March 28, 2008
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Columbus, OH – Ohio State scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-3, comeback win over the University of Iowa Friday night in the first Big Ten contest of the season. The Hawkeyes grabbed a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh, but couldn’t hold on for the victory.
Ohio State plated two runs in the first inning to take an early lead. Two Buckeye singles, a Hawkeye error and an intentional walk loaded the bases with no outs. Karisa Medrano then drew a walk to score the first run and a fielder’s choice from Whitney Cooper allowed the second Buckeye runner to score.
Iowa cut into the Buckeye lead with a run in the fifth inning. Junior Colleen McGlaughlin doubled to start the frame and junior Callie Adreon took her place at second. Adreon moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior Summer Downs and scored on an RBI groundout off the bat of Quinn Morelock.
The Hawkeyes stormed back in their last at-bat to take a 3-2 lead. Sophomore Katie Brown took the first pitch of the inning and drilled a double to right field, missing a home run by inches. She was replaced at second by sophomore Heidi Daumen, who scored the tying run on an RBI double by McGlaughlin. McGlaughlin then moved to third on a groundout by Morelock and sophomore Taylor Leichsenring dug in with two outs. She slapped a slow bunt to the pitcher’s circle and beat out the throw, allowing McGlaughlin to score the go-ahead run.
Ohio State spoiled Iowa’s upset bid in the bottom of the seventh. Sam Marder started the inning with a game-tying solo home run to straight-away center. Marder had been intentionally walked twice and drew another walk in her third at-bat of the game. Tory Haddad was then hit by a pitch, followed by a Karisa Medrano single. Both runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball with one out in the inning. Rachael Shepherd then hit a sharp ground ball to freshman Chelsey Carmody at second, who fired a perfect throw home to senior Emily Nichols and the tag was applied for the second out of the inning.
Ohio State won the game on a slap single to center by Liz Caputo that was nearly caught by a diving Lindsey Digmann in center, but the ball dropped to the grass, allowing the winning run to score.
“You can’t fault the kids’ effort,” Head Coach Gayle Blevins said. “They fought hard throughout the game and got the lead late. They played hard and stuck with it until the end. We just have to come out tomorrow like we finished tonight.”
McGlaughlin was clutch for the Hawkeyes offensively, finishing 2-2 with two doubles and RBI. Carmody collected two hits and played outstanding, defensively, in her first career Big Ten contest. Junior Brittany Weil falls to 12-9 after the loss. She allowed two earned runs on eight hits while striking out two.
Saturday’s rematch has been moved to a noon (CDT) start time in Columbus. Cold temperatures are set to move into the Columbus area overnight and the game was moved to allow for warmer temperatures at game time.