The Ohio State softball team (45-13-1) has shown remarkable resilience in the NCAA Tournament by bouncing back from a 4-2 defeat against seventh-seeded Tennessee to achieve an impressive 11-1 victory over Miami (Ohio) at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in Knoxville. This victory secures Ohio State a spot in Sunday’s regional final, where they will face Tennessee once again.
In order to advance to the Super Regional round next weekend, the Buckeyes must win two consecutive games against the Lady Vols. This marks the first time Ohio State has reached a regional final since 2018, when they competed at the Gainesville Regional.
In their earlier encounter on Saturday, Ohio State struggled initially, allowing Tennessee to build a 4-0 lead by the fifth inning. However, the Buckeyes clawed back with two runs in the sixth, courtesy of Reagan Milliken’s crucial two-out hit. Despite the spirited effort, they couldn’t close the gap further. Starting pitcher Kennedy Kay delivered a solid performance, pitching all seven innings and restricting Tennessee to just one extra base hit, although she allowed four earned runs.
In contrast, the Buckeyes exploded against Miami with a powerful offensive display, hitting four home runs in the game. Kami Kortokrax led the early onslaught with a three-run homer in the first inning, followed by another home run later in the game. Milliken also made her mark with her second homer of the regional, and Hadley Parisien added a two-run shot, finishing the game with an impressive 3-for-3 performance, three runs scored, and four RBIs.
With this victory, Ohio State has now hit a remarkable ten home runs throughout the Knoxville Regional, underscoring their offensive prowess as they head into the final match against Tennessee. The highly anticipated rematch is set for Sunday at 12 p.m., with broadcast details to be confirmed after Saturday’s games.
This tournament has showcased the Buckeyes’ ability to thrive under pressure, and their upcoming game presents a hopeful opportunity to move forward in the championship chase.