The Ohio State softball team is figuring it out right when it matters most as the season winds down in the Big Ten. To date, it’s been a mixed bag, but this weekend was a resounding success.
After sweeping a doubleheader on Friday against Illinois on the road, the Buckeyes dropped game one, but rebounded to win the second of a doubleheader on Saturday to take three of four total from the Illini.
In the first game Saturday, Illinois used a four-run fourth inning to break things open and cruised to a 7-2 victory.
The night-cap was more of a pitching battle. The Illini took a 1-0 lead into the top of the sixth inning, but then the heroics were supplied by Ashley Prange when she connected on a 2-and-2 pitch to send it over the left-field wall with Carley Gaskill on base and two outs.
Big moment, big hit for @a_prange❗#Buckeyes take a 2-1 lead in the 6th. 💪#GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/OvbGivrYf7
— Ohio State Softball (@OhioStateSB) May 8, 2021
That gave OSU the 2-1 lead, and pitcher Allison Smith shut things down from there for the one-run victory.
With the split, Ohio State’s record moves to 21-18. At this moment, OSU sits in eighth place in the league, but just a game and a half out of fourth place because of how bunched up teams four through eight are. There are more games in the league between teams bunched up with the Buckeyes to be played Sunday, all while Ohio State sits idle.
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