Ohio State Drops Series Finale to Indiana, 5-3 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Sunday, May 1

Bloomington, Ind.

Ohio State

30-14-1, 0

Indiana

26-23, 0

Ohio State

Indiana

Ohio State Drops Series Finale to Indiana, 5-3 – Ohio State Buckeyes

5/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

May 1, 2016

Final Stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite a three-run third inning home run by freshman Emily Clark, Ohio State dropped a 5-3 decision to Indiana on Sunday at Andy Mohr Field in the rubber game of this weekend’s series. The Buckeyes now stand at 30-14-1, 12-7-1 while the Hoosiers are 26-23, 8-12.

THE SHORT STORY
Leading 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth, the Buckeyes gave up a grand slam to Michelle Huber after a walk, double and walk loaded the bases. That hit was all the offense Indiana would need, as Ohio State stranded two base runners in the top of the seventh and couldn’t complete the comeback.

HOW THE RUNS WERE SCORED
Clark broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third with a shot to straightaway center on a 2-2 pitch from Josie Wood, who had come into the game earlier in the inning to relieve starter Tara Trainer. The homer was the fourth of the season for Clark, who finished with two hits on the day to raise her average this season to .340, which is tops amongst all freshmen in the Big Ten.

Indiana scored one in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly to left that scored pinch runner Alyssa Rosati, who came into the game after CaraMia Tsirgigos walked. Huber doubled to left field during the rally, advancing Rosati to third with just one out.

The Hoosiers’ four-run sixth inning started with a Erin Lehman walk and double by Shannon Cawley. Lena Springer then came into the game to relieve starter Shelby Hursh, but IU proceeded to work a walk that loaded the bases and set up Huber’s home run. Hursh came back into the game in the sixth and recorded the final three outs of the half inning on two strikeouts and a foul out to the catcher. Hursh finished with eight strikeouts on the afternoon.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Ohio State put base runners on in six of the seven innings, stranding more than one on four occasions. In the top of the first, a two-out rally was keyed by back-to-back hits from Cammi Prantl and Clark, but a fly out to left ended the threat.

One runner was stranded at third in the top of the second while in the fifth, Alex Bayne led off the inning by reaching on an error, one of three Hoosier miscues on the afternoon. A one-out walk to Clark put Bayne in scoring position, but a fielder’s choice and ground out left Ohio State without any more runs.

A walk and another IU error gave Ohio State two more runners in the sixth with two outs, but Wood was able to induce a fly out to avoid any damage. Looking to answers Indiana’s go-ahead hit in the bottom of the sixth, the Buckeyes got two runners aboard in the top of the seventh with one out by a pair of fly outs ended the game. In all, Ohio State left 10 runners on base on Sunday.

WEEKEND NOTES
In Friday’s doubleheader, Prantl registered two doubles to bring her career total to 58, which is tied for the program record with Krinon Clark (1991-94).

Clark has at least one hit in eight of the last 11 games and if the season ended today her .340 average would be the eighth highest all-time amongst freshmen. She also has 10 multi-hit games this season, third highest on the team.

Ohio State has scored first in 27 of 45 games this year and is 22-4-1 in those contests.

UP NEXT
The Buckeyes begin a five-game homestand this week with a doubleheader against Kent State (32-18) on Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m. Next Friday-Sunday, Ohio State concludes the regular season with a three-game series at Buckeye Field against Michigan State (25-26, 6-14).

TWEET OF THE DAY

BOOM! @clarkemily448 sends a homer to straightaway CF, the #Buckeyes take a 3-0 lead! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/bSbn2oBEV8

— Ohio State Softball (@OhioState_SB) May 1, 2016