Eric Boggs
The Ohio State softball team wrapped up play at the Clearwater Invitational with a challenging weekend, finishing with a 5-3-1 record on the season after facing multiple ranked opponents. The Buckeyes closed the tournament on Sunday with an 11-3 loss to Clemson and a rain-shortened 4-4 tie against UCF. Despite the tough competition, Ohio State showcased its offensive firepower and resilience throughout the tournament.
Sophomore Hadley Parisien continued her hot streak, launching a leadoff home run against Clemson, marking her second consecutive game with a homer. The Buckeyes jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning with RBI singles from Sami Bewick and Morgan Frye. However, Clemson quickly responded, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first and adding two more in the second to seize control. The Tigers extended their lead with a pair of solo home runs in the fourth before sealing the victory with a three-run homer in the sixth. On the mound, Lorin Boutte led the Buckeyes with five strikeouts over four innings.
Against UCF, Ohio State once again struck early, this time on a solo home run by Kaitlyn Farley, her first of the season and eighth of her career. The Knights answered with a three-run triple in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. The Buckeyes clawed back, scoring in the fourth on a Kami Kortokrax RBI single and tying the game in the fifth thanks to Cadyn Ruffer’s first career home run and a sacrifice fly. Rain arrived in the sixth inning, erasing an Ohio State go-ahead run and reverting the score to a 4-4 tie.
Earlier in the weekend, Ohio State took on No. 14 Alabama, falling 9-5 despite another leadoff home run from Parisien. The Crimson Tide steadily built a lead with runs in the first three innings before a four-run fourth inning created separation. The Buckeyes attempted a late rally, cutting the deficit with an RBI double from Reagan Milliken and capitalizing on an Alabama throwing error. In the seventh, Jasmyn Burns and Milliken drove in runs with the bases loaded, but Alabama held on for the win. Boutte and Layna Gerhard combined for six innings in the circle, while Milliken shined offensively, hitting .500 over the weekend.
Ohio State opened the tournament with a split, falling to No. 9 Florida State, 9-1, before bouncing back to defeat No. 16 Missouri, 7-2. Against Missouri, the Buckeyes erupted for a six-run fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run triple from Bewick and key hits from Lottie Landmesser, Ruffer, and Kortokrax. Kennedy Kay delivered a stellar complete-game performance, allowing just five hits while throwing a career-high 129 pitches. The defensive effort was equally strong, with Reagan Milliken and Skylar Limon making standout plays.
Despite the early loss to Florida State, the Buckeyes found offensive bright spots, with Milliken driving in a run on a first-inning single. Kortokrax and Bewick each collected three hits on the day, while Burns extended her hitting streak, raising her batting average to .579 with multiple extra-base hits.
Looking ahead, Ohio State continues its road swing with five games in Evansville, Ind., facing Evansville twice, along with Central Michigan, Saint Louis, and UT Martin.
Adding to the team’s momentum, Lorin Boutte and Jasmyn Burns earned Big Ten weekly honors for their performances at the Elon Softball Classic. Boutte was named Pitcher of the Week after a dominant debut, throwing a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts against North Carolina Central and compiling 25 strikeouts over three appearances without allowing an earned run. Burns was named Player of the Week after hitting .714 with two home runs and multiple RBIs, leading the conference in several offensive categories.
With a competitive start to the season against top-tier opponents, the Buckeyes are showing their potential and determination as they prepare for the next stretch of games.
