Final Stats

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - In its first stop of its North Carolina Spring Break Swing, the Ohio softball team fell 12-1 in six innings to Western Carolina on Wednesday afternoon at the Catamount Softball Complex.

Originally scheduled for a double-header, Ohio and Western Carolina played only one game due to rain.

The Bobcats fell behind early, going down 5-0 in the bottom of the first inning.

The Bobcats would begin to claw away at the lead in the fourth inning when Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) hit a solo homerun to centerfield, making the score 5-1.

The Bobcats threatened in the top of the fifth inning, when Dakota Pyles (Galloway, Ohio) reached base on an error and then advanced to second on a throw. The next batter, Sloan Walker (Cypress, Texas) reached base on an error that allowed Pyles to advance to third. Walker would then steal second, however the threat would end without the Bobcats scoring.

The Catmounts would get three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 8-1.

Ohio would threaten again in the top of the next frame when Kaylin Clarke (North Royalton, Ohio) and Adrienne Gebele (Annapolis, M.D.) would both walk, however Western Carolina would put an end to the threat. WCU would end the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Courtney Price hit a grand slam to left field, ending the game at 12-1.

At the plate, the Bobcats had two hits, reached base three times by walks and left six on base. Copper had one hit, a solo homerun and an RBI. Ohio's other hit was a double by Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) in the second inning. Clarke went 0-for-1 at the plate, however reached base twice by drawing walks.

On the base path, Timmie Rappe (Wheaton, Ill.) and Walker both had stolen bases.

In the circle, Leanna Bachman (Carroll, Ohio) started the game, pitching two-thirds of an inning, allowing five runs on three hits. Clarke came in and pitched three and a third innings, giving up three runs on four hits and striking out two, and Cooper pitcher one and third inning, giving up four runs on two hits and striking out two.

The Bobcats (4-8) continue on to the next stop of their trip tomorrow afternoon when they head to Greensboro, N.C. to take on UNCG. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

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