White’s Grand Slam Lifts Ohio State Over Maryland – Ohio State Buckeyes

Saturday, March 25

College Park, Md.

Ohio State

17-7, 0

Maryland

7-22-1, 0

Ohio State

Maryland

White’s Grand Slam Lifts Ohio State Over Maryland – Ohio State Buckeyes

3/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 25, 2017

Final Stats

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Taylor White hit a grand slam in the top of the eighth inning as Ohio State won an entertaining back-and-forth contest with Maryland on Saturday, 10-6, and picked up its 10th victory in the last 11 games. The Buckeyes are now 17-7 (2-0 Big Ten) while the Terps fall to 7-22 (0-2 Big Ten).

THE SHORT STORY
Ohio State played its third extra-inning contest in the last six games and just had it has the previous two times, it came out of top. Today, the rally started with two outs in the top of the eighth and was aided by a Maryland error that allowed the go-ahead run to come around from second base. Then, White provided the biggest jolt of offense on the afternoon, belting a grand slam over the left field fence for all the run support Ohio State would need.

HOW THE RUNS WERE SCORED
A 12-hit Buckeye attack at the plate was highlighted by four home runs, the first of which came in the top of the first off the bat of Emily Clark, who took a first-pitch offering from starter Hannah Dewey and deposited it over the left field fence. The hit also scored Lilli Piper, who had reached on a single.

In the third inning, Anna Kirk got into the home run act, hitting a solo shot to left that gave the Buckeyes a 3-0 lead. One batter later, Piper made it 4-0 on her sixth round-tripper of the year – a solo shot to straightaway centerfield that hit off the scoreboard.

Maryland wouldn’t go quietly, however, as they chipped away with three runs in the bottom of the third – all coming with two outs. The rally was keyed by four hits, including a double to left center by Dewey, an infield single by Cassidy Cross and a double from Kristina Dillard. The Terp rally prompted a pitching change, as Morgan Ray came on and recorded the final out of the inning.

The score remained 4-3 in favor of Ohio State for the next two innings as Ray settled in and allowed just one base runner over that span. Meanwhile, in the top of the sixth, Ohio State put an insurance run on the board when Piper hit a two-out double to left field, scoring Kirk who had singled with one out.

Maryland got a run back in the bottom half of the sixth on a Julie Strange double to make the score 5-4 and then got delivered back hits to start the bottom of the seventh, including a triple off the bat of Dillard. A sacrifice fly and close play at home plate brought in the game-tying run, but Lena Springer, who started the game, re-entered got a pop up to shortstop and fly out to left field that ended the threat.

Ohio State put a five-spot on the board in the top of the eighth, all coming with two outs. After Betschel and Kirk were retired, Bayne singled to right center, stole second and then scored on a Maryland error. After Goodwin walked to load the bases, White sent a 2-1 offering from Madison Martin deep over the left field fence to make the score 10-5. Martin would hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth, but Springer retired the next three in order to pick up her eighth win of the season.

STARS OF THE DAY
Kirk: 3-5, HR, 2 runs scored
Piper: 3-4, HR, 2B, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI
White: 2-4, HR, 4 RBI

STREAKS AND SNIPITS
• Eight of the 10 Ohio State runs were scored with two outs.
• The four home runs that were hit are tied for the second most in single-game history. Eight of the 10 Buckeye runs that were scored came via home runs.
• White’s four RBI gives her seven on the weekend. She’s 3-for-7 with two home runs, a single and two runs scored.
• Piper now has a team-high 10 multi-hit games and has hit safely in each of the last three contests.
• The top for hitters in the Buckeyes’ lineup were responsible for eight of Ohio State’s 12 hits.

THE LAST 10
Winners of nine of their last 10 and 10 of the last 11, four Ohio State players with at least 27 at-bats are hitting over .300 while White and Clark have combined to drive in 18 runs. In the circle, all four pitchers have a sub-2.20 ERA and have given up just 17 earned runs in 73.0 innings. Springer, the winning pitcher today, is 4-1 in that span with a 1.64 ERA. Ray has one decision in that span with five appearances and a 0.81 ERA.

WHAT’S NEXT
Ohio State and Maryland close out their three-game conference-opening series tomorrow with a 1 p.m. game in College Park. Live stats can be found on the schedule tab of OhioStateBuckeyes.com.

TOUCH ‘EM ALL

ICYMI: This by @clarkemily448 gave the #Buckeyes a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Watch live on BTN. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/6bB61L7kzq

— Ohio State Softball (@OhioState_SB) March 25, 2017

Touch ’em all, @annakirk47! #Buckeyes lead 3-0 after this home run. Watch live on BTN. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/pCnomfpAbF

— Ohio State Softball (@OhioState_SB) March 25, 2017

SEE. YOU. LATER. @PiperSwiper is now 2-for-2 with this HR to center. Watch live on BTN. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/6wxysc4hEM

— Ohio State Softball (@OhioState_SB) March 25, 2017

T8 | GRAND SLAM! @taytaywhi gives Ohio State a 10-5 lead in the eighth. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/HVJTjHbP1U

— Ohio State Softball (@OhioState_SB) March 25, 2017

WHITE POST-GAME INTERVIEW