Ohio State
Central Michigan
Eighth Inning Rally Lifts Buckeyes to 5-1 Win over Central Michigan
2/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 12, 2017
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – For the second time in as many games, the Ohio State softball team needed extra innings, but like it did on Saturday night against the Lamar, the Buckeyes came up big at the most critical time, scoring four times in the top of the eighth to secure a 5-1 victory over Central Michigan in its Aggie Classic finale on Sunday.
THE SHORT STORY
After managing just one run and five hits over the first seven innings of the game, Ohio State erupted for four runs on four hits in the top of the eighth and then retired the Chippewas in order in the bottom of the frame to finish its opening weekend with a 3-1 record. Three of the four runs in the eighth came with two outs, keyed by a Lilli Piper single and run-scoring hits from Anna Kirk and Bri Betschel.
IN THE CIRCLE
Senior Lena Springer got the start on Sunday, going 4.2 innings while surrendering just four hits and one earned run. She left the game in the bottom of the fifth with the game tied at 1-1, where fellow senior Shelby Hursh worked the final 3.1 innings and didn’t allow to hit while striking out four. Hursh earned all three wins on the weekend with a 0.58 ERA.
HOW THE RUNS WERE SCORED
Central Michigan went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the third on a two-out RBI single to center field off the bat of Evelyn Lorimer. On the play, however, Lorimer was thrown out trying to take second base, ending the rally.
Ohio State evened the score in the top of the fifth with one swing of the bat from Megan Choinacky, who smacked a double off the left field wall that scored Betschel, who had pinch hit earlier in the inning and was hit by a pitch.
Using the international tiebreaker, the Buckeyes started with a runner (Andi Farrah) at second to begin the eighth inning and Bailee Sturgeon’s perfectly-executed sacrifice moved her to third with one out. Emily Clark scored Farrah on a deep sacrifice fly to left, and then the flood gates opened on Alex Bayne’s double, and run-scoring hits from Piper and Betschel.
That insurance would be more than enough for Hursh and the Buckeyes in the bottom of the eighth, as Hursh easily retired the Chippawas 1-2-3, getting the final two outs via strikeouts.
WEEKEND WARRIORS
Playing her first four games for the Scarlet and Gray, Piper recorded a team-high six hits in 13 at-bats (.462) to go along with a team-high five RBI. Choinacky also made the most of her first seven career at-bats, getting three hits – two of which scored runs.
Ohio State’s pitching staff had a 2.52 team ERA in the opening weekend, led by Hursh (.058 ERA, 12.0 IP, 12 Ks) and Shelby McCombs (1.62 ERA, 4.1 IP). Opponents batted just .195 against Ohio State pitchers over four games with just four extra base hits.
Nine different players drove in runs this weekend, led by the duo of Piper (five), Bayne (three) and Kirk (three).
Betschel made the most of her four at-bats this weekend, reaching base safely each time while also recording three hits. She also scored two runs and had a double against Central Michigan on Sunday.
WHAT’S NEXT
Ohio State returns to action next Friday, Feb. 17 when it travels to Chapel Hill, N.C. for the opening day of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on the campus of North Carolina. The Buckeyes face Louisville (11 a.m.) and North Carolina (4 p.m.).
