Buckeyes Complete Series Sweep of Rutgers – Ohio State Buckeyes

Sunday, April 10

Piscataway, N.J.

Ohio State

24-8-1, 0

Rutgers

17-23, 0

Ohio State

Rutgers

Buckeyes Complete Series Sweep of Rutgers – Ohio State Buckeyes

4/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 11, 2016

Final Stats

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The No. 24 Ohio State softball team ran its unbeaten streak to seven straight games and completed a three-game series sweep of Rutgers on Sunday with 11-9 win over the Scarlet Knights in the first game of the afternoon and 10-0 shutout in the finale. With the wins, the Buckeyes improve to 24-8-1 and 9-1-1 in the Big Ten. Rutgers is 17-23, 2-7.

THE SHORT STORY
The Buckeyes’ offense rolled to 21 runs and 24 hits as they claimed their third Big Ten sweep in the last two weeks by getting a well-balanced attack at the plate and a complete game shutout by pitcher Lena Springer in the afternoon contest.

GAME ONE: Ohio State 11, Rutgers 9
In the completion of a game that was previously suspended after completing three innings on Saturday, Ohio State scored five times in the top of the seventh to open up a 11-5 lead and then fended off a late Scarlet Knight rally in the bottom of the inning to hang on for a 11-9 victory.

When play picked up on Sunday, Ohio State led 5-3 on the strength of two-run home runs from Alex Bayne and Emily Clark and a run-scoring single from Jess Machovina. The score remained 5-3 until the top of the fifth when Ashley Goodwin delivered a RBI single to right field, scoring Taylor White, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.

That three-run cushion was short-lived, however, as Rutgers’ Jordan Whitley connected on a two-run home run which pulled the Scarlet Knights within one, 6-5. Morgan Ray then came in to relieve starter Shelby McCombs and recorded the final three outs of the innings on a line out, ground out and strikeout.

The Buckeye bats broke out in a big way in the top of the seventh to the tune of five runs on three hits, two of which were home runs. Clark launched a two-run shot to straightaway center — her second of the game — to give Ohio State a 9-5 lead. Two batters later, Becca Gavin connected on a two-run home run to left field that made the score 11-5. In all, the Buckeyes hit four home runs in the game and five of their 12 hits went for extra bases.

Those five runs in the top of the seventh proved to be pivotal as Rutgers scored four times in the bottom of the seventh despite getting just one hit. A strikeout to start the frame was the first out, but a single and two walks loaded the bases before a wild pitch brought the first run home to make it 11-6. Back to back walks plated the next run before Bridget Carr struck out for the second out. Two passed balls brought across a pair of two-out runs that cut the lead to 11-9, but Whitley, who had homered earlier in the game, struck out to end the threat.

STARS OF THE GAME
Emily Clark: 2-for-4, two home runs, four RBI
Alex Bayne: 2-for-4, two RBI, one run scored
Ashley Goodwin: 2-for-4, two RBI

IN THE CIRCLE
Sophomore Shelby McCombs got the start and lasted four innings, allowing five hits, four earned runs while striking out three. In 2.1 innings of relief, Ray allowed just one hit and struck out four while Shelby Hursh picked up her second save of the season by recording the games final two outs.

GAME TWO: Ohio State 10, Rutgers 0
Springer held Rutgers in check to the tune of a three-hit complete game shutout while the Buckeyes’ offense erupted for eight runs over the final two innings and never looked back in a 10-0 series finale victory.

A fast-starting Ohio State offense scored twice in the top of the first innings thanks to a passed ball that scored McIntyre (she walked) and Leonard’s sacrifice fly.

From there, Springer was in total command, giving up just two infield singles and a single down the right field line over the next seven innings. She retired Rutgers in order in the second, third, fifth and seventh innings. In the third, she struck out the side, picking up three of her career-high seven strikeouts.

Even with Springer’s gem, Ohio State led by just two, 2-0, with two outs in the top of the sixth. That was until Jess Machovina changed that with one swing of the bat. Machovina drove a 2-2 pitch to straightaway center field that gave Ohio State all the cushion it would need at 3-0.

That hit, however, opened up the flood gates offensively. Back to back doubles by Anna Kirk and Clark, respectively, made the score 4-0 and a Rutgers error brought in the third run of the inning for a 5-0 advantage. Springer then shut down a Rutgers threat in the sixth when base runners reached via an infield single and walk, getting pinch hitter Alexandra Yofee to fly out to center.

A five-run top of the seventh provided the final 10-0 margin, as key hits game from Bayne (solo home run to lead off the inning and RBI single), White (RBI single) and Clark (RBI single). In all, the Buckeyes had 12 hits on the game — nine over the final two innings.

STARS OF THE GAME
Springer: 7.0 IP, three hits, seven strikeouts, zero runs allowed
Clark: 2-for-2, two RBI, two runs scored
Bayne: 2-for-3, two RBI, two runs scored

NOTES
• Bayne has hit a home run in seven straight games, a school record. She is currently tied with Nebraska’s MJ Knighton for the conference lead with 17 home runs. She also became the first member of this year’s 40/40 club (40+ RBI, 40+ runs scored).

• Over five games this week, Ohio State hit .391 as a team with five regular starters who hit .400 or better — Bayne (.579), Prantl (.474), White (.467), Clark (.429) and Leonard (.421).

• The Buckeyes’ offense has five of the last seven games and overall is averaging 7.0 runs/game, second best in the conference.

• In 14 innings this week, Hursh picked up two wins and a save while striking out 17 and pitching the second no-hitter of her career. In the process, she moved into the top 10 in school history in career strikeouts.

NEXT UP
Ohio State returns to the friendly confines of Buckeye Field on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. game against Dayton (17-14). Admission, as always, is free.