The Ohio State softball team found itself in prime position to pull the upset over Tennessee in the Knoxville Regional and make it into the championship game of the four-team tournament, but then everything went south.
Ohio State fell down early after the Lady Vols scored one run in the top of the 1st inning, but answered quickly with two home-runs in the bottom of the inning, one by Lilli Piper, and one by freshman Ashley Prange. Suddenly, the Buckeyes led the No. 12 overall seed in the tournament 2-0, and it looked like it might stay that way for awhile with Morgan Ray dealing in the circle.
However, in the top of the 3rd inning, Tennessee got an extra out on a ground ball error and took advantage, depositing a three-run bomb with two outs to go ahead 4-2.
Tennessee would keep adding to the lead. It posted two more runs in the top of the 5th inning, two more runs in the top of the 6th with the aid of an error from Ohio State, and then four more runs in large part because of a couple bases loaded walks in the top of the 7th inning.
The Buckeyes added two runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to draw to 8-4, but it was too little too late as the Lady Vols ran their way through the winner’s bracket with an impressive 12-4 victory.
OSU will now take on the winner of the Longwood – North Carolina game later tonight. The winner of that game must beat Tennessee twice Sunday to with the region.
