March 28, 2021
Ohio State scores six times in the fourth inning to pull away for a run-rule win
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On a cold, blustery afternoon at Buckeye Field, the Ohio State bats stayed hot. Less than 24 hours after a 13-3 win over Maryland in which they pounded out a season-high 17 hits, the Buckeyes scored six times in the fourth and once more in the fifth for a 9-1 five-inning walk-off run rule win. Ohio State clinched the series as well, taking three of four games from the Terrapins this weekend.
The Short Story
Ohio State’s nine-hit attack was keyed by Meggie Otte, Niki Carver, Ashley Prange and Mariah Rodriguez, who combined to go 7-for-11 at the plate with six RBI and seven runs scored. The biggest blast of the day came from Carver, who hit a home run to right centerfield in the fourth inning that hit the scoreboard.
In the circle, Payton Buresch picked up her third win of the season by pitching five innings while allowing six hits and just one run with two strikeouts. A day after they were stymied by Maryland starting pitcher Courtney Wyche, the Buckeyes managed to solve her on Sunday with nine hits and just two strikeouts over five innings.
How The Runs Were Scored
- Ohio State got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first thanks to a wild pitch that scored Niki Carver from third base. Carver had reached after getting hit by a pitch.
- Maryland tied the game at 1-all in the top of the second when Michaela Abbatine scored during a run-down between first and second base. Katie Dustin was eventually out on the play, ending the half inning.
- A fielder’s choice scored Mariah Rodriguez in the bottom of the third to put Ohio State back ahead 2-1, but the Buckeyes missed a chance to bust the game open when they stranded the bases loaded.
- After Maryland was retired in the top of the fourth, the flood gates opened for Ohio State in the bottom half of the inning when the Scarlet and Gray put a six-spot on the scoreboard. All told, the Buckeyes had six hits in the inning and were aided by two Maryland errors.
- Pinch runner Lindsey Potter scored on a wild pitch to make the score 3-1 and a Meggie Otte infield single scored Rodriguez for a 4-1 lead. The next batter, Niki Carver, had the biggest hit of the day – a three-run home run – and a sixth run came across following a fielding error at first base.
- Ohio State earned the walk-off in the bottom of the fifth as Otte hit a two-out RBI single to right field that scored Rodriguez from second base.
The Weekend That Was
- Over the four games this weekend, Ohio State batted .383 as a team with four players who had 10 or more at-bats finishing with a .400 or better average: Mariah Rodriguez (.700), Ashley Prange (.500), Meggie Otte (.462) and Sam Hackenbracht (.455).
- Otte drove in a team-high seven runs and Rodriguez and Prange both had a 1.000 slugging percentage.
- Buckeye bats belted out 16 extra-base hits (11 doubles, two triples, three home runs).
- Over 10.0 innings, Buresch finished with a 1.40 earned-run average and allowed just one walk.
- Allison Smith went 2-1 with 15 strikeouts in 12.1 innings.
What’s Next
Ohio State has its first road weekend Big Ten series next Friday-Sunday when it heads to Penn State for four games in State College. The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions play a single game Friday, doubleheader Saturday and single game on Sunday. All four contests will be streamed on BTN Plus.
#GoBuckeyes
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COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
