There’s often a thin line between winning and losing, and the Ohio State softball team found that out the hard way on Sunday as it fell in extra inning 4-3 to Grand Canyon in Phoenix. It was the second straight one-run loss to the Lopes.
Grand Canyon got out of the gate early with on an RBI double and homer run to make it 3-0 in the bottom of the first. The Buckeyes would be playing catch up the rest of the day.
Pitcher Katya Duvall came in to replace starter Lauren Rice and quieted the Lopes bats in the bottom of the first and gave Ohio State a chance to reel things back in.
Slowly, the Buckeyes did just that. They got one run in the top of the fourth on a Claire Nicholson RBI single. Then, they got two more in the top of the seventh when Lilli Piper scorched an RBI single to left field, followed by a single by Kallie Boren that scored Meg Otte to tie things up at three runs a piece.
But extra innings would not be kind. In the non-conference overtime format, each team would get a runner placed at second base to start the inning. Ohio State was unable to bring the run home in their half, and the Lopes enjoyed a walk-off single when they came to bat to end things.
The loss dropped the Buckeyes to 15-9 and ends the early-season traveling part of the season. Ohio State will have its home and Big Ten opener next weekend when it hosts Indiana for a three game series.
