The Ohio State softball team ended its 2021 campaign on a high note by beating Michigan State 5-0 on Sunday, resulting in a series-winning three out of the four-game set with the Spartans.
In this one, the difference was OSU’s ability to get key hits and bring runners home, while Michigan State stranded a few runners on base and was unable to keep pace. Credit has to be given to pitcher Allison Smith who had a knack for making the big pitch when it mattered to keep the Spartans off balance and off the board. She went all but one out and gave up just four hits. Payton Buresch finished the game off to seal the victory.
On offense, Ohio State got all of its scoring in two innings. Meggie Otte got the scoring going with a two-run single with the bases loaded in the second inning. Then, in the fifth inning, Niki Carver picked up an RBI single, followed by a bases-loaded hit by pitch to Taylor Pack. Otte then wrapped up the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗣: No better way to celebrate our seniors than with a 5-0 series-clinching victory.#GoBuckeyes https://t.co/hM9FgRO5pg
— Ohio State Softball (@OhioStateSB) May 16, 2021
With the win, the Buckeyes finish the season with a 24-19. In a conference-only schedule, OSU beat every opponent on its schedule at least once, but didn’t do quite enough to get an invite to the NCAA Tournament.
At least the seniors were sent out the correct way. Now it’s time to build on the finish and look forward to next year.
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