COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 6, 2019) – Rutgers softball (17-18, 1-7) scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning and held on for an 8-6 Big Ten victory over Ohio State (22-11, 6-2) in extra innings on Saturday afternoon at Buckeye Field.
The victory is Rutgers' first over Ohio State since 2015, as the Buckeyes now lead the all-time Big Ten series 13-2 since the beginning of 2015. The win disrupted a 12-game streak by Ohio State in the series.
The triumph was Rutgers' highest RPI win – Ohio State is No. 33 this week – since a 3-1 victory over Hofstra (RPI 33) on March 27, 2014.
QUICK PITCH
- In a game with three lead changes and two tie scores, the Scarlet Knights outslugged the Buckeyes, who are receiving votes in both major national Top 25 polls. Senior shortstop Jess Hughes and freshman catcher Katie Wingert each hit go-ahead home runs in the sixth and eighth innings, respectively, and freshman starter Corah Price and senior reliever Whitney Jones were effective in the circle to preserve the win.
STANDOUT STATS
- Hughes was 2-for-3 with a double and her seventh home run, driving in three in the process.
- Including Hughes, five Scarlet Knights had multi-hit performances. Junior third baseman Anyssa Iliopoulos (2-for-3) had two walks and scored twice, freshman second baseman Aleah Marra (2-for-3) scored a run, junior first baseman Nicole Bowman (2-for-4) smashed her second triple of the year while scoring and recording an RBI, and sophomore Myah Moy (2-for-2) had an RBI.
- Price allowed five hits and walk during her five innings with four strikeouts. Two of the four runs scored on her watch were earned, and she did not factor into the decision.
- Jones pitched the final three frames and improved to 8-12 on the year with four hits and two walks while allowing one earned run.
THE RUNDOWN
- Ohio State took and held an early lead with a pair of two-out home runs. A two-run shot in the bottom of the first went down as unearned runs after a three-base error eventually allowed the frame to continue. The Buckeyes added a solo homer for the 3-1 lead in the second inning.
- Rutgers got on the board in the top half of the second as junior first baseman Nicole Bowman drew a walk and junior left fielder Hailey Hoklotubbe connected on an inside-out swing that dunked into the opposite field for the lefty slapper. That set up the RBI single for sophomore Myah Moy and Rutgers' first run against Ohio State during the weekend series.
- Following the second inning OSU home run, Rutgers again had an answer. Junior third baseman Anyssa Iliopoulos led off the third with a single, freshman catcher Katie Wingert walked, and freshman second baseman Aleah Marra sacrificed them both into scoring position with a bunt. Sophomore right fielder Erin Collins made it 3-2 with her hard sacrifice lineout to left, sending Iliopoulos home.
- Freshman pitcher Corah Price worked a 1-2-3 in the third, allowing Rutgers' to tie the game at 3-3 in the fourth on senior shortstop Jess Hughes' RBI double.
- Ohio State went back ahead, 4-3, in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of base hits, but not for long. Hughes stepped up to the plate in the sixth with one out and a runner on, and launched the first pitch she saw over the center field wall for the 5-4 lead.
- The Buckeyes wouldn't go away, hitting a game-tying solo home run in the home half of the sixth.
- Hughes' biggest play of the game was arguable with the leather in the field. With the bases loaded, two outs, and the potential walk-off run 60 feet away, a groundball had eyes for center field. Hughes laid out for the stop as her momentum carried her toward second base, where she applied the tag for the force out to end the inning and send the game to extras.
- Iliopoulos doubled with one out in the first extra frame ahead of Wingert, whose 10th home run was a no-doubter to left-center field. Following Marra's single, Bowman launched a triple off the center field wall on the fly for an 8-5 lead.
- Ohio State got one back on an unearned run due to a Rutgers throwing error, but Jones worked an 0-2 count against No. 3 hitter Emily Clark and coaxed a groundout to end the game.
KNIGHT NOTES
- The victory is Rutgers' first over Ohio State since 2015, as the Buckeyes now lead the all-time Big Ten series 13-2 since the beginning of 2015. The win disrupted a 12-game streak by Ohio State in the series.
- Rutgers scored its most runs against the Buckeyes since plating nine in an 11-9 loss on April 9, 2016.
- The triumph was Rutgers' highest RPI win – Ohio State was No. 33 this week – since a 3-1 victory over Hofstra (RPI 33) on March 27, 2014.
- Heading into the game, Buckeye starting pitcher Morgan Ray led the Big Ten in batting average against at .146. Rutgers hit .350 against her (7-for-20).
- Before Hughes' homer in the sixth, Ray had only given up three home runs in 101 innings pitched in 2019.
- Hughes stretched a reached-base safely streak to eight straight games.
- Senior center fielder Nicolette Anico set a new career high in putouts with six.
- Rutgers improves to 8-1 when hitting two home runs in a game.
- Rutgers moves to 13-1 on the year when scoring six or more runs and 14-1 when outhitting an opponent.
UP NEXT
Rutgers and Ohio State conclude the Big Ten series on Sunday, April 7 at 1 p.m. Stay tuned to ScarletKnights.com and @RUSoftball on Twitter for schedule updates, as some inclement weather is expected in the afternoon.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (
www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (
@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers softball, follow the program on Twitter (
@RUSoftball) and Instagram (
@ru_softball). The team is also on Facebook (
facebook.com/RutgersSB). For additional updates, please download the
Gameday App.
- RU -
