COLUMBUS, Ohio – It was another close game between Rutgers and Ohio State softball on Sunday at Buckeye Field as it took nine innings for Ohio State to take the series in a 4-3 win.

Rutgers took a 2-0 lead off Payton Lincavage's fourth home run of the weekend series, however, the hosts came back with a pair of runs in the fourth to tie the game. The Buckeyes claimed a 3-2 edge in the sixth, but a miscue by Ohio State in the top of the seventh allowed Rutgers to score and force extra innings. The Buckeyes, however, captured the game-winning run with one out in the seventh to claim the series two games to one.

Rutgers falls to 30-14 on the year and 7-4 in the Big Ten while Ohio State improves to 23-13 and 4-5 in conference.

Ohio State 4, Rutgers 3 - 9 innings

• Payton Lincavage was 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a pair of runs scored.
• Kyleigh Sand went 2-for-4 with a stolen base.
• Jaden Vickers began the game inside the circle tossing 5.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts. Morgan Smith, meanwhile, fell to 4-4, hurling the final three innings and recording two strikeouts.

• Payton Lincavage sent home run number four of the series over the wall in left to break up the scoreless stalemate. Her eighth home run of the year also scored Lauren Punk.
• The hosts tied the score at 2-2 in the fourth. A Destinee Noury double to deep center and Jaycee Ruberti single into right-center scored two for the Buckeyes.
• A trio of hits resulted in Ohio State taking the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Sam Hackenbracht opened with a single to left, advanced to third on a Meggie Otte single to center and scored off a Noury single to right to give the Buckeyes a 3-2 advantage.
• Rutgers tied up the game in the seventh. With two outs and runners on first and second, Katie Wingert hit a grounder to second. The ball was bobbled in trying to get Morgan Smith out at second base allowing Smith to take the base, while Payton Lincavage rounded third on the misplay to score to knot the score at 3-3.
• The Buckeyes took the game in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Melina Wilkison's triple to left field scored on the next batter as Kami Kortokrax dropped the ball into left.

• Payton Lincavage totaled four home runs in the series with Ohio State. With 17 career home runs, Lincavage is one home run away from cracking the top 10 career leader list. With eight over-the-wall hits in 2023, Lincavage is also one home run away from cracking the season top 10 list.
• Rutgers, who entered the week second in the Big Ten and just outside the top 50 nationally in double plays, turned its 16th double play of the season.

Rutgers softball is on the road again next weekend at Penn State. The Scarlet Knights and Nittany Lions begin a three-game series on Friday, April 14.