COLUMBUS, Ohio—Morehead State softball dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader to Ohio State Friday, losing 2-1 in 10 innings in a game one pitchers’ duel, followed by a 6-3 loss in game two.
The Eagles got a brilliant performance from starting pitcher Ashley Imperial in game one. Imperial threw a complete game, allowing nine hits but just two runs, one in the first and one in the 10th. She struck out six batters, but took the loss to fall to 7-14. OSU’s Karisa Medrano also was stellar, allowing five hits and one earned run in a 10-inning complete game. She struck out seven batters and got the win to improve to 7-16.
“Ashley Imperial pitched phenomenally,” said MSU coach Holly Bruder. “She kept us in a 10 inning game again Ohio State. We just needed a timely hit and didn’t get one.”
OSU’s first run came in the bottom of the first when Brittany Goodchild reached on a single, stole second and then was driven home by an Evelyn Carrillo single. Morehead State got the run back in the top of the fourth when Rebecca Butler ripped a liner over shortstop and into left field. Kayla Ashbrook followed with a bloop double to right center that drove Butler home from first.
Butler, who also had a hit in game two, extended her hitting streak to 24 games. She was ranked fourth in the nation in hitting streak entering the week.
The Buckeyes threatened with runner in scoring positions but could not get runs across until the 10th when Herron reached on a triple to right center. Carrillo then hit a sac fly to left that drove in Herron for the game winner.
MSU scattered five hits among five difference players while Dee Dee Hillman and Herron each had two hits for the Buckeyes.
“Overall I thought it was a really good day,” Bruder said. “We played well with a good program. We just needed some timely hits with runners in scoring position.”
Game two had fewer hits, but much more scoring. OSU opened the game with a three run first inning, scoring. Carrillo hit an RBI single that scored Herron. Megan Coletta hit a two-RBI single that scored Carrillo and Melaina Saalfeld.
MSU’s first runs came in the second inning when Kayla Ashbrook, who reached on a leadoff single, stole home on a double steal with Stephanie Etter. But the Buckeyes took the run back in the third on a leadoff solo home run by Herron.
Ohio State scored twice in the fourth, once on an error that allowed Melissa Rennie to score and once on a bases-loaded walk that scored Hillman. Morehead State tried to rally in the fifth when Sam Woodall, who reached on a leadoff walk, scored on a wild pitch. Butler then hit an RBI single that scored Elizabeth Wagner, who had reached on a single. MSU had two more runners on, but could not get either across after OSU brought Medrano on in relief of starter Kasie Kelly.
Kelly got the game two win to improve to 4-7 and Medrano picked up her first save of the year. Kelcey McMurray fell to 10-11, taking the loss for MSU.
Coletta and Rennie each had two hits for the Buckeyes and Wagner and Kayla Brill each had two hits to lead MSU.
The Eagles (19-31) immediately return to action, hosting Southeast Missouri in a key Ohio Valley Conference series beginning Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.
