Ohio State
Illinois
Buckeyes Host Illinois for Senior Weekend
4/25/2024 10:49:00 AM | Softball
Ohio State brings a seven-game winning streak into final home series of 2024
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team will bring a seven-game winning streak into its final homestand of the season, as the Buckeyes welcome Illinois to Columbus for a three-game series beginning on Friday evening.
First pitch on Friday is set for 2 p.m. The series continues on Saturday (2 p.m.) and concludes on Sunday (2 p.m.). Friday and Saturday's games will be streamed live on B1G+ while Sunday's game is set to air live on BTN.
The Basics
Ohio State vs. Illinois // Friday, April 26 // Columbus, Ohio; Buckeye Field // 6 p.m.
Watch Live: B1G+ // Live Stats // Buy Tickets
Ohio State vs. Illinois // Saturday, April 27 // Columbus, Ohio; Buckeye Field // 2 p.m.
Watch Live: B1G+ // Live Stats // Buy Tickets
Ohio State vs. Illinois // Sunday, April 28 // Columbus, Ohio; Buckeye Field // 2 p.m.
Watch Live: BTN // Live Stats // Buy Tickets
Talkin' Tickets
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.
Promotions This Weekend
Nine seniors will be honored this weekend. Friday will serve as Siblings Day while Saturday the parents of the Buckeyes' nine seniors will throw out a first pitch. On Sunday, the Buckeyes' nine seniors will be honored after the game.
Briefly on the Buckeyes
- Ohio State enters this weekend's series vs. Illinois as one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten, having won seven consecutive games to improve its record to 27-17 overall.
- The Buckeyes' recent success includes a sweep of Maryland last weekend to improve to 8-9 in Big Ten play.
- Junior Kami Kortokrax was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday. She hit .500 in six games last week with three home runs, five RBI and doubles. For the season, her .326 batting average is fourth-best among the everyday starters while her 10 home runs and 36 RBI leads the team.
- Ohio State has one of the conference's best overall offenses, as the Buckeyes rank in the top five in team batting average (.302), home runs (52), runs scored (265), slugging percentage (.496) and on-base percentage (.390).
- Over the last seven games, Ohio State's pitching staff has allowed just 13 earned runs over 48.0 innings, which is good for a 1.90 ERA.
- Allison Smith has led that charge with the most innings of work (25.2) and a 1.36 ERA over her last three starts. She is 4-0 in her last six appearances and also has two saves.
- Senior Emily Ruck is 3-0 in her last four appearances with one save, one complete game and a 2.17 ERA.
Scouting Illinois
- Illinois brings a 19-26 record in this weekend's series with a 5-11 mark in Big Ten play. The Illini won their final non-conference game of the season on Tuesday at DePaul, 7-4.
- Like Ohio State, Illinois has one of the conference's best overall team batting averages (.301). Six starters are batting .300 or better, led by Kelly Ryono (.357).
- Tori McQueen has a team-best 3.18 earned run average in the circle in 145.1 innings with 140 strikeouts and a .260 batting average against.
History vs. the Illini
- This season will mark the fourth time in five seasons that Ohio State and Illinois are facing each other, and the first in Columbus since 2019.
- Ohio State is 9-2 in its last 11 meetings against Illinois. The two teams met three times last year in Champaign, with the Buckeyes taking two of three games April 14-15.
- In eight career games against Illinois, Sam Hackenbracht is batting .346 with three home runs, nine RBI and six runs scored. Last season, she was 6-for-11 in the three-game series and drove in six runs.
- Allison Smith has started four career games vs. Illinois and has a 1.12 ERA against the Illini with 17 strikeouts in 25.0 innings. Three of her four starts have been complete games.
Senior Weekend 2024
- Ohio State will honor nine seniors this weekend – seven fourth-year players and two fifth-year seniors.
- Hannah Bryan: Has played in 39 career games with 14 starts … is a health sciences major; McKenzie Bump: Has played in 134 career games with 107 starts at third base; .303 career batting average … 90 hits, 21 doubles and six home runs … a sport industry major; Tegan Cortelletti: A fifth-year senior who has played in 173 career games … 111 starts in the outfield … .330 career hitter with 51 stolen bases … enrolled in the sports coaching master's degree program … Kirsten Eppele: Has started 41 games this season as a senior with a .252 batting average, seven home runs and 28 RBI … a health sciences major … Sam Hackenbracht: Is Ohio State's active career leader in home runs (46), RBI (151), doubles (33) and games played (195) … enrolled in the sports coaching master's degree program … Taylor Heckman: Has career-highs in every statistical category this season … batting .336 with four home runs and 25 RBI … human development and family science major … Destinee Noury: Has started 67 career games with a .262 batting average and 39 RBI … is a communication major … Emily Ruck: 23-15 career record in the circle … 247.2 innings pitched with 196 strikeouts … majoring in operations management … Allison Smith: 515.2 career innings pitched, 519 strikeouts and a 54-36 career record … biomedical engineering major.
