After 60 games and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, the Ohio State softball team’s season came to an end this weekend, but not before the young and talented team turned some heads along the way.
A 34-23 regular season culminated with a No. 6 seed in Region IV of the NCAA Tournament.
On Friday the Buckeyes opened up the double-elimination tournament in Tallahassee, Fla., by facing the No. 3-seeded South Florida Bulls.
Senior starting pitcher Kristi DeVries (16-11) held the Bulls’ bats in check through five innings, but two OSU errors in the bottom of the sixth led to the only two runs of the game.
“We almost played a great game (Friday). I think Natalie (Hales) and Kristi were brilliant out there,” coach Linda Kalafatis said.
South Florida’s first run scored on an OSU error in right field, and the Bulls added an insurance run when center fielder Tiffany Stewart cranked a RBI double down the left-field line.
“Many times in postseason and against good teams the game will be decided in late innings, and this is how (Friday’s) game went,” Kalafatis said.
Bulls SP Leigh Ann Ellis went the distance as the Buckeyes failed to put a dent in the scoreboard in their 2-0 loss.
“We couldn’t figure out Ellis, and she was equally as brilliant on the mound,” Kalafatis said.
After losing earlier on Friday, the Buckeyes were forced to play later that night in the losers bracket against No. 7 seed Bethune-Cookman.
Both teams showed will and determination – neither team wanted to be the first one sent home.
It took the Buckeyes 10 innings to fight off the Wildcats and elimination.
In the top of the 10th, junior right fielder Karisa Evans brought home the first run of the game on a RBI sacrifice that scored sophomore pinch hitter Chelsea Baker.
Later in the inning, freshman second baseman Nycole Koyano connected on a RBI single that scored junior catcher Natalie Hales to put the Buckeyes up 2-0.
That would be all freshman pitcher Jamee Juarez would need as she went the distance in a complete-game shutout of the Wildcats.
The 2-0 victory meant the Buckeyes remained alive in the tournament for at least one more day.
Game three looked to be going the Buckeyes way early when OSU jumped to a 1-0 lead in the second. Junior shortstop Jennifer Johnson scored on an error by California State-Northridge sophomore SS Jenny Cochran.
OSU’s lead only lasted a few innings, though, as the Matadors tied the game in the fourth on a RBI single by senior 2B Shannon Acevedo.
The Buckeyes could only manage one more run in the bottom of the fifth when freshman outfielder Megan Schwab singled to center, scoring Evans.
CSUN’s pitcher, Erin Sigala, held OSU scoreless the remainder of the game, posting a complete game in the 4-2 victory that eliminated the Buckeyes from the tournament.
“I thought we played really tough. We had a couple innings where the defense kind of let down a little bit,” senior first baseman Beth McAbier said. “We gave it all we had and fought to the end.”
The loss ended the Buckeyes run in the tournament, but the experience and memories will forever be etched in the hearts of these Buckeyes.
“It was overwhelming. I was very excited going into the tournament and excited for the team,” Koyano said. “I thought we could have done a little better, but it was a good experience.”
Despite the 1-2 record, the Buckeyes were represented in post-tournament awards – Juarez was named to the NCAA Region No. 4 All-Tournament Team. Not only was she credited with the Buckeyes’ only victory, but in 12.1 total innings of work she recorded seven strikeouts while finishing with a 0.57 ERA.
For seniors DeVries, McAbier and Breana Pozzi, the loss on Saturday marked the end of their playing days for the scarlet and gray. DeVries will leave as one of the best pitchers in OSU history, while the entire class exits as the winningest one in program history with 162 victories.
“It’s been great. It’s been my dream to be here and play for four years,” McAbier said.
