Ball State University
Ohio State (DH)
Softball Falls At No. 17 Ohio State Wednesday
April 02, 2009 | Softball
COLUMBUS, Ohio ? The Ball State softball team (13-16) lost two against non-conference opponent Ohio State (26-6) Wednesday.
GAME ONE
Ball State's three hits were not enough to keep the Cardinals in the game as Ohio State scored nine runs on just seven hits.
Ohio State's lead-off hitter and the Big Ten's home run leader Sam Marder earned her 13th home run this season for a quick 1-0 lead. The run was followed by a walk, and the Buckeye's advanced the runner to second on a sacrifice. The fourth batter reached on an error and advanced the lead runner to third. During the following batter, a stolen base put runners on second and third; however, Milian struck out the next two to stop the damage.
After one out in the top of the second, Elizabeth Milian walked to first for the tying run. Ball State tried to contend as Kate Wilczynski knocked one down the right field line, pushing Milian to third. Katelyn Gunderson pinch ran for Wilczynski on first. She tried to steal second and distracted Ohio State's defense as Milian scored to put the Cardinals on the board. It would be the only run for Ball State in the game.
A walk began the bottom of the second inning. She was pushed to second as the next batter laid a sacrifice bunt turned single to make it to first. Milian struck out the next batter, her 107th of the season. A line drive out to Lisa Rozanski in center field put two away for the Cardinals with two on base, but the next four balls loaded the bases for Ohio State. Milian then walked her fourth batter to give the Buckeyes a 2-1 advantage as all runners moved one base. A hit to left center field gave Ohio State a comfortable 4-1 lead as two more runners scored. A popup to Alicia Barkley stopped the damage.
Rozanski made it to first after she was hit by a pitch in the third. She was sent to second on a sacrifice by Pennock. Barkley reached first on an error as Rozanski made it safely to third. Barkley then logged her 11th stolen base moving to second. Alyssa Collins lined out to the shortstop before Ball State was unable to bring Rozanski home.
A base hit up the middle began the bottom of the third for the Buckeyes, but a strikeout and two pop-outs prevented Ohio State from scoring any more runs in the third inning.
Before the fourth inning, Ohio State led 4-1. With the Buckeyes back in the top of the order, the Cardinals allowed three more runs with two outs. A two-run homer then run put the score at 9-1 on seven hits in the game just before Ball State could produce the last out. The five runs put the game out of reach for the Cardinals as the team logged three quick outs in their next at bat. The game concluded with the eight-run-rule after five innings of play.
In her 100th career appearance, Milian struck out five in four innings of work for a 10-10 season record.
GAME TWO
In the nightcap, Rozanksi singled to center field in the first inning and cost the Buckeyes and extra base as she advanced to second on an error. She moved to third as Pennock grounded out to the shortstop. The Buckeyes prevented her from scoring with two strikeouts to close the side.
Ohio State then put runners on first and second with a walk and hit up the middle. The following batter also singled up the middle, driving in an early Buckeye run. Another runner advanced to third on the next fly out while the other remained at first base. Laura Masch (3-3) struck out her first of two batters of the night for the third out.
Reifschneider started the swinging for the Cardinals with a single down the right field line at the top of the second. Durment pinch ran for her, but she was forced out at second as Milian reached on a fielder's choice. Wilczynski made it to first on the Cardinals' third hit and advanced Milian to second. Milian was then forced out at third as Kamilah Holle reached on another fielder's choice. Despite two hits in the inning, a final ground out eliminated any scoring opportunities in the second for Ball State.
With a runner on first and two outs, Marder hit a two-run homer, her second of the day, as Ohio State took a 3-0 lead in two innings.
The Cardinals logged one hit by Pennock down the third base line, but Ball State could not score in the top of the third. Two singles and a sacrifice produced a fourth run the Buckeyes in their at bat that inning.
Ball State ended the top of the fourth with no marks for the first time in the game as the team trailed 4-0. The Cardinals did earn two quick outs when they took the field in the bottom of the inning. With one walk and a stolen base by the Buckeyes' Marder, Rozanski ended the fourth with a long throw from center field to throw the runner out at home.
Ohio State answered with a quick three outs again in the top of the fifth. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Buckeyes with one out in their turn at bat. Natalie Bejarano stepped on home plate for the second out and a popup to Barkley at shortstop prevented any more runs. Ohio State had not scored since the third.
After connecting on six hits in the first three innings, the Buckeyes logged just three hits over the next two innings. With one out, Marder notched her second hit of the game, first inside the complex, to begin the bottom of the sixth. She was forced out at second as the next batter singled to Holle at second base. With two away, the following batter was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base, but Pennock grabbed one in left field to end the inning.
Three strikeouts by pitcher brought the game to a close in the top of the seventh and gave Ball State the 4-0 loss.
While both teams earned more hits in game two, neither team produced more runs. Ball State notched four hits to Ohio State's ten. Pennock and Wilczynski were the lone Cardinals to log hits in both games.
Ball State (13-16) returns to the BSU Softball Complex this weekend, hosting Buffalo (17-10 overal , 0-2 in MAC) and Kent State (11-15 overall, 2-0 in MAC). The team faces Buffalo in a double header Friday beginning at 1 p.m. The Cardinals play Kent State 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday to finish out the weekend. The game will be broadcast on WCRD 93.1 FM. And live stats will also be available at ballstatesports.com.
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