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The Ohio State Softball (Official Thread)

OHIO STATE WINS FOURTH STRAIGHT

Morgan Ray had 11 strikeouts

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. –
No. 17/18 Ohio State battled back from an early deficit to claim a 5-1 win over CSUN Wednesday afternoon at Matador Diamond. The Buckeyes improve to 17-2 overall with their fourth straight victory while the Matadors drop to 10-18.

IN A NUTSHELL

A leadoff home run to right field by Savannah Horvath put the Matadors on the board in the bottom of the first. RHP Morgan Raybounced back and made her way out of the frame on three swinging strikeouts.

Back-to-back walks and a bunt single by Bailee Sturgeon stacked the bases for the Buckeyes in the top of the second. Next up, Lilli Piper had an RBI single through the left side to tie the game at 1-1. On the following play, Emily Clark reached on an error by the shortstop and advanced to third on the throw while three runs came in for a 4-1 lead.

Ohio State added another tally in the fourth. Taylor White reached on an error by the right fielder and turned on the burners to make her way to third base before Piper had a sac fly to bring her in.

IN THE CIRCLE

Ray tossed her seventh complete game on her way to win No. 11 of the season. She dominated the circle as she sat down 11 batters, just one strikeout shy of her career high. Ray allowed two hits and one run during her time on the rubber.

The Buckeyes conclude their Spring Break at the Easton Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton Mar. 16-18. Ohio State will face the Titans, Grand Canyon, CSUN and Oklahoma.

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/031418aaa.html
 
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Ladies went 2-2 over the weekend beating Fullerton and Cal St Northridge but losing to Grand Canyon and #5 Oklahoma

Now sitting at 19-4 and start conference play vs. Indiana this weekend
 
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PIPER TABBED AS B1G PLAYER OF THE WEEK

It is the second time Piper has received the weekly honor

COLUMBUS, Ohio –
California was good to junior shortstop Lilli Piper, who earned her second Big Ten Player of the Week accolade of the season, the conference announced on Monday.

Piper started all seven games last week and led the team in nearly every category with a .565 batting average, 13 hits, nine RBI, eight runs, three homers, 1.043 slugging percentage, .577 on-base percentage and 1.000 fielding percentage. She had at least one hit in six games and added four multi-RBI games. During a three-game stretch, she was a perfect 9-for-9 with five runs, five RBI, two doubles and a home run.

The Norton, Ohio native went the distance three times, starting with a two-run homer in the second game at Loyola Marymount. She followed it up on a three-run shot against Grand Canyon before drilling another two-run home run versus CSUN. Piper is responsible for 12 of Ohio State’s 29 home runs this season.

Piper ranks in the top 5 nationally in multiple categories. She is fourth in home runs (12) while standing fifth in RBIs per game (1.43), runs per game (1.26), slugging percentage (1.012) and total bases (85). She is also 15th with 33 RBI and 35th in batting average (.452). Each of the marks also leads the team and Big Ten. Piper currently has 11 games with multiple hits and 12 outings with multiple runs batted in.

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/031918aaa.html
 
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SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR INDIANA SERIES

Buckeyes will now play a doubleheader on Friday, first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio –
Due to forecasted weather, the schedule for Ohio State’s Big Ten opening weekend at Indiana has been adjusted. The Buckeyes and Hoosiers will now play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 2 p.m. ET. There will be no game Saturday and the series will conclude at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/032118aaa.html
 
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BIG TEN PLAY STARTS AT INDIANA THIS WEEKEND

Buckeyes open three-game series at 2 p.m. ET Friday


COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 18/19 Ohio State kicks off Big Ten action this weekend with a three-game series at Indiana. The Buckeyes will play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 2 p.m. ET before concluding the series Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The games will be streamed on BTN Plus via BTN2Go.

SCOUTING REPORT - Indiana

2018 Record: 7-21

Last Weekend: Hosted the Hoosier Classic where the team went 3-2 with two wins over UIC. Split with UW-Green Bay and lost to Northwestern.

