Springer Stymies UCF to Earn Split on Friday in Orlando

Friday, March 10

Orlando, Fla.

Ohio State

8-6

UCF

10-8

Ohio State

Central Florida

Springer Stymies UCF to Earn Split on Friday in Orlando

3/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 10, 2017

Final Stats

ORLANDO, Fla. – Ohio State bounced back from a hard-fought loss to Georgia in a big way, shutting out UCF and earning a 8-0 win against the host Knights on the opening day of the Wilson/DiMarini Tournament at the UCF Softball Complex in Orlando, Fla.

THE SHORT STORY
Lena Springer stymied her former team in the nightcap of the Buckeyes’ doubleheader, scattering six hits over five innings while striking out for to win her third game of the year. At the plate, sophomore Lilli Piper provided the biggest hit, a grand slam in the top of the fourth that made the score 8-0. That hit was part of a six-RBI effort for Piper, which is tied with six other players for third most in single-game school history.

GAME TWO: Ohio State 8, UCF 0
After a scoreless first two innings, Ohio State was able to strike for three runs in the top of the third and knock around UCF starter Kamryn Toney. The rally was started by Bri Betschel, who singled to left center. The next batter, Anna Kirk, was hit by a pitch, putting two on for Bayne, who walked (the runners had each advanced a base on a steal). Piper then singled up the middle, scoring both Betschel and Kirk to make the score 2-0. A third run in the inning came of Emily Clark’s fourth double of the season.

The Buckeyes broke the game open in the fourth, taking advantage of four walks while getting just one hit. That one hit, however, went a long way. Piper belted a 3-1 offering from Manami Calixto over the left field fence for her fourth home run of the season. It also upped her team-leading RBI total to 19.

That’s all the run support Springer and the Buckeye defense would need. In the fourth, UCF got a lead-off single but stranded two runners on base when Springer got pinch hitter Jazmine Esparza to ground out to second. The Knights also had a runner at third in the bottom of the fifth, but Tamesha Glover grounded out weakly to first to end the game.

AT THE PLATE
Ohio State’s offense produced five hits – two from Piper and one each from Clark, Ashley Goodwin and Betschel – but was able to work seven walks from three different UCF pitchers.

SPRINGER IN CONTROL
Springer, who spent her freshman season in 2014 as a member of the UCF program, won for the third time in her last four starts. A look at her lines:
• Feb 19 vs. Louisville: 7.0 IP, 4 hits, 1 earned run, 7 Ks
• Feb. 25 vs. St. John’s: 7.0 IP, 3 hits, 1earned run, 8 Ks
• Feb. 26 vs. California: 6.0 IP, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 Ks
• March 10 vs. Central Florida: 5.0 IP, 6 hits, 0 earned runs, 4 Ks
She lowered her season ERA to 2.24 over 34.1 innings. In her last four starts, she has a 1.68 ERA, 23 strikeouts and .191 batting average against.

GAME ONE: No. 16 Georgia 9, Ohio State 4
Alex Bayne went 2-for-3 with a season-high four RBI, but the 16th-ranked Bulldogs scored three times in both the fourth and fifth innings to top the Buckeyes 9-4 in the first game of the day.

Georgia was first on the scoreboard when Alyssa DiCarlo connected on a RBI single the middle, making the score 1-0 in the bottom of the first. UGA scored twice in the bottom of the second on Cortni Emanuel’s two-run single to left field.

Facing a three-run deficit, the Buckeyes cut into the lead on the first of Bayne’s four RBI, as she ripped a two-out shot down the right field line that scored Bailee Sturgeon, who had reached on a fielder’s choice. Georgia, however, would create more distance for itself in the bottom of the fourth as it plated three runs on two hits and were aided by two Ohio State errors. The Buckeyes, however, were able to avoid further damage by turning a 6-3-2 inning-ending double play.

Just as quickly as Georgia built a 6-1 lead, Ohio State was able to cut in to it and draw within two. It started when freshman Andi Farrah collected her first career hit (she subsequently stole second) and then continued with a Sturgeon walk. After Kirk flied out for the second out of the inning, Bayne deposited a first-pitch offering from Brittany Gray over the right centerfield fence to make the score 6-4.

Georgia was able to put three run on the board in the bottom of the fifth, aided by an error that allowed two runs to score and RBI ground out by Courtni Emanuel to close out the scoring.

IN THE CIRCLE
Senior Shelby Hursh got the start and went four innings, allowing five hits and four earned runs against one of the best offensive teams in the country. Two pitchers – Springer and Shelby McCombs – combined on the relief efforts. McCombs worked out of a two-on, nobody-out jam in the bottom of the sixth by getting a ground out, line out and strike out in her one inning of action.

AT THE PLATE
Backing up Bayne’s efforts were Farrah (1-for-3, single, stolen base) and pinch hitter Megan Choinacky, who came off the bench to lead off the top of the seventh with a single up the middle.

THE LONG BALL
Bayne’s home was her Big Ten-leading seventh of the season and ties her with former teammate Caitlin Conrad (2012-15) for fifth on the all-time list with 30.

WHAT’S NEXT
The Buckeyes take on Delaware State tomorrow beginning at 10 a.m. at the UCF Softball Complex. A link to live stats can be found on the schedule page at OhioStateBuckeyes.com