Ohio State
11-6
Arizona State
21-7
Buckeyes Use Big Innings to Top No. 21 Arizona State – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2016
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TEMPE, Ariz. — After battling a pair of ranked teams pitch for pitch in earlier games this weekend, Ohio State (11-6) broke through on Sunday and picked up a signature win of its early-season non-conference schedule. The Buckeyes scored nine times over the final two innings and defeated No. 18/21 Arizona State (21-7) 11-5 in their finale at the Louisville Slugger Invitational at Farrington Stadium in Tempe.
THE SHORT STORY
In a back-and-fourth contest, Ashley Goodwin’s go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth inning gave Ohio State a 4-3 lead that it would never relinquish. The Buckeyes also put up a six sport in the top of the seventh to provide itself plenty of breathing room. Three pitchers — starter Morgan Ray and relievers Shelby McCombs and Lena Springer — combined to keep ASU’s potent offense in check for the most part as the group limited the Sun Devils to just one run over the games first four innings.
HOW THE BUCKEYE RUNS WERE SCORED
Trailing 1-0, Ohio State tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second on a Goodwin single up the middle that scored pinch runner Cassidy Clough. In the fourth, the Buckeyes pushed across the go-ahead run when Emily Clark doubled to right center, advanced to third on the throw and drove home Goodwin, who had reached via a walk. A freshman from Prospect, Ohio, Clark finished the game three-for-four with two doubles and two runs scored.
After Arizona State went ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth on a run-scoring double and single, Goodwin single-handily seized the momentum back in Ohio State’s favor with a towering two-out, two-run home run to left center on a 3-2 pitch that sailed over the scoreboard before finally landing. Jess Machovina had singled in the previous at-bat to keep the inning alive.
Not satisfied, Ohio State put another two-out run on the board when Alex Bayne singled home Clark, who had doubled after Goodwin’s home run.
Arizona State scored once in the bottom of the sixth but McCombs stranded the bases loaded by inducing All-American Nikki Girard to fly out to right field, preserving the Buckeye lead at 5-4. In the seventh, the offense flood gates opened to the tune of six runs on six hits. Key at-bats came from Leonard, who led off the frame with a double and McIntyre, who drove two home with a double to left center.
Also getting in on the action was Bayne, who laid down a perfect suicide squeeze that resulted in her ending up at second base and Clark scoring from third. Anna Kirk also drove in two runs with a single up the middle.
In the bottom of the seventh, Springer, who picked up her first save of the season, quickly retired the first two batters but the next three reached base. The game ended, however, with a rundown between second and third base that resulted in the final out.
IN THE CIRCLE
Ray, a freshman from Huston, Mt., got the start in the circle and held Arizona State in check for the majority of her outing. She went 4.2 innings and allowed three runs, but the Sun Devils were scoreless in the second, third and fourth innings. One of her biggest outs came when she fanned Ulufa Leilua with a runner at third and Ohio State holding a 2-1 lead. McCombs, the winning pitcher, tossed one inning in relief while Springer closed the door in the final 1.1 innings.
BOTTOM OF THE ORDER SHINES
The Buckeyes’ seven-eight-nine hitters yesterday (Goodwin, Clark, McIntyre) combined to go six-for-nine with six runs scored and five RBI. It also included four extra base hits – a home run from Goodwin, two doubles by Clark and a double from McIntyre.
STARS OF THE DAY
Emily Clark: 3-4, two doubles, one RBI, two runs scored
Ashley Goodwin: 2-2, go-ahead home run, three RBI
Alex Bayne: 3-5, two RBI, one run scored
Morgan Ray: 4.2 IP, three earned runs, two strikeouts, one walk
WEEKEND NOTES
• Bayne hit .500 in four games with eight hits in 16 at-bats and added three RBI and three runs scored. Clark, who played in three games and started two, hit safely in four of her eight at-bats with two of them going for extra bases.
• Six players who played in all four games hit .300 or better this weekend – Goodwin (.500), Bayne (.500), Leonard (.438), White (.385), McIntyre (.333) and Prantl (.313).
• The Buckeyes continue to lead the Big Ten in ERA, checking in with a conference-best mark of 2.31.
• As a team, the Buckeyes hit .356 with four home runs and nine doubles. The 16 hits on Sunday vs. Arizona State was a season-high.
• McIntyre recorded her 100th career RBI with her two-run double in the seventh inning.
• Sunday’s win over No. 21 Arizona State was Ohio State’s first over a ranked team since the final regular-season series of the 2014 season against No. 25 Northwestern, a three-game sweep of the Wildcats.
UP NEXT
The Buckeyes remain out west and continue their Spring Break trip on Wednesday with a game at San Diego State beginning at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McCombs, Shelby (4-3)
L: Macha, B. (6-3)
S: Springer, Lena (1)
Batting:
2B: Leonard, Erika 1 ; Clark, Emily 2 ; McIntyre, Maddy 1
HR: Goodwin, Ashley 1
RBI: Bayne, Alex 2 ; Kirk, Anna 2 ; Machovina, Jess 1 ; Goodwin, Ashley 3 ; Clark, Emily 1 ; McIntyre, Maddy 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bayne, Alex 1 ; Leonard, Erika 1 ; Clough, Cassidy 1 ; Betschel, Bri 1 ; Marotti, Maddie 1 ; Goodwin, Ashley 3 ; Clark, Emily 2 ; McIntyre, Maddy 1
HBP: Goodwin, Ashley 1
Batting:
2B: Soria, J. 2 ; Aguirre, K. 1
RBI: Becerra, T. 1 ; Soria, J. 2 ; Girard, N. 1 ; Chilson, N. 1
SH: Soria, J. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Becerra, T. 1 ; Spiel, A. 1 ; Soria, J. 1 ; Aguirre, K. 1 ; Steele, B. 1
SB: Spiel, A. 1 ; Girard, N. 1 ; Steele, B. 1