Top Hitter: Gabbi Jenkins, .367, 33 hits, 14 runs, 8 runs

Top Pitcher: Tara Trainer, 3-11, 73.2 IP, 3.80 ERA, 86 Ks

SERIES HISTORY

The Buckeyes are 47-58-2 in the all-time series with the Hoosiers. When the two teams met a season ago, Ohio State won a Sunday rubber match, 8-2, to claim the series. The Buckeyes scored in every inning and hit five home runs in the deciding game, including homers from Ashley Goodwin, Lilli Piper and Emily Clark.

IN A NUTSHELL
  • Ohio State is 19-4 overall after going 8-3 during its nine days in California for Spring Break.
  • Lilli Piper earned her second Big Ten honor of the season when she was named the conference’s player of the week on Mar. 19. Piper started all seven games last week and led the team in nearly every category with a .565 batting average, 13 hits, nine RBI, eight runs, three homers, 1.043 slugging percentage, .577 on-base percentage and 1.000 fielding percentage. She had at least one hit in six games and added four multi-RBI games. During a three-game stretch, she was a perfect 9-for-9 with five runs, five RBI, two doubles and a home run.
  • Piper ranks in the top five nationally in multiple categories. She is fourth in home runs (12) while standing fifth in RBIs per game (1.43), runs per game (1.26), slugging percentage (1.012) and total bases (85). She is also 15th with 33 RBI and 35th in batting average (.452). Each of the marks also leads the team and Big Ten. Piper currently has 11 games with multiple hits and 12 outings with multiple runs batted in.
  • In the circle, the 1-2 punch of Shelby McCombs and Morgan Ray have logged nearly every inning this year. The duo has 147 strikeouts over 154.2 innings of work. Ray ranks seventh in the Big Ten with a 1.49 ERA and McCombs is 14th (2.68).
B1G NOTES

The Buckeyes rank in the top five in the conference in batting average (.265), slugging percentage (.473), doubles (40), home runs (29), earned run average (2.07) and fielding percentage (.970).

Individually, Lilli Piper stands first in batting average (.452), slugging percentage (1.012), runs scored (29), runs batted in (33), home runs (12) while coming in second in on-base percentage (.478) and doubles (9). She’s also third in total bases (85) and fourth in hits (38). Morgan Ray has held opponents to a .168 batting average, the second-lowest total among Big Ten pitchers. She is tied for third with 86 strikeouts and 11 wins.

Taylor White: EXCELLENCE OFF THE FIELD

Senior Taylor White was named one of 30 candidates nationwide for the Senior CLASS Award on Mar. 15. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. Outside of softball, White has found a passion for helping others. On campus, she founded an organization called S.H.E.R.O.E.S., which stands for Sisters Helping Everyone Reach Opportunity for Success. Its goal is to empower African-American student-athletes on campus and create a close-knit, supportive environment. This past fall, she planned an ESPNW event on campus that included student-athletes and coaches from all of Ohio State’s female teams. White is a member of the dean’s list as a sport industry major and is set to graduate in May. She is also the recipient of the Miechelle Willis Academic Achievement Award recognizing students who have constantly strived to improve their academics.

ROAD TRIPPIN’

Ohio State has spent the first six weeks of the 2018 season on the road and has played 23 games thus far. The weekend series with Indiana will push the Buckeyes past the halfway mark of the season. The team is 12-3 in neutral site contests and 7-1 in away games.

EXTRA INNINGS

Through 23 games, Ohio State was pushed to extra innings six times, including four straight. The Buckeyes put up 24 hits, 17 RBI and seven home runs in those games on their way to a 3-1 mark during the four-game stretch. OSU only went past seven innings in four games a season ago.

WALK IT OFF

The Buckeyes have done some of their best work late in games this season. The squad has tallied six comeback wins, two of which have been walk-off victories. Four games were decided on walk-off hits, including a pair by Lilli Piper on a single and home run. Niki Carver has a walk-off single and Shelby McCombs delivered a walk-off homer earlier in the campaign.

