Wisconsin eliminates OSU softball

Wisconsin jumped out to an eight-run lead after three innings on the way to eliminating Ohio State 10-1 Friday in a Big Ten softball tournament quarterfinal at Bloomington, Indiana.

The Badgers (40-11) scored four runs in the first inning on a sacrifice fly, two bases-loaded walks and a wild pitch, followed by home runs by Taylor Johnson and Jordan Little in the second and third innings.

The Badgers' Kaitlyn Menz tossed a three-hitter.

OSU’s Lilli Piper extended her hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the fourth and later scored to make it 8-1. Emily Clark reached base for the 21st consecutive game with a single that sent Piper to third base in that inning.

The Buckeyes (34-16) await the NCAA selection Sunday in hopes of qualifying for the fourth straight season.

 TRACK AND FIELD

Ohio State men’s and women’s teams wrapped up day one of the Big Ten outdoor championships in Iowa City, Iowa. The women sit in fifth place with nine points, and the men are in ninth with seven points.

Sade Olatoye finished second in the hammer throw at 217 feet, 2 inches. Temi Ogurinde of Minnesota won with a toss of 221-2.

Nick Gray and Anavia Battle took first in their respective heats in the 200 meters. Gray qualified with a time of 20.50 seconds, and Battle won her heat in 22.72.

The Nebraska women lead with 22 points. On the men’s side, Penn State leads with 28 points. The championships continue through Sunday.

BASEBALL

Ohio State began its final home series with a 4-2 win over Penn State.

Penn State (20-23, 3-17 Big Ten) opened the scoring in the first inning on Ryan Sloniger’s two-run double. Ohio State (26-23, 8-11) cut it to 2-1 in the third when Dillon Dingler’s single scored Ridge Winand. The Buckeyes took the lead in the fifth after Dominic Canzone scored on a passed ball and Conner Pohl was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Brent Todys drove in a run in the seventh.

Reliever Will Pfennig (1-3) earned the win with 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Andrew Magno pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings for his ninth save.