Ohio State Drops Series Opener to Michigan State, 6-0 – Ohio State Buckeyes

Friday, May 6

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

31-16-1, 0

Michigan State

26-26, 0

Michigan State

Ohio State

Ohio State Drops Series Opener to Michigan State, 6-0 – Ohio State Buckeyes

5/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

May 6, 2016

Final Stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Michigan State starting pitcher Kristina Zalewski limited Ohio State to just four hits over seven innings as the Buckeyes dropped the opening contest of this weekend’s three-game series at Buckeye Field, 6-0.

THE SHORT STORY
Michigan State (26-26, 7-14) backed up Zalewski with a three-spot in both the fifth and seventh innings to give it all the offense it would need. Ohio State (31-16-1, 12-8-1) stranded six runners on the night, squandering a lead-off double in the second inning — its best scoring opportunity of the game.

HOW THE RUNS WERE SCORED
Scoreless through four innings, Michigan State struck first in the top of the fifth with the biggest hit of the game — a solo home run off the bat of pinch hitter Kassidy Kujawa, her sixth of the season. MSU tracked on two more runs when a bases loaded single to right field by Kaitlyn Eveland scored Celeste Wood and McKenzie Long.

Three insurance runs for the Spartans were tacked on in the top of the seventh via a Sarah Gutknecht RBI single and two-run triple from Ebonee Echols. The six-run cushion would be more than enough for Zalewski, who gave up just an infield single to Erika Leonard in the bottom of the seventh to finish off the complete game shutout.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
With the game still scoreless early, Maddy McIntyre connected on her 13th double of the season to lead off the bottom of the second. She would be stranded there, however, as the next two batters grounded out and the third struck out.

Another runner was left stranded in the bottom of the fourth as Alex Bayne singled with two outs but couldn’t advance any further. Bayne finished with two hits on the night and reached base in all three of her at bats. It was her 19th multi-hit game of the year and upper her average on the season to .364. McIntyre also extended her hitting streak to six consecutive games.

IN THE CIRCLE
Shelby Hursh got her team-leading 23rd start of the year and went 4.2 innings, giving up five hits and one earned run. Freshman Morgan Ray finished the final 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs.

NEXT UP
Ohio State and Michigan State continue their three-game series tomorrow with a 2 p.m. contest at Buckeye Field. The game can be seen live on BuckeyeVision (subscription required).