Ohio
Ohio State vs. North Carolina softball game NCAA Regional: Buckeyes hit 8 home runs in win
How the SEC’s softball dominance could carry it through to the Women’s College World Series
he Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson shares the top storylines she’s following through the NCAA softball tournament, starting with the SEC’s biggest strengths.
- Jasmyn Burns hit two home runs for Ohio State in an NCAA tournament victory over North Carolina.
- Megan Frye hit a three-run homer for the Buckeyes.
- OSU will now face Tennessee in a game May 18.
The No. 2 seeded Ohio State Buckeyes softball team (44-12-1) beat No. 3 North Carolina May 17th by a final score of 9-6 in the Knoxville Regional of the NCAA tournament.
The Buckeyes, making their 13th NCAA appearance, scored in five of their six turns at bat.
Reagan Milliken got OSU going with a solo home run in the second inning. Hadley Parisien and Jasmyn Burns hit back-to-back homers in the sixth.
Burns had two bombs on the afternoon. Morgan Frye hit a three-run home run over the center field fence with two out in the fifth. Taylor Cruse belted a solo shot. Ohio State’s other run came off a Kaitlyn Farley RBI single.
The offensive explosion was little surprise. The Buckeyes entered the postseason leading the nation in runs scored (473), home runs (137), slugging percentage (.707) and runs per game (8.44).
Ohio State will battle the region’s top seed, Tennessee, in Knoxville on May 18. The game starts at noon.
The Volunteers are coming off a 17-0 over the MAC champion Miami Redhawks.
The winner of the Knoxville Regional will face the winner of the Baton Rouge Regional next weekend in a Super Regional.