Ohio State Walks Off On Northwestern, 2-1

Sunday, April 9

Columbus, Ohio

11:00 AM

Northwestern

25-9, 6-1

Ohio State

23-14, 5-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Northwestern	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	8	4
Ohio State	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	7	0

Ohio State Walks Off On Northwestern, 2-1

4/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 9, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- No. 15 Northwestern made a late comeback Sunday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader at Ohio State, but the Buckeyes got a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 2-1 decision over the Wildcats.

The loss snaps Northwestern's eight-game winning streak dating back to March 26 and a 3-2 win over then-No. 1 UCLA. The Wildcats now are 25-9 overall on the year, 6-1 in the Big Ten. Ohio State improves to 5-2 in the conference and 23-14 overall with the win.

Ohio State opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with a two-out, solo home run to left that bounced off the top of the fence and over for a 1-0 Buckeye lead.

Northwestern created scoring chances for itself several times early in the game without the benefit of run. In the first, juniors Katie Logan (Tempe, Ariz./Corona del Sol) and Garland Cooper (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) strung together back-to-back singles, but were stranded. In the fourth, senior Jamie Dotson (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill) clubbed a two-out double off the wall, but again no runs scored.

In the top of the fifth, senior Ashley Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake) hit a rocket with intentions of a double down the first-base line, but the OSU first-baseman jabbed her glove in the air and tipped the ball toward the second-baseman, who was able to get Crane at the bag.

In the top of the sixth, Northwestern broke through the tie the game. Logan stroked a one-out single up the middle, then advanced to third when Cooper hit a lofty single into left-center field. With two outs, Dotson dumped a flare behind the third-baseman that was gloved by the shortstop, but not in enough time to throw out Dotson at first. Logan got to the plate to knot the score, 1-1.

Northwestern loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning, but again had trouble getting a run home. Freshman Erin Dyer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) led off the frame with a double into the left-centerfield gap. She moved to third on a single into right by Crane, who then stole second. Sophomore Darcy Sengewald (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) then loaded the bases with a four-pitch walk.

Ohio State replaced starter Jamee Juarez with lefthander Courtney Pruner in the circle after the base on balls. Pruner then set down the next three Wildcats with strikeouts to end the inning. Northwestern stranded eight runners in the game.

The Buckeyes took advantage, ending the game with a walk-off solo homer in the bottom of the seventh.

Logan, Cooper and Dotson all collected a pair of hits in the game for Northwestern.

Canney took the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts. She falls to 11-5 on the season.

Northwestern committed four errors in the game, but recovered to allow no runs resulting from the miscues.