Ohio 10_Northern Kentucky 2 PDF Boxscore
KENNESAW, Ga. - A three hit day at the plate for Amanda Dalton would help lead the Ohio softball team to a decisive 10-2 five-inning victory against Northern Kentucky on Sunday morning during the final day of the KSU Classic, hosted by Kennesaw State.
It didn't take long for the Bobcats' (2-2) offense to take control of the game. The scoring started in the top of the first inning when Kaylin Clarke (North Royalton, Ohio) walked with the bases loaded, scoring Dalton (Salem, Va.) from third for the game's first run. Two batters later, Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) hit a two-run single up the middle, scoring Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) and Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.), putting Ohio up 3-0.
Northern Kentucky (0-3) picked up a run in the bottom of the frame when KC Straley scored on an RBI single by Katelyn Roy, making the score 3-1.
Ohio responded immediately in the top of the second inning. Leadoff batter Dakota Pyles (Galloway, Ohio) singled to center and would score two batters later on an RBI bunt single by Dalton. In the next at bat, Cooper would lineout to leftfield, scoring Slone Walker (Cypress, Texas) from third base. The scoring in the inning would be capped off by an RBI double to left center by Claytor, scoring Dalton and putting the Bobcats up 6-1.
In the top of the third inning, the offense picked up right where it left off the prior frame, scoring four runs and giving the Bobcats a 10-1 lead. The scoring would start on an RBI single to rightfield by Cooper that scored Walker from second. The next batter, Claytor, would reach base on a throwing error at third base, scoring Dalton and Cooper. Claytor would later score the final run of the frame on a single up the middle by Clarke.
Northern Kentucky would get a run in the bottom of the fifth and final frame of the day when Paige McQueen hit a homerun to leftfield. That homerun would be the final run scored in the game, and the Bobcats would walk away with the 10-2 victory.
Offensively, the Bobcats would collect 13 hits. Dalton led the way with three hits and three runs scored. Walker, Clarke and Hutchinson would each add two hits and Cooper, Claytor, Pyles and Raven King (Alpine, Utah) all had a hit apiece.
In the circle, Clarke would pitch all five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out one.
The Bobcats return to action next weekend when they head to Charlotte, N.C., Feb. 14 and 15 to participate in the 49er Classic, hosted by UNC Charlotte. While there, Ohio will face Army, Quinnipiac and Charlotte.
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