CHRISTIAN LAUTENSCHLEGER/THE LANTERNOhio State junior Sam Marder touches home plate after hitting a home run during the second game of a doubleheader against Ball State Wednesday. OSU won 4-0.The Buckeyes made fools of the Cardinals, sweeping the double header with Ball State and improving their overall record to 26-6, 5-1 at Buckeye Field.
The Buckeyes, coming off of a 12-4 conference loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes, relied on senior captain Kim Reeder to get back on track. Reeder (13-3) struck out three, walked two and gave up one run on three hits over five innings pitched.
Ohio State added five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and went on to beat the Cardinals by mercy-rule 9-1 in the fifth inning of game one.
Sam Marder, who earlier in the day was named a Top 25 Finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, led the Buckeyes’ offensive charge, knocking in three runs on two home runs.
“I honestly don’t really think about [the accolades], I am more concerned about how our team is doing, and our team is doing great,” said the junior catcher Marder.
Marder started the series for the Buckeyes by smashing a leadoff homerun in the first inning of game one of the double header.
“It felt good, we really wanted to come out today and make a statement that we were not going to worry about last week,” Marder said.
Lindsay Bodeker got the start from the circle in game two and helped lead the Buckeyes to a 4-0 victory. Bodeker, the sophomore pitcher, scattered four hits over seven innings, adding eight strikeouts.
While Cardinals coach Craig Nicholson and the rest of the coaching staff seemed to be occupied with the calls from behind the plate, the Buckeyes’ consistent pitching and strong defensive play led them to victory.
“We know we have a great defense behind us and that gives us confidence,” Bodeker said.
Not to disappoint in the second game, Marder hit her Big Ten-leading 14th home run, breaking things open for OSU in the second inning.
The Buckeyes begin a four-game conference road trip facing the Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-1) April 4 and 5. They then travel south to finish the road trip with a double header Wednesday, April 8 in Bloomington, Ind. against the Hoosiers (1-3), before returning home for the dedication of the new Buckeye Field on Saturday, April 11 against the Fighting Illini.
Click here to view a slideshow from the double header.
Evan Winkofsky can be reached at [email protected].
