Sophomore catcher/first baseman batted .438 last weekend in Sacramento

COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the second time this season, the Big Ten has named Ohio State sophomore Sam Marder its softball player of the week. Marder went 7-for-16 at the plate (.438) with a double, home run and four runs batted in last weekend to lead the Buckeyes to a 3-2 record at the Capital Classic in Sacramento, Calif.

A native of Calabasas, Calif., Marder had at least one hit in all five games to up her current hitting streak to nine games. She caught four games last weekend and played first base in the other, while not committing an error in 45 chances.

In the Classic finale against Colorado State, Marder went 3-for-3 with three RBI, two runs scored, a double and her eighth home run of the season. For the week, Marder posted a .688 slugging percentage and a .571 on base percentage.

The Buckeyes are 19-6 overall and Marder has driven in at least one run in 19 of Ohio State’s 25 games. She has at least one hit in all but four games.

Marder is batting .468 overall this season with five doubles and a Big Ten-high 35 RBI. She also was named the Big Ten Player of the Week Feb. 11.

Since the Big Ten began naming both a player of the week and a pitcher of the week in 1992, Marder is the fourth Buckeye to earn the player of the week twice in the same season, joining Jamee Juarez (2005), Kristine Himes (2003) and Wendy Allen (2002).

Ohio State hosts the Buckeye Invitational this weekend beginning Friday against Robert Morris at 3 p.m. and Eastern Michigan at 5 p.m.

### OhioStateBuckeyes.com ###