Final Stats

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KENT, Ohio â€" Despite a seventh inning rally, the Ohio softball team (24-14, 6-5 MAC) dropped the series finale against Kent State (24-13, 7-4 MAC) on Wednesday afternoon by the final of 5-4 in nine innings. Since Ohio swept a doubleheader against the Golden Flashes on April 5, the Bobcats won the season series against Kent State.

“I was proud to see our kids fight through a nine inning battle today,” head coach Jodi Hermanek said. “We are right there in the think of things in conference right now so we have to battle and fight through to get as many wins as we can.”

Ohio struck first in the top of the first inning when Deanna Cole (Akron, Ohio) reached first on an infield hit. Cole then stole second. Morgan Geno (Chillicothe, Ohio) would then reach first after walking. Then with two outs, Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) reach first on an error by the Kent State second baseman, allowing Cole to score from second. Then Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) would rope a single through the right side, scoring Geno and Cooper, putting Ohio up 3-0.

Kent State got a run back in the bottom of the first when Hunter Brancifort would walk and then score on a single through he left side by Shelbi Tilton, cutting the Ohio lead to 3-1.

The Golden Flashes would threaten in the bottom of the third inning when Maddie Grimm and Holly Speers both reached on walks with one out. Both base runners would advance on a wild pitch, however starter Savannah Jo Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio) would get the next two Kent State batters to fly out to centerfield, leaving the score at 3-1.

Kent State would take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Golden Flashes would score three runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-RBI base hit to rightfield by Speers, giving Kent State the lead. Pitcher Danielle Stiene (Loveland, Ohio) would enter the game with one out and strike out the two batters that she faced, leaving the bases loaded, but with Ohio trailing 4-3.

Ohio would threaten to tie the game up in the top of the fifth inning when Taylor Saxton (Circleville, Ohio) reached on her second hit of the game and then advance to second on a ground out by Cole. Geno would reach base for the second time due to a walk. Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.) would then crush the ball to centerfield, where the centerfielder would make a diving catch, ending the inning with the score still 4-3.

The Bobcats refused to give up and in the top of the seventh inning, Saxton and Cole would reach on back-to-back infield hits, putting runners on first and third. Then Geno would draw her third walk of the game to load the bases. Then with the bases juiced, Claytor would draw a walk from relief pitcher Ronnie Ladines, allowing Saxton to score and tying the game at 4-4.

Kent State would get the leadoff batter on in the bottom of the seventh, but with one out, Erika Warren would hit into an inning ending double play, sending the game into extra innings tied at 4-4.

There wouldn’t be any more offense until the bottom of the ninth inning when Tilton would reach on a fielder’s choice and advance to second when Bailey Brownfield was walked. Then with two outs, Warren would hit the game winning hit, scoring Tilton, who would slide under the tag at home, giving Kent State the 5-4 win.

In the circle, Savannah Jo Dorsey would get the start, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits, walking six and striking out four while earning the no decision. Stiene would enter the game in the bottom of the fourth, pitching the remaining 5.1 innings, allowing one run on five hits and striking out six.

At the plate, Ohio had eight hits with both Saxton and Cole both recording three each. Hutchinson recorded one hit with two RBI and MacKenzie Brunswick () also had a hit for the Bobcats.

Ohio returns to action April 15-16 when they host Mid-American Conference East Foe Akron for a three-game series. The Bobcats will take on the Zips on Friday, April 15 at 3 p.m. and then wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 16 starting at 1 p.m. at the Ohio Softball Field.

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