Buckeyes Fall in Extra Innings at Big Ten Tournament, 3-2

Thursday, May 11

Champaign, Ill.

TBA

Ohio State

33-20

Minnesota (Big Ten Tournament)

37-16

Ohio State

Minnesota

Buckeyes Fall in Extra Innings at Big Ten Tournament, 3-2

5/11/2023 3:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

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URBANA, Ill. – Minnesota's eight-inning walk-off single ended Ohio State's run in the 2023 Big Ten Softball Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at Eichenberger Field on the campus of the University of Illinois.

The Buckeyes, the sixth seed, are now 33-20 on the season while Minnesota, the third seed, moves on to Friday's semifinals vs. either Indiana or Penn State.

The Short Story
In a pitching duel between 2023 Big Ten Pitcher of Year Autumn Pease of Minnesota and the trifecta on Allison Smith, Emily Ruck and Kennedy Kay, the biggest hit for Ohio State came in the fifth inning on Kaitlyn Farley's two-run home run.

Minnesota tied the game in the bottom half of the inning and then won it on a walk-off single from Breezy Burnett with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Farley's home run was one of two hits on the afternoon for the sophomore second baseman. She also singled in the third inning.

How The Runs Were Scored

After retiring the Buckeyes in order in the top of the first, Minnesota hit a lead-off solo home run in the home half of the inning for an early 1-0 lead. Starting pitcher Allison Smith was able to shake it off, however, and retire the next three batters.
The score stayed at 1-0 into the fifth inning until Kaitlyn Farley hit a two-run home run to center field and gave Ohio State its first lead of the day at 2-1. The hit also scored McKenzie Bump, who hit a one-out single.
Minnesota would tie the game in the bottom of the fifth on a one-out RBI single, but a 5-3 double play avoided any further damage.
Ohio State forced extra innings by retiring the heart of the Gopher order in the bottom of the seventh, and the lead-off batter in the eight – Mariah Rodriguez – reached when she was hit by a pitch. Pease, however, retired the next three batters on two strikeouts and a ground out.
Minnesota's half of the eighth inning started with a single to centerfield, followed by a sacrifice bunt and flyout for two outs.
Burnett's single to left field scored Sydney Strelow for the winning run.

Buckeye That And That

All nine runs that Ohio State scored in its two Big Ten Tournament games (vs. Rutgers and Minnesota) came via home runs.
Allison Smith got the start in the circle and went 2.0 innings and gave up two hits before Kennedy Kay saw extended action.
Kay pitched 2.1 innings, giving up three just and no walks.
Emily Ruck's 3.1 innings of work included a strikeout and one run allowed.
Farley's fifth-inning home run was her fourth of the season. She pushed her batting average back over .300 at .306 and drove in her 26th and 27th runs of the season.
Each of the last five games that Ohio State has played has been decided by two or fewer runs. The Buckeyes are 3-2 in those contests.

What's Next
The Buckeyes, who played 26 of 53 games this season against teams ranked in the Top 75 of the RPI, will learn their postseason fate on Sunday evening when the 2023 NCAA Tournament field is announced.