Ohio State
29-18, 0
Illinois
20-28, 0
Illinois Takes Series Finale from Ohio State, 11-6
4/28/2024 5:23:00 PM | Softball
Buckeyes finish the 2024 campaign with a 11-3 record at home
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State saw its season-high nine-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday, as Illinois scored eight times over the final two innings for an 11-6 come-from-behind victory in the series finale.
The Buckeyes, who wrapped up their home schedule on Sunday, are 29-18 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten. Illinois improved to 20-28 (6-13 Big Ten).
The Short Story
Ohio State built a 6-3 lead through five innings on the strength of home runs by Kami Kortokrax, Kirsten Eppele, Kaitlyn Farley and Taylor Heckman, but Illinois tied the game at 6-all with three runs in the top of the sixth and then plated five runs – all with two outs – in the top of the seventh.
The Buckeyes' nine-hit attack was keyed by a pair of seniors: Eppele (2-for-3, two RBI) and Heckman (2-for-3, one RBI, one run scored). Tegan Cortelletti, Kortokrax, McKenzie Bump, Jasmyn Burns and Farley also had hits.
How The Runs Were Scored
- Trailing 1-0, Kortokrax gave Ohio State its first lead of the day with a two-run home run over the right field fence. It was her team-leading 12th home run of the season and RBI No. 40 and 41.
- Illinois took a 3-2 lead on a two-run double in the top of the fourth, but the Buckeyes were able to answer right back with a home run barrage in the bottom half of the inning.
- It started with a solo shot from Eppele on the first pitch of the inning and then continued two batters later as Farley and Heckman went back-to-back to make the score 5-3 in Ohio State's favor.
- The Buckeyes grabbed their biggest lead of the day at 6-3 on a Noury RBI single to center field, but Illinois tied the game thanks to a Buckeye error in the top of the sixth.
- Tied at 6-all, Illinois would plate five runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to grab a 11-6 lead. The Buckeyes were then retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Buckeye That and That
- Ohio State finished its 2024 home schedule with an 11-3 record and had Big Ten series wins over Penn State, Maryland and Illinois. The Buckeyes averaged nearly six runs per game at home and hit 20 home runs.
- Despite the loss, the Buckeyes have won nine of their last 10 games and in that span Bump is hitting a team-best .467 with three home runs and seven RBI. Kortokrax's homer today was her 10th in the last 10 games.
- In this weekend's series, Bump, Burns and Farley all hit .500, going a combined 13-for-26 with four home runs and nine RBI.
- Allison Smith had a 2.40 earned run average this weekend in her final two appearances at Buckeye Field and pitched a team-high 11.2 innings.
- Before the game, nine seniors and their families were honored: Hannah Bryan, McKenzie Bump, Tegan Cortelletti, Kirsten Eppele, Destinee Noury, Taylor Heckman, Emily Ruck, Allison Smith and Sam Hackenbracht.
What's Next
Ohio State concludes the regular season next weekend when it travels to Ann Arbor, Mich. for a three-game series vs. Michigan. Action gets underway at 6 p.m. on Friday and continues on Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.).
For the most up-to-date information on Ohio State softball, follow on the Buckeyes on X at @OhioStateSB and online at OhioStateBuckeyes.com. A link to live stats and viewing information for each game at Michigan will be available online.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wiles, Lauren (7-11)
L: Paulsen, Lexi (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Ryono, Kelly 1 ; Ryniec, Abby 1
RBI: Ryono, Kelly 3 ; Ryniec, Abby 2 ; Malott, Sydney 1 ; Debevec, Gabrielle 1
SH: Caryl, Adisyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ryono, Kelly 1 ; Howard, Zoie 1 ; Ward, Megan 1 ; Caryl, Adisyn 1 ; Ryniec, Abby 1 ; Hunkins, Reese 1 ; Malott, Sydney 2 ; Debevec, Gabrielle 1 ; Starks, Serena 2
HBP: Debevec, Gabrielle 1
Batting:
HR: Kortokrax, Kami 1 ; Eppele, Kirsten 1 ; Farley, Kaitlyn 1 ; Heckman, Taylor 1
RBI: Kortokrax, Kami 2 ; Eppele, Kirsten 2 ; Farley, Kaitlyn 1 ; Heckman, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cortelletti, Tegan 1 ; Kortokrax, Kami 1 ; Hackenbracht, Sam 1 ; Eppele, Kirsten 1 ; Farley, Kaitlyn 1 ; Heckman, Taylor 1
