Ohio State Travels to Illinois This Weekend
5/6/2021 7:15:12 AM | Softball
Game/Series Notes // Season Stats // Schedule & Results
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final road series of the 2021 season is upon the Ohio State softball team this weekend as it travels to Illinois for a four-game set Friday-Saturday. The series kicks off Friday afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) and continues with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon ET.
The Basics
Friday (DH): Ohio State at Illinois // May 7, 2021 // 3 p.m. ET // Urbana, Ill.
Watch Live (BTN Plus) // Live Stats // Twitter Updates
Ohio State at Illinois // May 7, 2021 // 5:30 p.m. ET // Urbana, Ill.
Watch Live (BTN Plus) // Live Stats // Twitter Updates
Saturday (DH): Ohio State at Illinois // May 8, 2021 // Noon ET // Urbana, Ill.
Watch Live (BTN) // Live Stats // Twitter Updates
Ohio State at Illinois // May 8, 2021 // 2:30 p.m. ET // Urbana, Ill.
Watch Live (BTN Plus) // Live Stats // Twitter Updates
Saturday on BTN
The first game on Saturday’s doubleheader will air live on BTN. Chris Vosters (play by play) and Elise Menaker (color analysis) will be on the call. The other three games will be carried on BTN Plus.
Briefly on the Buckeyes
- Ohio State brings an 18-17 record into this weekend’s series after a four-game set last weekend at Purdue.
- The Buckeyes won the opening game, 5-1, on Friday but then suffered three setbacks to close out the weekend.
- Ohio State’s .269 team batting average is fourth best in the Big Ten.
- Mariah Rodriguez and Sam Hackenbracht lead the way amongst the everyday starters with the top batting averages. Rodriguez checks in at .343 with five doubles, two triples and two home runs. Hackenbracht is at .342 with 10 home runs and 21 RBI.
- The tandem of Payton Buresch and Allison Smith have pitched 216.1 of a possible 239.1 innings this season.
- Smith is averaging better than a strikeout per inning (109 Ks, 105.1 innings).
- Buresch’s 2.52 earned-run average is 14th best in the Big Ten.
History Against the Illini
- Ohio State holds a 23-15 edge in the all-time series leading into this weekend.
- The last time the two teams met was April 26-28, 2019 in Columbus. The Buckeyes took all three games in the weekend series, including a 9-0 triumph in the opener that included a no-hitter from senior pitcher Morgan Ray.
- The last time the Buckeyes and Illini met in Champaign, Ohio State won two of three games to close out the 2017 regular season.
- Since 2013, Ohio State has won six of the nine meetings between the Buckeyes and Illini.
Career Milestones
- Ashley Prange needs six more hits for 100 in her career. She has a .311 career batting average in 95 games with 56 runs scored, 16 home runs, 22 doubles and 63 RBI.
- Payton Buresch will reach 200 innings pitched in her Ohio State career this weekend. The senior has a 2.30 earned-run average over the last two seasons with the Scarlet and Gray with 15 wins and 28 games started.
- Niki Carver is Ohio State’s active career leader in hits (108), home runs (17) and RBI (72).
Hackenbracht in the Big Ten
- Just how good has Sam Hackenbracht been this year? Her 10 home runs are tied for the most in the Big Ten while her .479 on-base percentage is fourth-best.
- She’s been intentionally walked in each of her last six at-bats over the last four games and 10 times in the last 10 games.
- Hackenbracht ranks first in the Big Ten in slugging percentage (.803) 11th in batting average (.342), 19th in RBI (21) and seventh in walks (18).
- She’s a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week following performances against Penn State (April 6) and Rutgers (April 27).
Showing Improvement
- Fifth-year senior Carley Gaskill had 77 career at-bats entering this season and already has 64 in 2021.
- Her average is up 72 points from last season and she has more hits this season than she had in the last three seasons combined.
- Mariah Rodriguez has seen a 151-point improvement in her batting average from last season.
- Tegan Cortelletti’s batting average is up 30 points from last season.
