The Buckeyes give a shout out to the crowd after they defeated Indiana 2-0 on March 24. Credit: Gretchen Rudolph | For The Lantern
The Ohio State softball team (26-14, 9-5 Big Ten) ended its final nonconference game of this season with a 4-3 victory against Ohio (28-17, 9-6 MAC).
Ohio State freshman third baseman Ashley Prange homered to the left field, putting the Buckeyes on the board first in the second inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Ohio State extended the lead to 3-0 as senior second baseman Emily Clark and senior shortstop Lilli Piper both scored on a two-RBI single by Prange.
“It’s good to beat an Ohio team.” Prange said. “I thought we played well.”
Ohio cut the deficit in the sixth inning. Senior third baseman Alex Day homered down the right field line, scoring three for the Bobcats and tying the game at 3-3.
The Buckeyes soon took back the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Piper reached on a throwing error, which allowed senior outfielder Bri Betschel, who was on base due to a double, to make it home, scoring the eventual game-winning run for Ohio State.
“They are a college in Ohio. We like to see that. We want all those Ohio wins. It’s just important to come out.” Piper said. “They are a good team. They are gonna get some good wins this year.”
Ohio State head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly said she was super proud of how her team bounced back.
“They got their runs in and we responded right back,” Schoenly said.
Ohio State will head to East Lansing, Michigan to return to Big Ten action against Michigan State. Game one will start at 6 p.m. on April 26.
