Goodwin’s Home Run Lifts Ohio State over Purdue, 3-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Saturday, April 23

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

28-12-1, 0

Purdue

26-21, 0

Purdue

Ohio State

Goodwin’s Home Run Lifts Ohio State over Purdue, 3-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes

4/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 23, 2016

Final Stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A solo home run off the bat of sophomore Ashley Goodwin plus effective relief pitching was the winning formula for the Ohio State softball team on Saturday as the Buckeyes (28-12-1, 10-5-1) edged Purdue (26-21, 7-9) 3-2 on a sun-soaked day at Buckeye Field.

THE SHORT STORY
Goodwin’s home run to straightaway center field in the bottom of the fourth proved to be the decisive hit while freshman Katya Duvall and junior Shelby Hursh combined to throw 4.1 innings of relief while allowing just one hit and no runs. Hursh recorded the games final eight outs to pick up her third save of the year while Duvall improved to 4-0, allowing no hits and one walk in 1.2 innings.

HOW THE RUNS WERE SCORED
For the 22th time this season, Ohio State struck first – this time via an Emily Clark hit with two away in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Cammi Prantl kept the inning alive by singling off Purdue starter Gina Snyder and then Emily Clark drove her in after she singled to center and was aided by an error that allowed Prantl to score all the way from first.

In the top of the second, Ohio State starter Lena Springer was cruising along, retiring the Boilermakers in order after needing just three pitches to set them down 1-2-3 in the top of the first. Two Purdue runs came across the plate in the top of the third, however, on a Mary Gooding double and Emily Kenny’s hard hit infield single that prompted a pitching change. Duvall was called on and proceeded to retire Lauren Stewart with a fly ball to center and left two runners on base.

Crafty base running allowed Ohio State to score the equalizer in the bottom of the third. The first two batters of the inning – Taylor White (single up the middle) and Alex Bayne (hit by pitch) reached base. White and Bayne that executed two double steals that ended with White scoring to tie it at 2-2 and Bayne on third. The rally ended, however, with a foul out to left, fielder’s choice and foul out to first.

The biggest hit of the game – both literally and figuratively – came on the fifth pitch of the bottom of the fourth, as Goodwin sent a no-doubter over the center field fence to give Ohio State the lead for good at 3-2. It was her third home run of the season. In the last 10 games, Goodwin is hitting .389 with a home run and four RBI. In the field, she has a 1.000 fielding percentage.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Duvall, Hursh and the Ohio State defense combined to snuff out every Purdue scoring threat after Goodwin’s home run. In the fifth, a one-out error but Kristen Hoppman on second base with just one out. Hursh came in to relieve Duvall and got a fly out and strikeout to end the inning.

In the sixth, Lauren Stewart singled to right field and was sacrificed over to second, but Becca Gavin shut down the rally by throwing Stewart out attempting to steal second and Hursh struck out pinch hitter Katie Harrison for the final out. For Gavin, it was the fourth base runner that she’s thrown out in the last four games.

Purdue went quietly in the seventh as Hursh struck out the first two batters and Maya Hughes was called for leaving the batter’s box on the first pitch of her at-bat for the final out.

STARS OF THE GAME
Ashley Goodwin: 3-3, home run, two singles
Springer/Duvall/Hursh: 7.0 IP, zero earned runs, four hits allowed

ON THE BASE PATHS
After swiping three bases last night, Ohio State was four-for-four in steal attempts today, including two by White, who now leads the team with 11 on the year.

DID YOU KNOW
Ohio State improved to 21-3-1 this season when scoring first and 22-1 when leading after six innings. In eight home games thus far, the Buckeyes are allowing just 3.0 runs/game and have a team ERA of 2.83. Four times they have held their opponents to two runs or fewer.

NEXT UP
The rubber game of this weekend’s series will occur tomorrow at 1 p.m. and can be seen live on BTN Plus.