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Ohio State makes statement, takes series versus No. 20 Nebraska

Screenshot 2024-07-31 at 7.46.34 PMby: Brady Vernon03/16/25BradyVernon
Screenshot 2025-03-16 at 12.22.09 PM
Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics

The Buckeyes have been a team on the rise this season, but there is a good chance they crack the Softball America Top 25 this weekend after Sunday. Ohio State beat No. 20 Nebraska 12-6 to clinch the series over the Cornhuskers.

While the contest does not count toward the Big Ten standings, it matters for RPI for both teams. Ohio State certainly is positioned to make the NCAA Tournament, and it is likely a team no one wants to pitch to with its explosive offense.

The two teams traded blows for three straight innings, as they have all weekend long. Reagan Milliken‘s breakout season continued with a two-run single in the first for an early Buckeye lead. Each team had a sacrifice fly in the second. Jasmyn Burns found a two-out RBI single to extend Ohio State’s lead to 4-1.

The big swings finally started to come in the third. Olivia DiNardo trimmed Nebraska’s deficit to two after a solo home run against Layna Gerhard. After a single and a double, Emmerson Cope brought in another with a sacrifice fly. Gerhard got Kacie Hoffman to fly out to strand the tying run at third.

Taylor Cruse crushed her second home run in as many days, ending the series with eight RBIs. Sami Bewick followed suit with her own blast. The two-run bomb pushed the lead to six. Skylar Limon hit a two-run homer in the six to add to the cushion.

Ohio State still had plenty of work to do knowing how quickly Nebraska has scored in bunches. Lorin Boutte entered and did well. She allowed a two-run blast to Ava Bredwell but settled in after that. She went four innings, allowing three runs on six hits.

Ohio State will travel to Michigan State next week. Nebraska will host Minnesota.

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Synergy Study: Lorin Boutte, Kaitlyn Felton, Kat Rodriguez

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