The Ohio State softball team is starting to put together a pretty good resume early on during the 2023 campaign. And while the pre-Big Ten season has been really good, the Buckeyes will need to continue the momentum through the conference to make the NCAA Tournament and make for an even more memorable 2023.
That journey started on Sunday with a doubleheader against rival Michigan at Buckeye Field. And while game one didn’t have a scarlet and gray hue to it, the second one was a run-rule blowout by OSU to split the two-game set.
Buy Buckeyes TicketsGame 1 was a low-scoring pitchers’ duel that went into extra innings with Ohio State on the short end of a 3-1 score. Pitcher Allison Smith pitched all ten innings, striking out ten, but was matched by Michigan pitcher Lauren Derkowski who also struck out ten and allowed just six hits. The Wolverines scored two runs in the top of the tenth to take the opener.
Game 2 was a completely different story. The Buckeyes brought the offense, scoring 11 runs, with four coming in the first, and five more coming in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ohio State blasted three home runs and pounded out ten hits in the game to run rule Michigan 11-2.
Sam Hackenbracht, Meggie Otte, and Kaitlyn Farley all had three hits and combined to drive in eight of Ohio State’s 11 runs.
Rivalry win secured ✅#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/78qVHYEiUx
— Ohio State Softball (@OhioStateSB) March 26, 2023
With the win, OSU moves to 19-8 on the season and will take on Michigan once again in the third game of the series on Monday at 4 p.m. at Buckeye Field.
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