The No. 17 ranked Ohio State softball team’s winning streak hits four after a doubleheader sweep of the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Buckeyes improve to 28-6 overall and 5-1 in Big Ten conference play after a pair of 1-0 victories Saturday April 4.
OSU expected to play a two-game series this weekend Saturday and Sunday but because of a threat of inclement weather, was forced to play a doubleheader.
The change of plans did not affect the Buckeyes’ pitching as senior captain Kim Reeder and junior Lindsay Bodeker shined from inside the circle. In game one, Reeder etched her seventh complete game shutout of the year and improves her record to 14-3. Bodeker, not to be outdone, notched a career-high 13 strikeouts in game two.
OSU faced one of the best pitchers in the NCAA, senior Briana Hassett. Hassett leads the NCAA in strikeouts this season for the Golden Gophers. The Buckeyes battled through 10 strikeouts by Hassett and Dee Dee Hillman, a sophomore outfielder, and plated the game’s only run with a single down the left field line, scoring Leah Ledford in the top of the seventh.
In game two, the deciding run came off of the bat of Rachael Shepherd. The sophomore catcher laid down a sacrifice bunt in the top of the second inning, scoring freshman short stop Alicia Herron.
Bodeker’s hot streak continued for OSU; in her last two starts she has recorded 21 strikeouts.
The Buckeyes’ road trip continues as they return to action Wednesday, April 8 with a doubleheader at Indiana. The Hoosiers have struggled this season and enter this contest with a 5-26 overall record.
Evan Winkofsky can be reached at [email protected].
