Ohio State Rallies Past No. 24 Fresno State, 9-6 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Saturday, March 19

San Diego, Calif.

Ohio State

14-7

Fresno State

16-8-1

Ohio State

Fresno State

Ohio State Rallies Past No. 24 Fresno State, 9-6 – Ohio State Buckeyes

3/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 19, 2016

Final Stats

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Two Top 25 opponents for the Ohio State softball team this week. Two wins.

On Saturday, the Buckeyes started fast and finished even faster, picking up a 9-6 victory over No. 24 Fresno State in Santee, Calif. on the strength of five runs over the final two innings. Ohio State improves to 14-7 overall while the Bulldogs are 16-8-1. Ohio State previously defeated No. 18 Arizona State last Sunday.

THE SHORT STORY
Ohio State took an early lead, fell behind and then went back ahead again in a see-saw game that saw several ties and lead changes. Six different players recorded hits, including a pair of key at-bats in the top of the sixth to drive in the go-ahead runs.

HOW THE RUNS WERE SCORED
The Buckeyes were able to get one the scoreboard immediately in the top of the first – four times to be exact. Alex Bayne, who was two-for-four with two RBI on the afternoon, started things off with a double and was driven home by Prantl, who singled up the middle. The biggest hit of the inning, however, came off the bat of freshman Emily Clark, who connected on her first career home run – a three-run shot that made the score 4-0.

Fresno State was able to get a run back in the bottom of the first when starter Morgan Ray gave up a solo home run, but the score remained 4-1 until the bottom of the fourth. In that frame, Fresno State scored five times to take a 6-4 lead, keyed by three RBI singles.

Unfazed, Ohio State came right back in the top of the fifth to tie the game, as Bayne hit her team-leading seventh home run – a two-run shot – to make the score 6-6. Bailee Sturgeon, who was hit by a pitch to begin the frame, scored on the play.

In the top of the sixth, the Buckeyes went ahead for good thanks to some clutch pinch hitting. Specifically, senior Jayla Saibene singled to left field with the bases loaded, scoring pinch runner Megan Choinacky. Jess Machovina, also in to pinch hit, then delivered the key blow – a two-run single up the middle that made the score 9-6.

Fresno State went down in order in the bottom of the sixth but had the tying run at the plate with one out in the seventh. Shelby Hursh, who came on to relieve Ray in the fourth inning, struck out the last two batters and earned her team-leading seventh win of the year.

STARS OF THE DAY
Emily Clark: 1-3, three-run HR, two runs scored
Alex Bayne: 2-4, two-run HR, two runs scored
Pinch Hitters (Machovina/Saibene): 2-2, three RBI

BY THE NUMBERS – THIS WEEK
Over the four games played in San Diego this week, Goodwin and Prantl have combined to go 13-for-26 (.500) with 11 RBI and three home runs. Clark, the reigning Big Ten co-Freshman of the Week, has also chipped in with a .333 average, two doubles, a home run and four RBI. In the circle, Hursh is averaging a strikeout per inning (14 Ks/14 IP).

UP NEXT
Ohio State’s spring break trip out west comes to a close tomorrow morning when it tangles with Cal Poly (15-6) at 9 a.m. PT (noon ET).