Ohio State's Kim Reeder No-Hits UAB in 3-1 Victory
Sophomore sends Buckeyes past host Blazers; Marder drives in game-winning run
March 3, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Sophomore Kim Reeder pitched her first career no-hitter to lead the Ohio State softball team to a 3-1 win at Alabama-Birmingham Saturday in the Magic City Classic at UAB's George Ward Park. The Buckeyes (6-6) took advantage of four errors by the Blazers (11-9) and helped Reeder (Salinas, Calif./Notre Dame H.S.) strand 10 UAB base runners.
If a no-hitter can be termed unusual, it certainly was for Reeder Saturday. She struck out eight, but walked eight, hit a batter, and saw three UAB hitters reach by error. Reeder walked or hit at least one UAB batter in every inning but one, but nevertheless improves to 4-2 this season and rewrites her career-best outing, which had been four separate three-hitters.
"It wasn't exactly the way I would want my first no-hitter to go, but we pushed through it and stayed tough," Reeder said. "We weren't able to do that the first game today and we needed to bounce back. We got a win, that's what counts. When there are runners on base, I just pretend it's like a leadoff situation. In the back of my mind I know they're there, but I just focus on getting an out and just play my normal game."
UAB left-hander starter Jennifer Nelson (9-3), a second-team All-Conference USA selection last year and on her way to surpass her 2006 win total of 15, struck out 12 Buckeyes and scattered five hits, but two of them came in the fifth inning when her defense also committed three errors and put Ohio State in position to win.
Coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss to Samford earlier Saturday, the Buckeyes posted their second come-from behind win of the season in the nightcap against the Classic hosts.
"I thought Kim was throwing hard today and UAB's pitcher was a tough match-up for us," Linda Kalafatis, Ohio State head coach, said. "(OSU assistant coach) Ali Viola huddled them together and told them don't give up, we have to fight harder, and the kids responded with some back-to-back hits and we forced UAB into making some mistakes. I told the team we're not playing our best but you have to win ugly games, too. Hopefully we find a way to win again tomorrow. I thought Kim did a great job of throwing when things around her happening and they were getting a lot of base runners. She was able to bear down and kept coming up with big pitches."
OSU freshman Sam Marder (Calabasas, Calif./Calabasas) drove in the go-ahead run in the fourth inning with a two-out RBI single to left, scoring senior Nycole Koyano (Walnut, Calif./Walnut), who had reached on an error by the UAB first baseman. The Buckeyes added another run in the frame thanks to an RBI single by sophomore Courtney Pruner (Akron, Ohio/Ellet).
UAB took a 1-0 lead on an unearned run in the second inning from two OSU errors sandwiched around a walk.
The Buckeyes tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning when Marder and senior Megan Schwab (Glendale, Ariz./Sunrise Mountain) singled and senior Jamee Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) walked to load the bases for freshman Tory Haddad (Valparaiso, Calif./Fort Walton Beach), who grounded to third base, bringing in pinch-runner Michelle Reynolds-Parra (So., Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor).
Ohio State plays twice Sunday on the final day of the Magic City Classic. The Buckeyes face Birmingham-Southern (6-9) at 10 a.m. (CT) and UAB at noon (CT).
### Go Bucks! ###
