Ohio State
Minnesota
Buckeyes Head to Minnesota This Weekend
4/3/2024 1:15:00 PM | Softball
Ohio State and Minnesota kick off three-game series on Friday evening
COLUMBUS, Ohio – After playing its first four home games of the 2024 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes head back on the road this weekend when they visit Minnesota for a three-game series beginning on Friday.
Following Along
The Friday and Saturday contests will both be streamed on BTN+ while Sunday's game is set to air live on BTN. Live stats will be available on the schedule tab of OhioStateBuckeyes.com and in-game updates can be found on Twitter by following @OhioStateSB.
The Basics
Ohio State at Minnesota // Friday, April 5 // 6 p.m. ET // Minneapolis, Minn.
Watch Live: BTN+ // Live Stats // Ohio State Schedule & Results // Minnesota Schedule & Results
Ohio State at Minnesota // Saturday, April 6 // 2 p.m. ET // Minneapolis, Minn.
Watch Live: BTN+ // Live Stats // Ohio State Schedule & Results // Minnesota Schedule & Results
Ohio State at Minnesota // Sunday, April 7 // 3 p.m. ET // Minneapolis, Minn.
Watch Live: BTN // Live Stats // Ohio State Schedule & Results // Minnesota Schedule & Results
Buckeyes in a Nutshell
- The last time out, Ohio State was able to take the third and final game of its series vs. Northwestern, improving the Buckeyes' record to 19-12 on the season.
- Ohio State's midweek doubleheader vs. Penn State, scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed due to inclement weather. A make-up date is still to be announced.
- The Buckeyes continue to possess one of the Big Ten's best all-around offenses. Ohio State ranks third in team batting average (.302), fifth in total runs scored (187), second in on-base percentage (.396) and third in slugging percentage (.494).
- Only one team – Indiana (40) – has hit more home runs than Ohio State (38). And the Hoosiers have done so while playing four more games than the Buckeyes.
- Six everyday starters are hitting .300 or better, led by graduate student Tegan Cortelletti, who is third in the Big Ten in batting average (.442).
- Nine players have 13 or more RBI. Kami Kortokrax, who drove in four runs with a grand slam in Sunday's 6-0 win over Northwestern, leads the team with 27 RBI.
- Senior Allison Smith (87.1 innings pitched) and Emily Ruck (52.1 innings pitched) leads a five-person pitching staff.
- Ruck had her best outing of the season last Sunday, pitching a complete game shutout while striking out a season-high eight batters.
Scouting the Gophers
- Minnesota (18-15, 3-3 Big Ten) swept Illinois last weekend in Urbana, scoring a total of 35 runs over the three games.
- Like Ohio State, the Gophers rank in the top half of the Big Ten in runs scored, home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and team batting average.
- Sophomore Jess Oakland, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week, hit three home runs in one game and currently leads the conference in home runs (14) and is second in RBI (40).
- Bri Enter is Minnesota's top pitcher, checking in with a 2.71 earned-run average. She's 11-6 on the season.
Noting the Ohio State/Minnesota Series
- The Buckeyes and Gophers met four times last season: a three-game regular season series April 28-30 and again in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament at Illinois.
- This weekend will mark Ohio State's first visit to Minneapolis since April 2, 2011 – almost exactly 13 years ago.
- The Buckeyes have played at Minnesota just three previous times in the last 20 years – in 2011, 2009 and 2005.
Buckeye This and That
- Kami Kortokrax's fifth-inning grand slam on Sunday was Ohio State's fourth of the season. Overall, Buckeye hitters are 12-for-40 in bases-loaded situations.
- The Buckeyes have been successful holding late game leads this season: they are 11-1 when leading after five innings and 12-1 when leading after six.
- While the home run ball has been effective for the Ohio State offense this season, its bunting game has also proved to be important. The Buckeyes have 23 bunt base hits, and McKenzie Bump leads the team with 10 such hits (in 14 attempts).
- Senior Allison Smith is one win shy of 50 for her career. Only four other pitchers have reached that mark in their respective careers: Kim Reeder (77), Jamee Juarez (76), Katie Chain (67) and Kristi DeVries (59).
