Ohio State Falls in ACC/Big Ten Challenge Opener

Friday, February 17

Clemson, S.C.

Ohio State

2-3

Notre Dame

5-1

Ohio State

Notre Dame

Ohio State Falls in ACC/Big Ten Challenge Opener

2/17/2023 3:50:41 PM | Softball

Box Score

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CLEMSON, S.C. – The Ohio State softball team took a fourth-inning lead in its ACC/Big Ten Challenger opener on Friday afternoon versus Notre Dame, but the Irish came back and claimed a 7-2 victory over the Buckeyes at McWhorter Stadium on the campus of Clemson University. Ohio State is 2-3 on the young season while Notre Dame improves to 5-1.

The Short Story
Junior Destinee Noury delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the fourth inning, but a pair of three-run Notre Dame home runs proved to be the difference. The Irish’s key hits came in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings, respectively.

In The Circle
Junior pitcher Allison Smith started for the third time this season and went four innings while allowing four hits and striking out two. Freshman Lexi Paulsen went the final two innings, striking out three while allowing two hits.

How The Runs Were Scored

Neither team could get a runner into scoring position early in the game, as starters Allison Smith (Ohio State) and Payton Tidd (Notre Dame) were in control.
Finally in the top of the fourth, the Buckeyes strung together back to back hits off the bats of Melina Wilkison (a bunt single) and Kami Kortokrax (single through the left side).
Two batters later, Destinee Noury laced a two-out single to right field, scoring Wilkison and Noury and giving Ohio State a 2-0 advantage.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Notre Dame countered with a one-out RBI double and three-run home run with two outs to go ahead 4-2.
Three runs came across for the Irish in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a three-run home run off the bat of Payton Tidd.

Buckeye This and That

Ohio State is playing for the first time in program history at Clemson. The Tigers are hosting two games today at McWhorter Stadium, three tomorrow and two more on Sunday.
Friday was the 13th all-time meeting between Ohio State and Notre Dame and the first in 2020.
The Buckeyes’ offense had hits from four different players: Melina Wilkison, Kami Kortokrax, Destinee Noury and Meggie Otte.

What’s Next
The ACC/Big Ten Challenge continues tomorrow for the Buckeyes with a pair of games back at McWorther Stadium. Ohio State takes on Notre Dame again at 12:30 p.m., followed by a 5:30 contest against No. 6 Clemson. The contest against the Tigers will be streamed on ACC Network Plus and can be found through the ESPN app (subscription required).