SWING FOR THE FENCE

Through 23 games, Ohio State has connected on 29 home runs. The Buckeyes have recorded at least one home run in 18 of 23 games and has two games with three homers.

MILESTONE WATCH

Lilli Piper recorded her 100th hit in Scarlet & Gray against Cal State Fullerton on Mar. 11. In the same game, Taylor White tallied the 100th run of her career. Emily Clark has already surpassed one milestone as she recorded the 100th hit of her career against Northern Illinois on Feb. 10. She has driven in 92 runs and is on track to cross the 100-RBI plateau. Ashley Goodwin is just seven hits away from reaching 100 for her career while White has 97 RBI.

RANKING NEWS

Ohio State checks in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll at No. 18. The squad moved to No. 19 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll. The Buckeyes have been receiving votes or ranked in both polls every week thus far.

UP NEXT

Ohio State will host Kentucky for its home opener Wednesday, Mar. 28 at 6 p.m. ET.

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/032218aab.html
 
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Indiana finished off the sweep 4-1 this past Sunday. Ladies are now 19-7 (0-3 B1G Play)

Ladies dropped to #24 in this week's poll.

Host Kentucky this Wednesday and then Wisconsin comes to town for 3

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MCCOMBS STYMIES WISCONSIN FOR 7-0 SHUTOUT

The right-handed pitcher also hit her first career grand slam

COLUMBUS, Ohio –
RHP Shelby McCombs had an impressive day on both sides of the ball for No. 24 Ohio State with eight strikeouts and a grand slam in a 7-0 shutout of Wisconsin (16-13, 2-2 B1G) Sunday afternoon at Buckeye Field. The win clinched the series, 2-1, for the Scarlet & Gray, who are 21-8 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten play.

MCCOMBS IN CONTROL

McCombs picked up her first shutout victory and fourth complete game win of the season. She struck out eight Badgers to claim her ninth triumph while going 2-for-2 at the plate with a career-high two runs and four RBI.

IN A NUTSHELL
  • The Badgers stacked the bags on three walks but McCombs delivered a nasty change up, getting the batter to chase for the inning-ending strikeout in the second.
  • Ashley Goodwin opened the home half of the second with a leadoff single up the middle and made her way to second base on a wild pitch. After Andi Farrah entered as a pinch runner, McCombs walked and a pitch hit Niki Carver to load the bases. Kallie Boren came up with a sacrifice fly to bring Farrah in.
  • It was Goodwin again that got the Buckeyes going as she faced nine pitches to draw a walk. Next up, McCombs singled and advanced to third on a fielding error by the right fielder while Goodwin bolted home. Boren kept the runs coming with a RBI single up the middle.
  • The Buckeyes jammed the bases in the bottom of the fifth on a single by Bailee Sturgeon, walk for Lilli Piper and fielding error by the third baseman that helped Emily Clark get on. Ohio State brought Amy Balich in as a pinch runner and Wisconsin decided to switch pitchers. The pitching change did not faze McCombs, who blasted the ball over the right field wall for the first grand slam of her career.
  • Wisconsin tried to get going in the top of the seventh with a double to left center but a fly out and swinging strikeout closed the contest.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Sturgeon was 2-for-3 with one run while Boren had two RBI, one hit and a walk on Sunday.
  • McCombs hit .667, tallied six hits, six RBI, three runs, two homers, a 1.333 slugging percentage and .700 on base percentage during the series.
  • Piper (.444) and Sturgeon (.400) both had four hits against the Badgers over three games. Piper also added two runs and a RBI.
  • Ohio State has three grand slams this season thanks to Clark (2) and McCombs (1).
UP NEXT

The Buckeyes are back on the road to face Rutgers Apr. 6-8 for three games in Piscataway, N.J.

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/040118aac.html
 
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