No. 2 Michigan Slips Past No. 23 Ohio State, 5-3 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Sunday, April 17

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Ohio State

25-11-1, 9-4-1

Michigan

33-4, 11-2

Ohio State

Michigan

No. 2 Michigan Slips Past No. 23 Ohio State, 5-3 – Ohio State Buckeyes

4/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 17, 2016

Final Stats

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Second-ranked Michigan earned a 5-3 victory over No. 23 Ohio State on Sunday, but the Buckeyes made them work for it. The game was played in front of another sell-out crowd at the Wilpon Complex and featured the lead changing hands twice in the final three innings.

THE SHORT STORY
Ohio State (25-11-1, 9-4-1) took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning on Cammi Prantl’s two run double, only to see Michigan (33-4, 11-2) respond immediately with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to seize the lead back for good. Both at the plate and in the field, sophomore Taylor White had a standout day, including an inside the park home run in the fourth inning and a highlight reel catch in center field for the first out of the fifth inning.

STARS OF THE GAME
Taylor White: 1-2, inside the park home run
Cammi Prantl: 2-3, double, two RBI
Shelby Hursh: 6.0 IP, seven strikeouts

HOW THE RUNS WERE SCORED
Michigan struck first in the bottom of the first when an error allowed Sierra Lawrence to score from third. Starter Shelby Hursh was able to prevent any further damage, however, by striking out Lindsay Montemarano — one of seven strikeouts on the day for the junior righthander.

Tara Blanco’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third made the score 2-0, but that was when the Buckeye fireworks were about to start. White led off the top of the fourth and struck a 1-0 pitch to left center that bounced off the wall and allowed White to round the bases for an inside the park home run. The hit cut the lead to 2-1 and gave Ohio State renewed momentum.

Hursh was able to shut down a key Wolverine threat in the bottom of the fourth when she struck out Abby Ramirez for the second time in the game, stranding Kelly Christner at the third (she reached on a lead-off double).

In the bottom of the fifth, the lead officially changed hands into Ohio State’s favor and the rally started as pinch hitter Bri Betschel reached on an error. A one-out walk to Alex Bayne set the stage for Prantl, who laced a double to center field that scored both runs and gave the Buckeyes a 3-2 advantage.

A highlight reel diving catch by White in shallow centerfield was the first out of the bottom of the fifth, but back to back walks gave Blanco the opportunity to put Michigan ahead for good with a three-run home run to center. Ohio State then went down in order in the sixth and seventh innings.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Like in Saturday’s contest, Ohio State was able to generate plenty of base runners — this time against Wolverine ace Megan Betsa. In the first, Prantl singled with two outs to center and Kirk worked a two-out walk in the top of the second. Maddy McIntyre reached third base in the top of the third following a two-base error and wild pitch.

In the third, the first two Michigan batters reached via a bunt single and walk, but Hursh responded by striking out Susalla, getting a sacrifice fly to right field and fly out to center.

IN THE CIRCLE
Despite the loss, Hursh struck out seven and walked just three in six innings in the circle. She fanned Susalla, Aidan Falk and Abby Ramirez twice each.

WEEKEND STANDOUTS
Freshman Emily Clark hit .500 on the weekend with a pair of hits in both the Friday and Saturday contests. Prantl also had three hits. Hursh pitched 11 innings and averaged nearly a strikeout per inning (11.0 IP, 10 Ks).

UP NEXT
Ohio State concludes its five-game road trip on Tuesday with a doubleheader at Ohio. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. in Athens.