CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Ohio softball team continued its North Carolina trip on Friday afternoon at the first day of the Carolina Classic, hosted by North Carolina. The Bobcats fell to Big 12 opponent Texas 11-0 in five innings at Anderson Stadium.
The Longhorns (14-7) jumped on the board right away, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run single by Erin Shireman. Texas added on in the top of the second inning, scoring three runs on a Devon Tunning homerun to leftfield, giving the Longhorns a 5-0 lead.
The Bobcats got the offense moving in the bottom of the fourth inning when Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a single by Kaylin Clarke (North Royalton, Ohio), but Texas would get out of the inning with its 5-0 lead.
The Bobcat defense shut down the Texas offense during the top of the third and top of the fourth. However, in the top of the fifth, the Longhorns added the final blow, scoring six runs and giving Texas the 11-0 lead.
The Bobcats threated to put runs on the board again in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases when Adrienne Gebele and Sloan Walker (Cypress, Texas) singled and Amanda Dalton (Salem, Va.) walked, however they would not score and Ohio would fall by the final of 11-0.
At the plate, the Bobcats had four hits. Clarke led the way, going 2-for-2 and Gebele and Walker each recorded a hit for the Bobcats. Also at the plate, Dalton and Hutchinson both drew walks to get on base.
In the circle, Lauren McClary (Pasadena, Texas) pitched an inning and a third, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out two. Sydney Compston (Wellston, Ohio) pitched two and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on five hits and striking out one, and Clarke worked one inning, allowing three runs on two hits and striking out one.
Ohio (4-10) returns to the diamond for the second day of the Carolina Classic, Saturday, March 7 when they take on host UNC. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m.
#BobcatNation
