May 3, 2014

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ATHENS, Ohio - Senior Alexandria Basquez (Elk Grove, Calif.) crushed her team-leading 10th home run of the 2014 season, and sophomore pitcher Savannah Jo Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio) matched her career high of 13 strikeouts as the Ohio University softball team (28-23, 12-7 MAC) overpowered Northern Illinois (22-29, 9-12 MAC), 6-2, in the Mid-American Conference cross-division series opener on Saturday (May 3) at the Ohio Softball Field.

The Bobcats maintained their hold on fifth place in the league standings as the conference enters its final day of play in the 2014 regular season. Ohio has already clinched a berth in the eight-team, double-elimination MAC Tournament, which will be held next week (April 7-10) at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.

Saturday's victory also marked the return of eighth-year head coach Jodi Hermanek to the dugout after she and her husband, David, celebrated the birth of their baby girl, Emma Fay Horton, on Tuesday (April 29).

Ohio's bats roared to life in the win over the Huskies, pounding out 10 hits. The offensive onslaught marked the 14th time this season they've achieved double digits. Sophomore Amanda Dalton (Salem, Va.) led the charge, going 3-for-3. She recorded her 18th multi-hit effort of the year and collected three base hits for the second time in as many days.

Dorsey got the job done in the circle, going the distance and running her school-record single-season strikeout total to 244. She improved to 21-16 in the circle, tying her with Emily Wethington (2011) for the second-most victories in a single season in school history. Her 221.1 innings pitched in 2014 rank as the second most in school history.

Northern Illinois jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning courtesy of a one-out, two-run home run to left by freshman Kayti Grable.

The 'Cats wasted little time in striking back, though. Dalton got the home half of the first started with a bloop single to left, then advanced to second courtesy of a sacrifice bunt by freshman Taylor Saxton (Circleville, Ohio). One out later, Basquez belted a towering shot to left center to tie the contest up. The senior has driven in a team-high 40 runs this season, which ranks as the fifth most in a single season in school history.

Ohio broke the game open with a four-run third inning. Dalton proved to be the catalyst once again, beating out a leadoff infield single. Saxton followed with an infield base hit of her own. One out later, Basquez reached on a fielder's choice, and Dalton put the Bobcats in front on the play when she scored by way of a Northern Illinois error. After sophomore Sloan Walker (Cypress, Texas) entered the game to pinch run for Basquez, junior Adrienne Gebele (Annapolis, Md.) was hit by a pitch to fill the bases with Bobcats. Dorsey helped her cause by capitalizing on the opportunity, doubling to center to plate Walker and Saxton. Gebele tagged up and scored Ohio's sixth run when freshman Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.) lifted a sacrifice fly to center.

The Bobcats look to send their four student-athlete senior class out on a winning note on Sunday (May 4) in the regular season finale against Northern Illinois. Ohio will honor the careers of Basquez, Chelsea Hortman (Cincinnati, Ohio), Erin Lashley (Pickering ton, Ohio) and Alyssa Wolfe (Junction City, Ohio). First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

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