Ohio State softball ends season on high note by beating Michigan State

The Ohio State softball team beat Michigan State on senior day to take the weekend series and end the season on a high note.

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.

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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Ohio State softball finishes its time in Fresno with a win over UIC

The Ohio State softball team beat UIC Sunday to finish the Fresno State Invitational 3-2.

The Ohio State softball team had a topsy-turvy time in Fresno Invitational, but it ended on a high note Sunday with a 4-3 win over UIC.

Avery Clark got the scoring started for Ohio State with a two-run double in the top of the 3rd inning. The Flames got a solo homer in the bottom of the inning, but that was all, and the Buckeyes held on to a 2-1 lead after 3 innings of play.

The 4th inning had the bulk of the scoring. OSU got two more when Meg Otte doubled home a run, followed by Andi Farrah’s RBI single, and suddenly the Buckeyes opened a 4-1 lead. But then UIC came back with two runs of their own to keep things close at 4-3, and that’s where the scoring would end.

There weren’t too many more opportunities by either team the rest of the way, and the Buckeyes finished out the tournament with three wins to two losses.

Righty Payton Buresch pitched a complete game, giving up just one earned run on six hits, while recording five strikeouts. She finished the tournament 3-0 with a 1.70 ERA and now has a record of 5-3 on the year.

Ohio State is now 6-7 on the year and will have a week off before heading to the Arizona State Invitational from March 6-9.

 

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