University of Minnesota Athletics
Softball Swept by Ohio State, fall 13-5
4/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Columbus, Ohio - On a rainy day at Buckeye Field, the Minnesota softball team drew within three runs in the fifth inning, but #19 Ohio State eventually put it away with a five-run sixth for the 13-5 final.
Minnesota (15-31, 1-11) scored runs in each inning from the second through the fifth, but it was not enough to offset the big innings from Ohio State (30-11, 9-1). The Buckeyes opened the game with a four-run first, and added four more in the fourth before their five-run sixth to end the game. Ohio State also won 2-1 over Minnesota earlier today (Apr. 25).
The Gophers' losing streak hits 11, their longest since a 12-game skid in the 1994 season. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, win for the ninth straight time, with their only loss in league play as a 3-2 defeat to Illinois.
Ohio State scored four runs in the first inning off of five hits, with the bulk of the damage done off of a Alicia Herron two-run home run. Minnesota answered in the next half inning with a lead-off home run from Whitney Erickson (San Ramon, Calif.), her third in the maroon and gold and first since Mar. 21.
The Gophers' added runs in the third in and fourth, closing to within 4-3 before the Buckeyes broke out again in the bottom of the fourth. Again it was the long-ball doing the damage, this time as a two-out grand slam from Sam Marder, after starter Alissa Koch (Racine, Wis.) walked the bases loaded.
Koch pitched 5.2 innings allowing 13 runs, all earned, off of 12 hits. She struck out four and walked four on the day, and falls to 0-17 on the season.
Trailing 8-3 to start the fifth, a Heidi Carls (Villard, Minn.) infield single turned into two runs after Kelsey Klucas (Aitkin, Minn.) and Allie Siu (Maple Grove, Minn.) each scored off of an error from the Buckeye second baseman.
Once again, though, Ohio State answered, this time with a win sealing five run sixth to end the game after six innings.
Malisa Barnes (Phoenix, Ariz.) went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI to lead the offense, as the Gophers collected six hits on the day. Erickson finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, on the strength of her second inning homer. Alex Davis (Harbor City, Calif.) went 1-for-2 in the game, to break out of a short three-game hitless slump.
Minnesota will look to right the ship next weekend against Purdue, and will get to do so at home, as they start a six-game homestand in the final stretch of the season. The Gophers and Boilermakers will square off at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on May 1 and 2, with each game set for a 1:00 p.m. start.
After the Purdue series, Minnesota will host Iowa May 8-9, before closing out the home season with a midweek doubleheader with Wisconsin, May 12.
