Final Stats

Game One PDF Boxscore | Game Two PDF Boxscore 

ATHENS, Ohioâ€" With the help of strong pitching from the Bobcat pitching staff, the Ohio softball team (25-16, 7-7 MAC) split a doubleheader with Akron (23-18-1, 7-5-1 MAC) this afternoon (April 16). The Bobcats used late inning heroics to take game one by the final of 2-1, and would fall 1-0 in game two.

“We know they are an aggressive running team so we just had to be prepared for it,” head coach Jodi Hermanek said. “I think we did a great job of getting some of those outs today too. We just kept pressing at the point that it needs to be a hard out. Cole is known for her speed and with speed comes pressure and exactly that was delivered on that ground ball. It just went our way. 

GAME ONE
Akron made some noise in the top of the fourth inning, with the Zips getting the lead off batter on with a double, she then advanced to third on a hit by Caitlin Gambone. Then with runners on second and third, Savannah Jo Dorsey entered the game in relief of starter Danielle Stiene (Loveland, Ohio) and would get the next two batters to strike out, getting out of the inning unscathed.

The Bobcats would threaten in the bottom of the fourth when Morgan Geno (Chillicothe, Ohio) would reach on an error and advance to second to lead off the inning. Pinch runner Alex Day (Hilliard, Ohio) would advance to third on a sacrifice bunt by Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.), however the Zips would retire the next two batters to get out of the inning with the score still tied at 0-0.

Ohio would make noise in the bottom of the fifth inning, with Jamie Wren (Whittier, Calif.) reaching base on a hit thorough the middle, she would then move to third on a base hit by Michaela Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio). Akron would then get pinch hitter Natalie Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) to hit into an inning-ending ground ball double play to keep the game scoreless.

Akron broke the scoreless tied in the top of the sixth inning when Carley Childress hit a lead off homerun to left center, putting the Zips up 1-0.

Then, just as they have done all season, Ohio refused to give in and rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Wren would reach base on an error by the Akron shortstop and then advance to second when MacKenzie Brunswick (Bellefontaine, Ohio) reached on a fielder’s choice and the second baseman was unable to handle the third at second. The runners would then move up a base when Michaela Dorsey grounded out. Then with two outs, Deanna Cole (Akron, Ohio) would hit a chopper to the shortstop that she was unable to handle, allowing Wren and Brunswick to score, propelling Ohio to the thrilling 2-1 win.

“It's great to know that the offense is there behind us and has our back,” Stiene said. “Deanna [Cole] has come through in some clutch situations, so it's good to know these girls are going to come through when we need them.”

At the plate, the Bobcats hit the ball hard all game, cranking out five hits with Wren leading the way with two. Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio), Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) and Michaela Dorsey all had one hit.

In the circle, Stiene got the start, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out six. Savannah Jo Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio) entered the game in relief, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out five while earning her 18^th in of the season.

GAME TWO
Ohio would get runners on early, when with two outs, Geno would walk, Claytor would crush a double to the rightfield wall and then Cooper would walk to load the bases, however the Zips would get out of it. The Bobcats would put runners on again in the bottom of the second with a lead off hit by Wren and a single by Michaela Dorsey, however the game would remain 0-0 after two,

The Zips would get on the board first in the top of the third inning, when Gabrielle Fredricks would reach on a lead off double and then score on an RBI base hit by Alyssa Nicholas, putting Akron up 1-0.

The Bobcats would make noise angain in the bottom of the fourth when Wren registered her second hit of the game and advanced to third when Brunswick crushed a double to the rightfield wall. However, the Bobcats would leave runners at first and third. After that, both pitchers would settle in and Akron would take game two by the final of 1-0.

At the plate, the Bobcats hit the ball hard for the second-straight game, registering seven hits, led by Wren who had two. Geno, Claytor, Hutchinson, Brunswick and Michaela Dorsey would all add a hit.

In the circle, Stiene got the start, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits and striking out have. Savannah Jo Dorsey would enter the game and pitch 2.1 innings, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out two.

“We were trying to get a lot of things done, with hit and runs and such,” Hermanek said. “I was just proud of our girls for having quality at bats and getting on base today. We just have to turn the corner and I know that we will.”

Ohio returns to action on Tuesday, April 19 when the Bobcats take on Ohio State for a mid-week doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at the Ohio Softball Field.

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