Michigan Wins Series Opener Over Ohio State

Friday, April 9

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

12-8, 0

Michigan

14-3, 0

Michigan

Ohio State

Michigan Wins Series Opener Over Ohio State

4/9/2021 7:21:28 PM | Softball

Box Score

Final Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State matched No. 23 Michigan pitch for pitch for six innings on Friday night before the Wolverines pulled away for a 7-0 series-opening victory at Buckeye Field. The team teams will meet again tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at noon.

The Short Story
Ohio State (12-8) trailed 2-0 after six innings and was within striking distance before a five-run seventh opened up the lead for Michigan. The Wolverines (14-3) scored on two home runs – a solo shot and a three-run HR – and had a fifth run come in on a passed ball.

Four Buckeye hitters recorded hits on Friday afternoon, led by Taylor Pack, who was 2-for-3 with a double. Mariah Rodriguez also had a double in the fourth inning.

How the Runs Were Scored

Michigan scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning as Natalia Rodriguez came home on a fielder’s choice to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.
Ohio State loaded the bases in the bottom of the first and had a chance to make a response but couldn’t push across any runs.
The Wolverines went ahead 2-0 in the top of the fourth on Taylor Bump’s RBI single that scored Lauren Esman, who had reached on a lead-off single.
Michigan pushed across five runs in the top of the seventh on four hits, two of which were home runs.

In the Circle

Ohio State’s Payton Buresch fell to 4-2 on the year after going 6.1 innings and allowing five earned runs on 10 hits.
Her counterpart, Meghan Beaubien, struck out 12 and walked just two to improve to 6-1.

Statistically Speaking
Taylor Pack: 2-3, 2B
Mariah Rodriguez: 1-3, 2B
Tegan Cortelletti: 1-4, 1B
Ashley Prange: 1-2, 1B, BB

What’s Next
Tomorrow’s doubleheader, which was originally scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., was moved up to a noon start in anticipation of inclement weather. The game will be broadcast live on BTN Plus (subscription required) and live stats are available on the schedule page at OhioStateBuckeyes.com.