Ohio State Splits With Rutgers on Final Day of Series

Friday, March 22

Piscataway, N.J.

2:30 PM

Ohio State

17-9, 1-1

Rutgers

19-13, 1-1

Ohio State

Rutgers

Ohio State Splits With Rutgers on Final Day of Series

3/24/2024 3:36:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Buckeyes will make their home debut on Wednesday vs. Dayton

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team finished its Big Ten-opening series at Rutgers on Sunday and got a win in the resumed game from Friday, 11-9, before dropping the series finale, 8-6. The Buckeyes return home with a 17-10 overall record and will make their home debut on Wednesday at 4 p.m. vs. Dayton.

The Short Story
When play started on Sunday, Ohio State and Rutgers resumed their game from Friday afternoon that was halted due to darkness. With the score tied at 8-8 in the top of the 10th inning, Ohio State scored three runs – two on bases-loaded walks and one on a wild pitch – to grab an 11-8 advantage.

Rutgers scored once in the bottom of the 10th on a solo home run, but Allison Smith recorded the final outs for Ohio State in an 11-9 win. It was Smith's 11th win this season in the circle.

Thirty minutes later, the two teams played the series finale, which Rutgers won 8-6 on the strength of a six-run third inning that opened up a 7-1 lead. The Buckeyes chipped away at the advantage, however, beginning in the fourth inning with a McKenzie Bump double that scored Kami Kortokrax. Kirsten Eppele would follow later with a three-run home run to make the score 7-5. Eppele finished the game with four RBI.

Ohio State got another run in the top of the sixth via a Hannah Church solo home run to cut the Rutgers lead to one, 7-6. It was Church's third home run of the season and second in the last week (she also hit a two-run home run last Sunday).

That's as close as the Buckeyes would get, however. Rutgers scored on a sac fly in the bottom of the sixth and after a lead-off single to start the seventh inning, the next three Ohio State batters were retired.

What's Next
After playing its first 27 regular season games away from home, Ohio State makes its 2024 Buckeye Field debut on Wednesday when it hosts Dayton at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Plus.

Single game tickets are available with prices ranging from $4-$8 before fees. Seating at Buckeye Field is general admission. A limited number of student tickets will be available for free at each game with a BuckID on a first come, first served basis. Children under two years old and younger will be admitted free but must sit on an adult's lap.

Tickets can be purchased HERE and the full schedule is available at OhioStateBuckeyes.com.