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Ohio State Trounces Purdue 10-1, Advances to Championship game
May 11, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Jamee Juarez returned to the circle for Ohio State to help the Buckeyes hand the Boilermakers a 10-1 Big Ten Tournament semifinal loss. Fifth-seeded Purdue advanced into the nightcap after picking up its first post-season Tournament win ever in a 4-1 upset of No. 4 Iowa. Ohio State scored early and never let up, punishing Purdue starting pitcher Brooke Baker for 13 hits. After Ohio State picked up a single run in the both the first and third innings, the Boilermakers cut the Buckeyes lead in half with a single swing of the bat. Shortstop Candace Curtis led off the bottom of the fourth by smacking a solo home run over the left field wall, but that was all the offensive fireworks the Boilermakers could muster. Ohio State took back momentum in the following inning by collecting three insurance runs to stay ahead 5-1. Brittany Vanderick began the scoring drive by doubling in two Buckeye teammates after Liz Caputo started the inning by singling to center field. Caputo later advanced to third on a Boilermaker throwing error that also saw Nycole Koyano, who was sacrificing on the play, advance to second. Before the Boilermakers could make it out of the inning, Courtney Prunner hit a shot to left center to double in Vanderick. Even in the final frame the Buckeyes continued to pound away, scoring five runs on five hits. Koyano and Pruner recorded three hits while Vanderink went 2-for-3 on the day. Juarez (19-8) continued to look strong entering the post-season. The Buckeye ace allowed only three hits in seven complete innings while fanning 12 Boilermaker batters. With Ohio State's win, the top two seeds are set to clash in Saturday's Big Ten Championship game when the Buckeyes take on the Wildcats at 1 p.m. ET. Purdue ends its season with a 26-17 overall record.
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