Ohio State Defeats Ohio; Improves to 18-5 – Ohio State Buckeyes

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State travelled to Athens, Ohio, for a Tuesday evening game against Ohio University and came home with a 6-1 win in front of a home-opening Big Ten Conference series this weekend against Indiana. The Buckeyes improve to 18-5 on the season while Ohio drops to 7-14.

Ohio State scored single runs in the first and seventh innings, and two apiece in the third and sixth innings. Three players had multiple hits – Meggie Otte, McKenzie Bump and Kami Kortokrax – to lead the team offensively. Otte had a double and home run and scored twice. Bump scored two runs and Kortokrax added an RBI. Sam Hackenbracht, who had six home runs in six games on the team’s spring break trip to Florida, continued her hot hitting with a two-run bomb in the third.

Starter Allison Smith worked 3.1 innings and allowed just one earned run and three hits. She had four walks and two strikeouts.

Smith was relieved by Lexie Handley in the fourth with Ohio State leading, 3-1, and with the bases loaded. Handley retired the final two batters of the inning and pitched the final 3.2 innings to get the win and improve to 8-3 on the campaign. She retired 11 of the 12 batters she faced.

How the Runs Were Scored

• Ohio State took a 1-0 lead in its half of the 2nd. McKenzie Bump doubled to center and scored on a Kami Kortokrax single down the left field line.
• Ohio State extended the lead to 3-0 in the third. Meggie Ott opened the inning with a double down the right field line and Sam Hackenbracht hit a two-run home run – her team-leading eighth of the year – to left field.
• The Bobcats battled back with a run in the fourth inning off two doubles. Lexie Handley came in to relieve Smith with the bases loaded and recorded the final two outs of the inning.
• Ohio State added two more runs in the sixth inning. Bump reached on a bunt single and went to second on Kortokrax single. Following a sacrifice bunt, Bump scored on a ground out to make it 4-1. Lindsey Potter, pinch-running for Kortokrax, scored later in the inning on a single by Melina Wilkison to increase the lead to 5-1.
• Otte’s second extra base hit of the game, a home run to center, in the seventh inning increased the Buckeyes lead to 6-1.

Home Opener This Week

The Buckeyes will host Indiana in a Big Ten Conference series to open its home schedule this weekend. Game times are 4 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Buckeye Field. Admission for all games is free.

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