Final Stats

Game One Box | Game Two Box

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio softball team split a doubleheader with Mid-American Conference opponent Ball State (26-22, 11-4 MAC) on Friday afternoon at the Ohio Softball Field. The Bobcats (15-26, 7-7 MAC) defeated the Cardinals 6-1 in game one, and fell 4-1 in the second game.

The Bobcats jumped on the board in the bottom of the third inning of game one after two scoreless innings for both teams. Amanda Dalton (Salem, Va.) was hit by a pitch and then Sloan Walker (Cypress, Texas) singled to the shortstop and allowed Dalton to advance to second. Then Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) flied out to centerfield to advance Walker to third. Dalton stole third and then scored on a throwing error by the catcher, putting Ohio up 1-0.

Ohio added four to its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dalton led off on an error by Ball State's third baseman, Walker then singled to third base on a bunt advancing Dalton to second. Timmie Rappe (Wheaton, Ill.) loaded the bases on a walk. Hutchinson hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Dalton and advancing Rappe and Walker to second and third. Walker then score when Clarke added an RBI single through the left side and advanced Rappe to third. Adrienne Gebele (Annapolis, M.D.) doubled to right center allowing Clarke and Rappe to score increasing Ohio's lead to 5-0 over the Cardinals.

At the bottom of the sixth, Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) homered to right field, giving the Bobcats a 6-0 lead.

Ball State added one run in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI by Sammi Cowger to end the game with an Ohio 6-1 win.

At the plate, Ohio had eight total hits, with Clarke leading the way going 2-for-2 with one run scored. Walker went 2-for-4 with one run scored and Dalton went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Cooper added a hit and an RBI and Gebele added two RBIs.

In the circle, Lauren McClary (Pasadena, Texas) got the start and pitched five innings, allowing zero runs on three hits and striking out five. Sydney Compston (Wellston, Ohio) took over in the top of sixth and pitched two innings and allowed one run on four hits.  

Game two of the doubleheader started with the Cardinals going up 2-0 in the top of the first inning.

Ohio responded with a run scored by Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.) in the bottom of the second after she walked and Dalton singled to right field.

After two scoreless innings, the Cardinals added a run to their score on an RBI single by Emily Dabkowski in the top of the fifth to lead Ohio 3-1.

Ball State added to their lead in the top of the sixth on a double to right field by Jessica Craft to put the Cardinals up 4-1, which would be the final.

At the plate, the Bobcats had six hits. Walker led the way going 2-for-4 and registered one RBI. Rappe, Hutchinson and Clarke all went 1-for-3. Claytor scored the only run for Ohio.

In the circle, Cooper got the start, pitching a third of an inning and allowing two runs on four hits. McClary led the way allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five in 5.1 innings and Compston did not allow any hits in 1.1 innings.

The Bobcats return to action tomorrow against Miami in for the Battle of the Bricks. Due to rain in the forecast, the game is now set to begin at 11 a.m. at the Ohio Softball Field. The first 200 fans will receive a McDonalds sausage biscuit.

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