The No. 19/23 Ohio State softball team (30-11) remained perfect at home as it took both ends of its two-game series against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
OSU beat the Gophers 2-1 on Saturday night and 13-5 on Sunday afternoon.
Despite cloudy skies and unpredictable rain showers, 554 came to watch the OSU softball team Saturday night. Umbrellas came out during the second inning before the game was called after the fourth inning with the Buckeyes up 2-1.
The rest of the game continued 11 a.m. Sunday. The Buckeyes and Gophers finished the game, 2-1, before another rain delay pushed the second game to 12:05 p.m.
“This weekend was back and forth and despite their record, Minnesota is a good team,” said All-American catcher Sam Marder.
Senior pitcher Megan Miller came out hot in the second game, as she had two strikeouts in the first inning.
The Buckeyes wasted no time putting the bats to the ball, as they scored four runs in the first inning.
Lead-off hitter Dee Dee Hillman started the rally with a double and Whitney Cooper’s RBI single brought her home. Sophomore shortstop Alicia Herron had a solo home run, as Marder was walked and advanced to second with Leah Ledford’s single. Freshman Megan Coletta had an RBI single, scoring Marder for a 4-0 lead.
The Gophers answered with a run in the second and third innings before another rain delay stopped play.
After the rain delay, the Gophers took advantage of the half-asleep Buckeyes, scoring another run.
But the Buckeyes battled back. Marder hit a grand slam on the first pitch she saw with two outs in the bottom of the fourth.
“Every time I get a chance to hit I want to come through for my team as best that I can do,” Marder said.
At game two, 461 people were at Buckeye Field with raincoats to watch the Buckeyes pull out the win (13-5).
“Our kids love playing at home and in front of our crowd,” coach Linda Kalafatis said. “We spend so much of the preseason on the road. I think it gives them more energy to play in front of Buckeye fans, some of the best fans in the country.”
Up next, the Buckeyes face rival Michigan at home Wednesday for a doubleheader.
