Ohio State Downs Belmont, 15-3, in Six Innings

Game two vs. Mercer cancelled due to lightning

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  – The Ohio State softball team defeated Belmont, 15-3, in six innings Saturday in game two at the 2012 TSU Tiger Classic Tournament in Nashville, Tenn. The night game scheduled vs. Mercer was cancelled due to lightning in the Nashville area.

 

The Scarlet and Gray will continue action at their final tournament of the 2012 campaign against St. Bonaventure at 9 a.m. CT Sunday at Tiger Field.

 

Game One: Ohio State 15, Belmont 3 (Six Innings)

Making her first career start as a Buckeye – on St. Patrick’s Day – freshman Olivia O’Reilly had a day to remember, throwing four innings, allowing no runs on three hits and four strikeouts to claim her first career win in game two of the tournament vs. Bruins.

 

Offensively, Ohio State was led by senior captain Alicia Herron who notched two home runs, four runs scored and five RBI – all season highs. Freshman Taylor Watkins collected a season-high three hits with a double and two runs scored, while senior Vanessa Spears was 2-for-4 with a walk and a career-high four runs scored. In all, seven different Buckeyes collected at least one hit vs. the Bruins.

 

With the bases loaded in the top of the first, the Buckeyes made it 2-0 after freshman Caitlin Conrad knocked a fly ball to right field for a sacrifice fly, allowing Spears to score from third. Herron then plated the second run following a throwing error by the Belmont catcher, who overthrew a play at second base.

 

In the top of the third, Herron extended the lead to 5-0 when she blasted a three-run home run over the center field wall. The home run was her 42nd career home run and passes former Buckeye Kristine Himes (2000-03) for second on the OSU all-time home runs list.

 

The Buckeyes then claimed three more runs in the fifth inning led by Herron, who continued her hot bat when she connected on an 0-1 pitch for an opposite field two-run home run. Freshman catcher Shelby Pickett then made it 8-0 when she sent a groundball to the shortstop to score junior pinch runner Alyson Mott for her sixth RBI of the season.

 

The Bruins denied the run-rule victory in five innings for Ohio State with one down in the bottom half after pinch hitter Amanda Buntin sent a double to left center with two runners on base. After one run scored, a Buckeye throwing error allowed both remaining runners to score to make it 8-3.

 

However, Ohio State struck back quickly, batting around the order with seven runs in the sixth inning highlighted by two-run singles by junior Danielle LeBeau and sophomore Melaina Saalfeld. Ten OSU batters got to the plate, combining for five hits vs. Belmont in the inning.

 

Freshman pitcher Alex DiDomenico made her second appearance of 2012, tossing the last two innings of the game, allowing three runs on two hits with one strikeout.