Eric Boggs
Ohio State softball fans had a lot to cheer about this past week, as the Buckeyes showcased their power and depth in a high-scoring three-game series against Penn State, which followed a dominant road performance at Pitt. Led by some of the biggest bats in the country and historic individual achievements, the Scarlet and Gray continued to make their case as one of the top programs in the nation.
Reagan Milliken delivered a performance for the record books in the series-clinching win over Penn State on Sunday. The slugging Buckeye went 4-for-5 and smashed three home runs, becoming just the third player in Ohio State history to hit three bombs in a single game, joining Amy Haug and Jamee Juarez. Milliken drove in five runs and was a force all weekend, hitting .667 across the series and notching her 16th homer and 62nd RBI of the season. Her offensive explosion helped Ohio State outlast the Nittany Lions, 14-11, in a wild finale at Beard Field in State College.
Milliken wasn’t alone in powering the Buckeye offense. Morgan Frye went 3-for-3 with a clutch three-run double in the fifth, and Jasmyn Burns continued her incredible season with three hits and three runs scored. Skylar Limon chipped in three RBI, including a key two-run triple early in the game that swung momentum back toward the Buckeyes after falling behind 4-0.
The weekend series was a roller coaster, with each game delivering drama and fireworks. Friday’s opener saw No. 22 Ohio State take control with a six-run fourth inning en route to a 9-5 victory. Taylor Cruse led the charge from the nine-spot in the lineup with a home run, double, and two RBI. Lorin Boutte picked up her 14th win of the season, tossing over six innings and striking out five. The 5-6-7 hitters—Milliken, Farley, and Frye—combined for six RBI in a display of depth that has become a trademark of this team.
Saturday’s game, however, belonged to Penn State, as the Nittany Lions took advantage of a big third and fourth inning to claim an 11-2 win. Despite solo home runs by Hadley Parisien and Burns to open the game, the Buckeyes couldn’t slow down a surging PSU lineup. The loss dropped Ohio State to 32-10-1 and 7-5 in Big Ten play heading into the rubber match.
Sunday’s win wasn’t just a bounce-back—it was a statement. Parisien’s bat stayed hot with her 15th home run of the season, while Milliken’s offensive masterpiece lifted the Buckeyes to a 33-10-1 overall mark and 8-5 in conference play. Boutte earned her 15th win of the year in the circle, going the distance and pushing her into elite company among freshman pitchers in Ohio State history.
Beyond the Penn State series, the Buckeyes kicked off the week in dominant fashion at Pitt with a 12-2 run-rule win. Burns was unstoppable, blasting two home runs and collecting a career-high seven RBI in just two at-bats. Ohio State jumped out early with a three-run first and a six-run second, asserting its place as one of the most explosive offenses in the country. The team tallied its 100th and 101st home runs of the season over the weekend—leading the nation—and saw multiple players reach or near significant milestones. Burns tied Lilli Piper’s single-season home run record of 20, while Kortokrax played in her 200th consecutive game, an incredible mark of durability and consistency.
With the bats humming, the Buckeyes now turn their attention to Dayton for a midweek matchup on Wednesday, closing out an eight-game road swing. Ohio State holds a commanding 15-2 edge in the all-time series against the Flyers and will look to maintain momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
