Eric Boggs
The Ohio State softball team, ranked 22nd in the nation, saw its impressive 11-game winning streak come to an end on Monday night as the Buckeyes fell to Indiana 13-7 in the series finale. Despite the loss, Ohio State secured the series victory by winning two of the three matchups against the Hoosiers. The Buckeyes, now 29-7-1 overall and 6-2 in Big Ten play, put up a strong offensive showing but were unable to overcome an early deficit.
Ohio State managed to score in four of the seven innings, including runs in the first, second, third, and fifth. However, a decisive fourth inning for Indiana proved too much to overcome. The Hoosiers, now 23-10 overall and 3-5 in conference play, were led by Brianna Copeland, who not only recorded 13 strikeouts but also hit three home runs, fueling Indiana’s offensive explosion.
The game started with Indiana jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a home run from Copeland, a sacrifice fly, and a Buckeye fielding error. Ohio State responded in the bottom half with a towering solo homer from Kami Kortokrax, who has hit safely in 18 of the last 21 games. Indiana extended its lead with two more runs in the second inning, but the Buckeyes cut into the deficit again with a two-run home run from Morgan Frye, marking her 14th consecutive game reaching base safely. The back-and-forth action continued as Ohio State pulled within three on an RBI double from Jasmyn Burns in the third, marking her 50th hit of the season.
Despite Ohio State’s resilience, Indiana delivered a decisive blow in the fourth. Copeland launched her second solo shot of the night before Kinsey Mitchell cleared the bases with a double, extending Indiana’s lead to 12-4. The Buckeyes answered with a three-run fifth inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Reagan Milliken and an RBI double from Skylar Limon. Milliken, who now leads the team with 55 RBIs, is tied with UCLA’s Jordan Woolery for the Big Ten lead in that category. However, Copeland capped her stellar performance with a third home run in the seventh, sealing Indiana’s 13-7 victory.
Ohio State’s pitching staff saw action from multiple arms, with Lorin Boutté making the start and allowing three earned runs over 1.2 innings. Kennedy Kay and Layna Gerhard combined to finish the game, with Gerhard providing 3.1 innings of work in relief.
The Buckeyes’ offensive firepower remains a national force, as they lead the country in home runs with 89. Every Ohio State starter maintains a batting average above .335, contributing to a stellar team average of .361. Their recent 11-game winning streak saw the team compile 125 hits, accounting for 41% of their season total. Additionally, Ohio State leads the Big Ten in home runs, doubles, hits, RBIs, slugging percentage, and walks. The Buckeyes concluded an outstanding month of March with an 18-4 record, including playing 16 of their 22 games at home. Entering April, they have won 11 of their last 12 contests.
Before Monday’s loss, Ohio State swept a doubleheader against Indiana with a display of offensive dominance, securing a 7-1 victory in Game 1 and a 12-4 run-rule win in Game 2. The Buckeyes belted seven home runs and two doubles across both games, while their pitching staff efficiently stifled Indiana’s high-powered offense.
In the first game, Hadley Parisien and Sami Bewick ignited the offense with back-to-back homers in the third inning. After Indiana cut the lead to 2-1 with a solo shot in the fourth, Ohio State responded with a towering three-run blast from Taylor Cruse in the bottom half. The Buckeyes tacked on two more in the fifth with a two-run homer from Milliken, giving her 51 RBIs for the season. Lorin Boutté delivered a masterful complete-game performance, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out eight for her 13th win of the season.
Game 2 saw more fireworks from the Buckeye bats. Trailing 1-0 in the first, Ohio State quickly surged ahead with clutch two-out hitting from Burns, Farley, and Limon. A five-run second inning, fueled by bases-loaded singles from Burns and Milliken, pushed the lead to 8-1. Indiana attempted a comeback with home runs in the third and fourth innings, but Ohio State’s relentless offense put the game away in the fifth. Kortokrax, Milliken, and Farley all homered over the left-center wall, ending the game via run rule at 12-4.
Ohio State’s seven home runs in the doubleheader increased their season total to 87 and marked the 24th game this season with multiple home runs. Parisien has homered in five of the last seven games, while eight everyday Buckeye players have at least five long balls this season. Boutté is closing in on 100 strikeouts, currently sitting at 87, and continues to average over one strikeout per inning. Meanwhile, Farley stood out with a team-high four hits on the day, reaching base five times and raising her batting average to .360.
The Buckeyes now turn their attention to a challenging West Coast road trip. They will face Long Beach State (18-12) on Wednesday before heading to Los Angeles for a two-game series against No. 7 UCLA over the weekend. The matchup against Long Beach State is set for a 7 p.m. ET first pitch and will be streamed on ESPN+. As Ohio State continues to chase a Big Ten title and postseason success, their power-hitting lineup and deep pitching staff remain a formidable force.
