April 8, 2012
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - In a game very different from the first of the weekend series, Ohio Softball lost an 8-7 thriller in eleven innings to Miami on Sunday. The Bobcats cranked 14 hits and only committed one error but were bested by a late sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning.
Alexis Joseph clubbed three hits in the loss while Alexandria Basquez and Chelsea Hortman each drove in two runs. Lauren McClary (Pasadena, Texas) pitched eight innings in a relief effort, striking out seven and allowing only two earned runs.
The game began on a very offensive note, as the teams combined for seven runs in just the first inning. Ohio (15-18, 4-4 MAC) took an early 3-0 lead courtesy of four hits. Jillian Van Wagnen (Lorain, Ohio) started the inning with a bunt single. Morgart (Wayne, Ohio) then sacrifice bunted to third, allowing Van Wagnen to advance to second. Joseph (Alvin, Texas) drove in the first run of the day, singling to center field to bring Van Wagnen home. Raven King (Alpine, Utah) then stepped up to the plate and drove a single to center field, bringing in Joseph. A Basquez (Elk Grove, Calif.) single to left center then brought in Ohio's third run of the inning.
Miami (23-12, 6-2 MAC) answered back in the bottom of the frame, plating four runs of its own to take an early one-run advantage. With the bases loaded, Jordan Mcelroy belted a single to left center to bring in two runs. A few plays later, Allie Larrabee singled to left field bringing around two more runs, one with the help of an infield error.
The teams then battled through a scoreless second inning before Ohio struck again in the top of the third. With Morgart on third base, Basquez drove in another run by singling through the right side to level the scores at four apiece. Miami was then able to add two more in the bottom of the frame to reclaim the lead.
Facing a 6-5 deficit in the top of the seventh inning, Ohio was able to level the scores when Van Wagnen crossed the plate on a Lauren Gellerman (San Diego, Calif.) shot to the infield which was unable to be fielded cleanly. Hortman then drove in one more run to give the `Cats a 7-6 advantage, bringing King around to score.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Miami was able to pull level when Kristy Arbour singled up the middle.
Both teams played solid defense throughout the next few innings, pushing the game to a crucial juncture in the bottom of the 11th. With one out in the inning and the bases loaded, Shanyn Mcintyre hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in the winning run.
Ohio 7, Miami 8 (Eleven Innings)
WP: Jessica Simpson (15-10)
LP: Lauren McClary (9-11)
HR: Chelsea Hortman (4)
The Bobcats will next be in action on Wednesday at Marshall. Ohio will match up with the Thundering Herd in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
