Ohio State Splits On Day Two of ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Saturday, February 18

Clemson, S.C.

Ohio State

3-3

Notre Dame

5-3

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Ohio State Splits On Day Two of ACC/Big Ten Challenge

2/18/2023 10:29:31 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

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CLEMSON, S.C. – The second day of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at McWhorter Stadium in Clemson, S.C. saw Ohio State earn a dramatic come-from-behind 6-5 extra-innings win over Notre Dame. Freshman Hannah Church had the play of the day, hitting a walk off double down the left field line in the ninth inning to score McKenzie Bump.

In the second game, a nightcap matchup vs. No. 6 Clemson, junior pitcher Allison Smith struck out 10 Tigers and held one the nation’s hottest offenses in check most of the night. Clemson, however, got a three-run home run in the fourth inning and went on to win, 5-1. The Buckeyes are 3-4 on the season with a chance to even their record tomorrow afternoon in the weekend finale, a rematch against Clemson at 12:30 p.m.

Ohio State 6, Notre Dame 5 (9 inn.)
Ohio State fought back from a 4-0 deficit and used a Hannah Church walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete its comeback.

The hit completed a big game for Church, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Fittingly, she was part of the comeback efforts late in the game, driving in McKenzie Bump to cut the Notre Dame lead to 5-3 in the sixth inning.

Meggie Otte, who finished the game with three RBI, drove in the tying run in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out single up the middle. The Buckeyes then had scoring opportunities in both the seventh and eighth innings that were snuffed out.

In the bottom half of the ninth inning, Bump reached with two outs on a fielder’s choice, bringing Church to the plate, who laced a ball down the left field line deep enough to score Bump.

Four different players – Church, Kami Kortokrax, Otte and Melina Wilkison – had multiple hits. Five of Ohio State’s nine hits were for extra bases and Buckeye batters also worked eight walks off of Notre Dame pitchers Shannon Becker and Payton Tidd.

In the circle, redshirt freshman Kennedy Kay went 6.0 innings in relief and earned the first win of her career. She allowed four hits and struck out two.

No. 6 Clemson 5, Ohio State 1
Smith’s strong game in the circle was supported by a third-inning RBI single off the bat of Melina Wilkson that gave the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead. It was the first time this season that Clemson has trailed in a game.

One inning later, the Tigers took the lead back with two runs that were aided by an Ohio State error. The biggest hit of the game from came Clemson pitcher Valarie Cagle, whose three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth made the score 5-1 in favor of Clemson.

Smith’s 10-strikeout game was the second double-digit performance of the young season. She’s averaging better than a strikeout per inning, checking in with 31 Ks in 27.1 innings on the season.

What’s Next
The ACC/Big Ten Challenge wraps up on Sunday morning as the Buckeyes play their weekend finale at 12:30 p.m. against Clemson. The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Plus, which can be found on the ESPN app.