Buckeyes Top Michigan State 7-1 To Open Senior Weekend

Friday, May 14

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

22-18, 0

Michigan State

13-24, 0

Michigan State

Ohio State

Buckeyes Top Michigan State 7-1 To Open Senior Weekend

5/14/2021 9:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Final Stats: Ohio State 7, Michigan State 1 // Season Stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Perhaps it was fitting that a pair of veteran pitchers took care of business in the circle while the Buckeyes young hitters did damage at the plate to kick of Senior Weekend.

Payton Buresch won her 10th game of the year by scattering four hits over six innings and Skylar Hayward finished things off with two strikeouts in the seventh inning. Meanwhile, at the plate, sophomore Sam Hackenbracht hit a two-run home run, sophomore Mariah Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and freshman Kirsten Eppele chipped in with a back-breaking two-run bases loaded single. It all added up to a 7-1 victory over Michigan State on Friday night at Buckeye Field.

Ohio State is now 22-18 on the season while Michigan State falls to 13-24. The two teams are back in action with a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 2 p.m.

How The Runs Were Scored

After Buresch was able to get out of a jam in the top of the first by stranding MSU runners at first and second, the Buckeyes struck first thanks to Mariah Rodriguez, who led off the bottom of the inning with a double.
She was sacrificed to third by Niki Carver and then driven home on Ashley Prange's single to right field. It was Prange's 20th RBI of the season.
Michigan tied the game at 1-all in the top of the third as Kennedy Wylie hit a two-out single to center field that scored Katie Quinlan, who had reached on a walk.
The Buckeyes opened up a four-run lead in the bottom of the third thanks to a blast from Sam Hackenbract, who hit her Big Ten-leading 12th home run of the year. The inning was also keyed by a Niki Carver single that scored Rodriguez and a sacrifice fly from Taylor Pack. When it was all said and done, Ohio State took a 5-1 lead into the fourth inning.
In the fifth, pinch hitter Kirsten Eppele made the most of a two-out, bases loaded pinch-hitting opportunity. She snuck a single up the middle that plated two runs and gave Ohio State a 7-1 lead.

In the Circle

Buresch struck out a season-high six batters on Friday night and allowed just one hit after the third inning. She added inning-ending strikeouts in the first and fifth innings.
Hayward, a senior from Buford, Ga., completed the game in the seventh with two strikeouts, including one looking to end the game.

Statistically Speaking

Mariah Rodriguez: 3-for-4, 2B, two runs scored
Ashley Prange: 2-for-4, one RBI, one run scored
Kirsten Eppele: 1-for-1, two RBI
Payton Buresch: 6.0 IP, 6 Ks, four hits allowed
Skylar Hayward: 1.0 IP, 2 Ks

What's Next
Tomorrow's doubleheader will be streamed live on BTN Plus. Live stats are also available at OhioStateStats.com and Twitter updates at @OhioStateSB. First pitch of game one is set for 2 p.m.