The Ohio State softball team is moving on in the Big Ten Tournament after a 7-4 win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Wednesday.

Coming in as the No. 6 seed, it didn’t come terribly easy for the Buckeyes against the No. 11 seed. In fact, Rutgers was the first to get on the board when it scored two runs in the top of the third inning to make it 2-0.

OSU answered quickly in the bottom of the third inning with a Mariah Rodriguez two-run homer to tie things up at 2 runs a piece before the Scarlet Knights again grabbed the lead with a bases-loaded single in the top of the fifth inning. Suddenly, Ohio State was in a 4-2 hole.

For the best local Columbus news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to The Columbus Dispatch.

Arguably the Buckeyes’ best hitter, Sam Hackenbracht, answered again for the Scarlet and Gray in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out, two-run bomb to center field, and things were again tied up, this time 4-4.

But she wasn’t done.

After OSU held Rutgers scoreless for two innings, Hachenbracht went deep again with two runners on, belting a shot that stayed just inside the foul pole in left field for a walk-off, three-run homer.

Hackenbracht was clearly the star of the game. She went 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs including the game-ending blast. The Buckeyes will next take on No. 3 seed Minnesota at Noon Thursday. The winner advances to the semifinals of the tournament.

More!

Ohio State football class of 2023 scouting report: Bryson Rodgers

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.

Story originally appeared on Buckeye Wire