Ohio State
Maryland
Ohio State Completes Weekend Sweep over Maryland
4/21/2024 3:49:00 PM | Softball
Buckeyes run their winning streak to seven consecutive with a 3-2 triumph over the Terps
On an afternoon when hits – and runs – were at a premium, Kami Kortokrax delivered the biggest one of the day just as fans were settling into their seats at Buckeye Field.
Kortokrax hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning and the Buckeyes made those runs stand up, as Ohio State completed a weekend sweep of Maryland with a 3-2 victory in front of a season-high crowd of 1,641. The win was Ohio State's seventh in a row and improved its record to 27-17 overall (8-9 Big Ten). Maryland is 18-27 and 4-13 in conference play.
The Short Story
Kortokrax's homer, which came on a 3-2 pitch, was her team-leading 10th of the season. It also came in her first at-bat after having to leave Saturday's game with an injury in the first inning.
From there, starting pitcher Allison Smith allowed just three hits over 5.2 innings and fanned six batters. Emily Ruck came on to record the final out in the sixth inning and then keep Maryland off the scoreboard in the seventh to secure her first save of the season.
How The Runs Were Scored
- Tegan Cortelletti started the home half of the first inning with a walk and after she ended up on second via a Taylor Heckman ground out, Kortokrax stepped to the plate for her first at-bat of the game.
- She worked a seven-pitch at-bat and just cleared the right field fence to put the Buckeyes ahead 2-0. That's the way the score stayed until the bottom of the fifth inning when Ohio State strung together a Kaitlyn Farley double and Taylor Heckman RBI single the increase its lead to 3-0.
- In three games against Maryland this weekend, Heckman had a team-best four RBI. She hit .333 against the Terps and also had a .400 on-base percentage.
- Maryland scored twice in the top of the sixth inning on a Jaeda McFarland sacrifice fly and Mazie MacFarlane RBI single. With a runner on, however, Ruck entered the game and recorded the final out of the inning on a ground out to first base.
The Week that Was
- Sunday's win completed a 6-0 week for Ohio State that was highlighted by a doubleheader sweep on Penn State on Tuesday, a victory over Pittsburgh on Wednesday and this weekend's sweep of Maryland.
- Including last weekend's series finale win at Wisconsin, Ohio State has won seven games in the last eight days.
- In six games this week, Ohio State pitchers allowed just nine earned runs over 41.0 innings. Smith and Ruck combined to pitch 39.1 innings with 33 strikeouts.
- Smith's stat line for the week included a 1.05 earned run average, two complete games, a 3-0 record and 17 strikeouts in 20.0 innings.
- Not to be outdone, Ruck tossed 19.1 innings and also went 3-0 with two saves, a 2.17 earned run average and 16 strikeouts.
- At the plate, Kortokrax hit .500 in six games with two home runs, five RBI, four doubles and a .529 on-base percentage.
- Ohio State's current seven-game winning streak is the second-longest in the Big Ten, only behind Michigan, which has won nine consecutive games.
What's Next
Ohio State returns to action on Friday, April 26 when it hosts Illinois in its final regular season home series of the season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. The first two games of the series will be streamed on BTN+ and Sunday's finale is set to air on BTN.
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.
