Ohio State
22-8-1, 0
Rutgers
18-21, 0
Offense Erupts in 17-8 Victory over Rutgers – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 8, 2016
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PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The No. 24 Ohio State softball team (22-8-1, 7-1-1) used the home run ball — five, specifically — and a well-balanced offensive attack that saw nine different players record hits and 13 runs scored over the final three innings to pull away for a 17-8 victory over Rutgers (18-21, 2-5) on a blustery Friday afternoon in Piscataway.
THE SHORT STORY
The offensive fireworks were provided by Alex Bayne, Emily Clark, Erika Leonard, Taylor White and Cammi Prantl, who all hit home runs as part of a 19-hit attack. White’s three-run shot as part of an eight-run fifth inning gave Ohio State an 11-5 edge. In the circle, Katya Duvall relieved starter Shelby Hursh after three innings and allowed just one hit and one earned run over four innings to pick up her third win of the year.
HOW THE RUNS WERE SCORED
For the 20th time this season, Ohio State was first on the scoreboard, this time courtesy of a two-run home run by Leonard with two outs in the top of the first. Rutgers was quick to respond, however, plating four runs in the bottom of the first on a three-run home run by Melanie Slowinski. The two runners who had reached were both via walks.
Clark’s solo home run, her second on the year and tucked just inside the foul pole in left field, drew Ohio State to within one, 4-3, in the top of the second, and the Buckeyes were able to tie the game in the top of the fourth on Prantl’s solo shot to left center. Rutgers re-took the lead for the final time of the afternoon, however, in the bottom of the fourth when Stephanie Huang hit a lead-off home run down the left field line.
That was the last Rutgers would get until the seventh inning, as Duvall kept the Scarlet Knights in check. At the plate, the Buckeyes broke out for eight runs in the top of the fifth on six hits, the biggest of which were White’s home run and a run-scoring single from Prantl and double by Anna Kirk. In all, Ohio State sent 12 batters to the plate during the half inning.
Rutgers scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to draw within four, 11-7, but left the bases loaded when Sierra Maddox sent a sharp line drive into left field, but right to a perfectly positioned Prantl. In the Buckeye half of the sixth, Bayne joined the home run parade with a no-doubter to left center and Machovina delivered a run-scoring single up the middle.
A 1-2-3 inning in the circle by Duvall set the stage for Ohio State’s final three runs to come across the plate in the top of the seventh as Leonard doubled to right center, scoring two, and Alex Vargas collected her first collegiate hit and RBI with a single to left field.
DID YOU KNOW
• The five home runs that Ohio State is tied for the most in single-game school history, which has occurred on seven different occasions, most recently on May 7 vs. Indiana in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
• The 17 runs and 19 hits on Friday were both season highs, topping the 15 runs and 16 hits collected against Furman on Feb. 26.
• The Buckeyes have scored 29 runs over the last two games, following a 12-10 win in the second game of a doubleheader against Penn State on Wednesday.
• In nine Big Ten games thus far, Ohio State is hitting .375 and averaging 9.4 runs per game while hitting 21 home runs.
• White has a season-high seven game hitting streak while McIntyre has reached base in nine straight contests.
• Ohio State’s two-three-four hitters went a combined nine-for-16 with seven runs scored and eight RBI. Other players to record multiple hits were Machovina (two-for-five), Clark (two-for-three, two runs, one RBI) Ashley Goodwin (two-for-three, two runs scored, one RBI) and White (two-for-three, three RBI).
UP NEXT
The Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights moved the second game on this weekend’s three game series to a noon start on Saturday to avoid forecasted inclement weather in the area.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Duvall, Katya (3-0)
L: Levine, A (1-5)
Batting:
2B: Leonard, Erika 1 ; Kirk, Anna 1
HR: Bayne, Alex 1 ; Prantl, Cammi 1 ; Leonard, Erika 1 ; White, Taylor 1 ; Clark, Emily 1
RBI: Bayne, Alex 2 ; Prantl, Cammi 2 ; Leonard, Erika 4 ; White, Taylor 3 ; Vargas, Alex 1 ; Machovina, Jess 1 ; Kirk, Anna 1 ; Clark, Emily 1 ; Goodwin, Ashley 1
SH: White, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McIntyre, Maddy 2 ; Clough, Cassidy 1 ; Bayne, Alex 2 ; Prantl, Cammi 4 ; Leonard, Erika 1 ; White, Taylor 1 ; Machovina, Jess 1 ; Kirk, Anna 1 ; Clark, Emily 2 ; Goodwin, Ashley 2
SB: Bayne, Alex 1 ; White, Taylor 1 ; Kirk, Anna 1
Batting:
HR: Huang, S 1 ; Yoffee 1 ; Slowinski, M 1
RBI: Huang, S 1 ; Yoffee 1 ; Slowinski, M 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Huang, S 1 ; Anico, N. 1 ; Yoffee 1 ; Hall, R 1 ; Slowinski, M 1 ; Maddox, S 1 ; Todd, C 1 ; Burcar, A 1
SB: Anico, N. 1 ; Hall, R 1 ; Maddox, S 2 ; Adams, E 1
HBP: Huang, S 1 ; Hall, R 1 ; Maddox, S 1
