Ohio State Takes Two from Rutgers on Friday

Friday, April 23

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

15-13, 0

Rutgers

6-23, 0

Rutgers

Ohio State

Ohio State Takes Two from Rutgers on Friday

4/23/2021 9:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Game One: Ohio State 7, Rutgers 3 // Game Two: Ohio State 9, Rutgers 1 (5 innings)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team used a 17-hit attack, including some key at-bats in important spots from pinch hitters, and strong pitching from Allison Smith and Jessica Ross to take both games of Friday's series-opening doubleheader from Rutgers at Buckeye Field.

The Buckeyes won the first game, 7-3, by scoring six times in the fourth and fifth innings before taking game two, 9-1, in five innings. Ohio State improves to 16-13 overall while Rutgers in 6-24.

Game One: Ohio State 7, Rutgers 3
Sam Hackenbracht went 3-for-3 at the plate with a two-run home run while Meggie Otte delivered two key late-game hits: a game-tying two-run home run in the fourth inning and a two-run single in the fifth inning as the Buckeyes broke open a close game to pull away for the 7-3 win.

Allison Smith pitched 4.2 innings in relief for her eighth win of the season. She came into the game with just one out in the third inning and proceeded to strike out the next five batters. She allowed just one hit over her 4.2 innings and walked only one.

While Smith was keeping the Scarlet Knights at bay, the Otte's home run – a shot to straightaway center field – tied the game in the fourth before the Scarlet and Gray pulled away in the fifth. With her home run and two-run single, Otte finished the game 2-for-3 with four RBI and a run scored. Ashley Prange and Kaitlyn Coffman also picked up RBI. Coffman, who came into the game as a pinch hitter in the fifth, worked a bases loaded walk for her RBI.

Game Two: Ohio State 9, Rutgers 1
Ohio State gave Jessica Ross the start in game two and after she gave up a run in the top of the first, Ross settled in and didn't allow a hit for the rest of the game. In fact, she didn't allow a base runner after the first inning and finished the game with two strikeouts.

Hackenbracht hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to answer the Scarlet Knights' quick start. It was her ninth home run of the year, tops on the team. In the fourth inning, the Buckeyes struck for seven runs and seven hits to bust the game wide open. The biggest blow came from pinch hitter Megan McMenemy, who delivered a bases-clearing double that scored three runs to give the Buckeyes a 6-1 lead. Taylor Pack also doubled twice in the inning and drove in a pair while Hackenbract and Carley Gaskill also chipped in with run-scoring hits.

Hackenbracht finished the doubleheader five-for-six at the plate with two home runs, four RBI. She reached base safely in six of her seven plate appearances.

The Buckeyes and Scarlet Knights continue their four-game series with a single game tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. The contest will be streamed live on BTN Plus and live stats are available through OhioStateStats.com.