 14 shy of the all-time leader (Krinon Clark, 58, 1991-94).