Eric Boggs
Ohio State softball wrapped up a powerful regular season with a statement series win over Illinois, driven by a complete game three-hitter from Kennedy Kay and timely home runs from key contributors like Kaitlyn Farley and Emma Tolley. With a 4-1 victory on Saturday, the Buckeyes improved to 43-11-1 overall and finished Big Ten play at 16-6, securing the No. 4 seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
Kay was exceptional in the circle, holding Illinois hitless through four innings and walking only one batter as she improved to 13-3 on the year. She was supported by an aggressive Ohio State offense that did all its damage with the long ball. Farley set the tone early with a two-run home run in the first inning, her 12th of the season, and Tolley delivered the knockout blow with a two-run blast of her own in the sixth.
The Buckeyes showed grit throughout the series. After splitting Friday’s doubleheader – dropping the opener 9-5 and bouncing back for a 2-0 shutout – Ohio State delivered a strong all-around performance to take the series. Lorin Boutte’s dominant showing in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader featured a complete game shutout, moving her to 19-8 on the season. Hailey Lang and Hadley Parisien provided the necessary offense, and the defense came up big with double plays in the fourth and sixth innings.
Friday’s opening game was a back-and-forth slugfest. After falling behind early, the Buckeyes surged ahead with a four-run third inning highlighted by a three-run shot from Kami Kortokrax, her 18th of the season. Illinois answered with a grand slam in the fourth and a two-run homer in the sixth to secure the win. Still, Kortokrax was a standout all weekend, finishing with five hits, including a home run and two doubles on Friday alone.
Saturday’s finale was more about control and efficiency. The Illini managed their only run in the fifth inning, but Ohio State quickly reasserted control with Tolley’s home run – a special moment in her first start of the season. Kortokrax added her second multi-hit performance of the series, and Kay’s composure in the circle ensured there would be no late comeback.
With the regular season complete, Ohio State turns its focus to the Big Ten Tournament, which begins May 7 in West Lafayette, Indiana. As the No. 4 seed, the Buckeyes earn a bye into the quarterfinals and will face either No. 5 Northwestern or No. 12 Purdue on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. The tournament will be televised live on the Big Ten Network and streamed via the FOX Sports app.
The field is stacked, with Oregon claiming the top seed in its first Big Ten season, followed by UCLA and Nebraska. Still, Ohio State’s consistent play — winning all six of their three-game weekend series — sets them up as a serious contender. With power at the plate, depth in the circle, and momentum on their side, the Buckeyes are primed for a deep tournament run.
