FREDERICK DOUGLASS FIELD (June 30, 2008) – For the first time in history, two Ohio State squads squared off against one another on the softball diamond, resulting in a resounding victory for the veteran team. The Bucks put a 17-4 hurting on the younger, upstart alumni team, with action halting after 6 innings via the mercy rule.
Ohio State jumped on top early and never looked back. Brian Keatts singled with one out in the top of the 1st inning and moved to third base on a double by Lee Abramowitz. Sam Rosner drove home the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly. Dave Busick came through with a two out, RBI double to extend the Buckeye lead to 2-0. That lead was cut in half after 1 inning of play, but the opposition would never get closer
OSU broke open the game with a 9 run 2nd inning. John McClafferty led things off with a double and advanced on a Claire McClafferty single. Jackie Sunderland hit a sharp grounder that proved too hot to handle, allowing the first run to score. Nick Ponder reached base, as did Keatts after drawing a base on balls. Abramowitz drove home two runs with a double. Rosner and Busick also successfully reached base, preceding Danny Muskat’s double to the gap, which drove home two more runs. Kevin Sheen followed with a double of his own, plating two more runs and giving Ohio State an 11-1 advantage.
Holding an 11-3 lead, the Buckeyes added a run in the top of the 5th inning. Sheen doubled with one out and came home on an RBI single by John McClafferty. Up 12-4, the Buckeyes put the game away in the 6th inning. Sunderland started the rally with a one out single. With two down, Keatts and Abramowitz hit back to back singles, loading the bases for Rosner, who came through with a two run single. Busick drove home two more runs with another single. The scoring was completed with Muskat smacked a run scoring triple.
The Buckeyes, who flashed some fine leather on the evening, including throwing out a runner at 3rd base, and at home (though the ump saw it otherwise), and behind strong play and hustle by Kevin Ma and Alicia Korney, sent the baby Buckeyes home with a 1-2-3 6th inning. Ohio State now stands at 8-3 on the season and is in prime position for a high playoff seed. They will play their season finale on July 7th at 5:30 p.m., right back here against Mimi’s.
