Ohio State’s Tourney Run Ends at Gainesville Regional
5/20/2018 2:29:42 PM | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A season full of memorable moments came to a close as Ohio State dropped a 4-0 decision to Florida at KSP Stadium on Sunday night in the Gainesville Regional final. The Buckeyes finish their 2018 campaign with a 36-16 mark, the most wins since 2010.
SHORT STORY
- The Gators drew a walk with the bases loaded in the opening frame.
- RHP Shelby McCombs got the Buckeyes out of trouble in the top of the second with a swinging strikeout to clear the bags.
- Florida plated a run on a fielder’s choice in the fifth. Lilli Piper and Becca Gavin held the Gators to one tally by making the play at the plate when a runner tried to come in from third base.
- Two runs scored for the Gators on a RBI double by Amanda Lorenz and sacrifice fly in the sixth.
- Ohio State tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh. Emily Clark and Ashley Goodwin both drew four-pitch walks before Niki Carver reached on a fielder’s choice for runners on the corners. Unfortunately, the late push was cut short on a strikeout.
- McCombs (17-8) went the distance and limited the Gators to just a pair of hits. She allowed four runs (three earned) while striking out four.
- 2018 HIGHLIGHTS
- The Buckeyes’ 36 wins on the season is the most under head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly. It also marks the highest total since 2010 when the Scarlet & Gray notched 39 victories.
- Ohio State was ranked or receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Collegiate Softball Top 25 poll for every week during the regular season.
- The Buckeyes had five All-Big Ten and four NFCA All-Region selections.
- Ohio State was 16-10 against teams ranked in the Top 75. They were also 22-11 versus Top 100 teams this year.
- Lilli Piper had 20 home runs on the year to secure her place in Ohio State’s history books as the single-season record holder.
- Ohio State’s six-member senior class – Becca Gavin, Ashley Goodwin, Maddie Marotti, Shelby McCombs, Bailee Sturgeon and Taylor White – is responsible for 135 Buckeye victories over the past four seasons, including 54 Big Ten wins. They have cemented their spot in the record books as the ninth all-time winningest senior class in program history.
- Lilli Piper tallied 50 runs and 58 RBI during the 2018 campaign. She is one of only two players in the 50/50 club, joining Maddy McIntyre ’16 who had 55 runs scored and 50 RBI.
- Four Buckeyes reached double digits in home runs – Ashley Goodwin (10), Emily Clark (12), Shelby McCombs (13) and Lilli Piper (20).
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