Home Runs Power Ohio State to 10-3 Win over Cal

Wednesday, March 25

Columbus, Ohio

6:30 p.m.

Ohio State

12-18

California

11-23

California

Ohio State

Home Runs Power Ohio State to 10-3 Win over Cal

3/25/2026 9:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

The Buckeyes saw four home runs leave the yard on nine hits

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State softball team (12-18) won for the fourth time in its last six outings on Wednesday night in an offensive exposition to defeat Cal, 10-3. The Buckeyes have posted 49 runs and 17 home runs in those six games.

Abbie Wilhelm and Taylor Cruse led the day at the plate, with Wilhelm hitting two home runs while adding four RBI. Taylor Cruse went 3-for-4 with a home run and was just a single shy of the cycle, driving in two runs. Skylar Limon would also go yard with a home run that notched three RBI.

Jenna Molk picked up her ninth win of the season, setting a new single-game strikeout mark with eight strikeouts. Molk has set new season highs in strikeouts in her last three wins.

How it Happened

Abbie Wilhelm opened scoring for the Buckeyes with a two-run home run that scored Izzy Neal, giving Ohio State a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
Cal tied the game at two apiece the top of the fourth on a Kyndal Todd double that scored Emma Jackson and a sac fly off the bat of Kayli Counts that scored Carly Raven.
Ohio State retook a four-run lead in the bottom half of the inning via a leadoff Taylor Cruse solo home run and a three-run shot by Skylar Limon that scored Hailey Lang and Izzy Neal.
The Buckeyes tacked on two more runs to go up 8-2 on a Cruse triple that scored Sami Bewick and a fielder's choice that scored Cruse.
The Golden Bears got a run back in the top of the sixth on a Madison Rey solo home run.
Wilhelm hit her second home run of the day in the bottom of the sixth, a blast that scored Limon to put the Buckeyes up 10-3.
Jenna Molk (9-10) got the start and the win, striking out eight over six innings and allowing just four hits. Lexi Paulsen tossed an inning in relief, striking out one. Kiki Mashoud (2-6) got the start and the loss for Cal.

What's Next
Ohio State will close out its current nine-game homestand with a three-game conference series against the Michigan State Spartans (13-17). Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, with both general admission and reserved seating available. A limited number of free student tickets are also available with a BuckID. Links to ticketing, streaming, and live stats are available on the schedule page at OhioStateBuckeyes.com.