No. 23 Buckeyes Drop Opener to No. 2 Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes

Friday, April 15

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Ohio State

25-9-1, 0

Michigan

31-4, 0

Ohio State

Michigan

No. 23 Buckeyes Drop Opener to No. 2 Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes

4/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 15, 2016

Final Stats

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Second-ranked Michigan scored seven times in the fifth and sixth innings to open up a otherwise close game and claim a 8-0 victory over 23rd-ranked Ohio State on Friday evening at a sold out Wilpon Complex in Ann Arbor.

THE SHORT STORY
The Buckeyes saw their seven-game unbeaten streak come to an end thanks to the pitching of UM’s Megan Betsa (6.0 IP, 13 strikeouts) and late hitting that produced three runs in the fifth inning and four in the sixth. Ohio State now stands at 25-9-1, 9-2-1 in the Big Ten while Michigan is 31-4, 9-2.

HOW THE RUNS WERE SCORED
Ohio State and pitcher Shelby Hursh were able to keep on of the nation’s most explosive offenses in check for the first three innings, limiting the Wolverines to just one hit. In the bottom of the fourth, lead-off hitter Kelly Christner reached via an error and her pinch runner, Olivia Richvalsky eventually scored on a single down the left field line by Abby Ramirez. Hursh and the Buckeyes were able to avoid further damage, however, when Kelsey Susalla flied out to left field with two runners on.

Poised to answer with a big inning of their own, Ohio State put runners on second and third with nobody out in the top of the fifth. Emily Clark led things off with her second single of the evening and Becca Gavin was then hit by a pitch. Both runners then moved up on a wild pitch. Following a Maddy McIntyre strikeout, Alex Bayne was intentionally walked to load the bases. A strikeout and foul out to the catcher ended the threat, however.

The only home run of the game was hit in the bottom of the fifth and it came as a three-run shot off the bat of Aidan Falk. The Wolverines pushed across four runs in the bottom of the sixth on two RBI singles, a run-scoring double and RBI triple.

IN THE CIRCLE
Hursh, who started for the 15th time this season, have up four hits over five innings with three strikeouts. She was able to strand Wolverine base runners in the first, second and third innings.

MCINTYRE, CLARK CARRY OFFENSE
Ohio State’s four hits on the evening came from the tandem of McIntyre and Clark, who each had two. McIntyre led off the game with a single through the left side while Clark followed that up with a single up the middle in the top of the third. In that same inning, McIntyre singled down the left field line. Clark’s second hit was a perfectly placed ball over the third basemen’s head to lead off the top of the fifth.

In the last 10 games, Clark — a freshmen from Prospect, Ohio — is batting .500 (14-for-28) with three home runs, two doubles and eight RBI.

NEXT UP
Ohio State and Michigan continue their three-game series tomorrow with a 2:00 contest at UM’s Wilpon Complex. The game can be seen live on BTN Plus.