Ohio State senior shortstop Lilli Piper (22) celebrates after coming home safely in a game against Indiana on March 24 at Buckeye Field. Credit: Gretchen Rudolph | For The Lantern
The Ohio State softball team won its third straight game in a 5-2 extra-inning win against Pittsburgh (5-29) 5-2, recording 10 hits and four walks.
Early on, Ohio State thrived defensively, ending the first inning with a diving catch by freshman right fielder Kaitlyn Coffman, while senior pitcher Morgan Ray recorded two swinging strikeouts at the end of the second and third inning.
The Buckeyes got on board at the beginning of the fourth inning. Junior outfielder Andi Farrah doubled down the left field line, scoring sophomore outfielder Summer Constable.
In the fifth inning, Coffman homered to left center, her sixth of the season, extending the lead to 2-0
The Panthers soon caught up and tied the game with a two-run homer by senior first baseman Gabrielle Fredericks in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Ray finished the game allowing two runs on three hits, striking out five in 5.2 innings pitched.
With the game tied heading into the ninth inning Ohio State senior second baseman Emily Clark hit a two-run homer over the left field wall. Freshman Ashley Prange extended the Buckeyes’ lead to 5-2 with another home run in the ninth.
Freshman center fielder Meg Otte was one of two players, along with Prange, with three hits in four at bats.
The win brings Ohio State to 21-10 on the year with a 5-1 record in the Big Ten.
Ohio State will start a three-game series against Rutgers. The first game will start at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a game at 2 p.m. Saturday, with the final game of the series at 1 p.m. Sunday.
