Final Stats

AKRON, Ohio -- The eighth-seeded Ohio softball team opened the 2015 Mid-American Conference Tournament on Wednesday afternoon, falling to top-seeded Kent State 3-1 in a defensive battle at Firestone Stadium.

Kent State (40-11) struck first in the bottom of the second inning when pinch runner Emily Dobbin scored on a base hit by Kim Kirkpatrick to put the Golden Flashes up 1-0.

Ohio threatened in the top of the third inning when leadoff batter Dakota Pyles (Galloway, Ohio) reached second on a throwing error by the shortstop, however the Bobcats would not score and Kent State would continue to lead 1-0.

The Bobcats (15-31) finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning when Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) led the inning off reaching base when she was hit by a pitch. She then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Raven King (Alpine, Utah) and then reached third on a base hit by Pyles. Hutchinson then scored on a perfect suicide squeeze laid down by Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.), tying the game at 1-1.

The Golden Flashes regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Erika Warren hit a two-run double to centerfield to give Kent State a 3-1 lead and victory.

At the plate, the Bobcats had two hits with Pyles and Sloan Walker (Cypress, Texas) each picking up a hit and Claytor earning an RBI. Pyles also reached base on an error and Kaylin Clarke (North Royalton, Ohio) reached by way of a walk, while Hutchinson reached on a fielder's choice and a hit by a pitch.

In the circle, Lauren McClary (Pasadena, Texas) started the game, pitching four innings and allowing on run on four hits and striking out one. Sydney Compston (Wellston, Ohio) came into the game in the fifth inning, pitching two innings and allowing two runs on three hits.

The Bobcats return to action tomorrow morning when they take on fifth-seeded Western Michigan at 10:30 a.m. at Firestone Stadium.

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