The No. 17 Buckeyes look to take the momentum of a doubleheader sweep of the Ball State Cardinals into this weekend’s Big Ten match-up against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday and Sunday.
Ohio State (26-6) will attempt to spoil Minnesota’s home opener at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium as the team visits the Twin Cities for the first time since April 27, 2008. On that day the Buckeyes and the Golden Gophers split a doubleheader; both games were settled by one run.
Minnesota holds the advantage in the all-time series, 55-34, against the Buckeyes.
The Golden Gophers are 20-19 and tied with the Buckeyes (3-1) in Big Ten play. Both teams are coming off a split in their last conference series. The Buckeyes split a home series against Iowa on March 28 and 29.
OSU will turn to right-handed senior captain Kim Reeder (13-3) and junior Lindsay Bodeker (9-3) to attempt another sweep from the circle.
Kim Reeder, in her two conference starts, is undefeated and has held opponents scoreless through 13 and two-thirds innings. Bodeker, whose ERA is 1.43 for the season, has struggled in conference play with a 1-1 record and a 6.39 ERA.
A couple junior captains, Sam Marder and right-fielder Courtney Pruner, will head the Buckeye offensive assault.
Marder, the catcher, leads OSU in hits, RBIs and homeruns. Pruner is second on the team, behind Marder, in homeruns, RBIs and total bases. Marder and Pruner will do their best against the NCAA leader in strikeouts, senior pitcher Briana Hassett. Hassett has struck out a career high 291 batters.
Saturday’s game is the beginning of a four-game conference road trip for the Buckeyes. The Gophers face a tough stretch of their own as the No. 17 Buckeyes are the first of six straight contests against nationally ranked opponents.
Evan Winkofsky can be reached at [email protected].
