Ohio State
18-7, 0
Maryland
7-23, 0
Leonard, Prantl Help Buckeyes to Series Sweep of Maryland – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 27, 2016
RELATED INFO: Highlights | Leonard Interview | Kovach Schoenly Interview | Final Stats | 2016 Statistics | 2016 Schedule| 2016 Roster | Follow the Buckeyes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Erika Leonard and Cammi Prantl combined to go five-for-five with three home runs, eight RBI and five runs scored as Ohio State rolled to a 13-4 victory on Sunday afternoon over Maryland to complete a three-game series sweep. With the win — the Buckeyes’ sixth in a row — Ohio State is now 18-7 (3-0 Big Ten) while Maryland falls to 7-23, 0-3.
THE SHORT STORY
Ohio State opened up the game with an eight-run third inning that was highlighted by a two-run home run from Prantl and bases clearing triple off the bat of Taylor White. In the circle, starter Shelby McCombs struck out six Terps while reliever Morgan Ray came in and pitched the final two-thirds of an inning and didn’t allow a hit.
HOW THE RUNS WERE SCORED
Like they have all season, Ohio State was able to get on the scoreboard in its first at-bat. Today, Leonard sent a 3-2 offering from Maryland pitcher Brenna Nation over the right field fence to stake the Buckeyes to an early 3-0 lead. Base runners Maddy McIntyre and Prantl had reached on a walk and single, respectively.
After a scoreless second, Maryland plated a run in the top of the third via a two-out single from Cory Schwartz. In the bottom of the frame, however, Ohio State offense erupted for eight runs on five hits to take an 11-1 lead.
The big inning started when Alex Bayne singled through the right side. The next batter, Prantl, drove her home by tagging a 1-2 pitch from Nation deep over the left centerfield fence. It was Prantl’s fifth home run of the season. The next batter, Leonard, walked, and Maryland made a pitching change, calling in Hannah Dewey. A walk and single to center field by Jess Machovina, which scored pinch runner Megan Choinacky, made the score 6-1 and also loaded the bases for White, who placed a ball perfectly in the right centerfield gap and legged out a three-run triple. The final run of the inning came of a perfectly executed double steal that resulted in Bayne at second base and White coming in to score.
Maryland scored three times in the top of the fourth as back to back hits put two runners on with nobody out. Sarah Calta’s bases-loaded single to left field scored the first run and then two more came home when Lindsey Schmeiser singled to center.
After a scoreless bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth, Ohio State officially wrapped up its run-rule win when Leonard hit her second home run of the day, this one a shot to left center, that scored Prantl, who had reached on a walk.
IN THE CIRCLE
McCombs, a sophomore from Newark, Ohio, got the start and went 4.1 innings with six strikeouts. She was able to strikeout Maryland batters to end the first, second and third innings. In relief, Ray did not allow a hit while getting the final two outs of the top of the fifth inning.
WIN NO. 300
Sunday’s win was the 300th in the career of head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly. She amassed 188 victories in six seasons at Miami, the most in program history, and already has 112 wins in three and a half years at Ohio State.
STARS OF THE DAY
Erika Leonard: 3-3, two home runs, double, six RBI
Cammi Prantl: 2-2, two-run home run, two RBI
Taylor White: 2-3, triple, three RBI, one run scored
EXTRA BASES
Five of the Buckeyes’ nine hits on the day went for extra baes — one double, one triple and three home runs. On the weekend, 12 of Ohio State’s 22 hits went for extra bases, led by Bayne (three home runs, one double), Leonard (two home runs, one double) and McIntyre (two doubles, one home run).
DID YOU KNOW
? Ohio State has swept its last two Big Ten home series — May 1-3 last season vs. Indiana to close the regular season and March 25-27 of this year.
? The Buckeyes now lead the all-time series with Maryland 5-2.
? Three regular starters — Bayne, Leonard and McIntyre — all hit over .500 this weekend. Bayne, who homered in wins on both Friday and Saturday, went five-for-nine with nine RBI and a 1.667 slugging percentage.
? Last season, Leonard homered twice in the series finale against Maryland that spring boarded her to a season that saw her hit .414 with 15 home runs and 60 RBI. In today’s series finale, she also hit two home runs while driving in a season-high six runs.
? The Buckeyes’ team ERA continues to be below 2.50, as the combination of McCombs, Ray, Katya Duvall, Lena Springer and Shelby Hursh have given up just 57 earned runs in 163 innings (2.45 ERA) with nearly one strikeout per inning (141 Ks).
? Ohio State scored first for the 15th time this year and is 13-2 in those games.
UP NEXT
The Buckeyes take their momentum and six-game winning streak to Madison, Wisc. next weekend for a three-game series with Wisconsin (16-12, 2-1).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McCombs, Shelby (5-3)
L: Nation, B. (2-13)
Batting:
2B: Lang, S. 1 ; Henderson 1
RBI: Calta, S. 1 ; Schmeiser,L 2 ; Schwartz, C. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ellazar, S. 2 ; Henderson 1 ; Datil, K. 1
SB: Ellazar, S. 1 ; Calta, S. 1
Batting:
2B: Leonard, Erika 1
3B: White, Taylor 1
HR: Prantl, Cammi 1 ; Leonard, Erika 2
RBI: Prantl, Cammi 2 ; Leonard, Erika 6 ; Kirk, Anna 1 ; White, Taylor 3
Base Running:
RUNS: McIntyre, Maddy 1 ; Bayne, Alex 2 ; Prantl, Cammi 3 ; Leonard, Erika 2 ; Choinacky, Megan 1 ; Clark, Emily 1 ; Machovina, Jess 1 ; Kirk, Anna 1 ; White, Taylor 1
SB: Bayne, Alex 1 ; White, Taylor 1
HBP: Bayne, Alex 1 ; Kirk, Anna 1
