Final Stats

Game One Boxscore | Game Two Boxscore

DAYTON, Ohio â€" The Ohio softball team (26-19) split a nonconference doubleheader with Dayton (21-16-1) on Wednesday afternoon (April 20) in Dayton, Ohio. The Bobcats would fall in a 1-0 pitcher’s duel in the first game, but would rebound with an offensive explosion in the second game, coming away with the 9-4 victory.

GAME ONE
The Bobcats got on the bases first in the top of the first inning with Taylor Saxton (Circleville, Ohio) leading off the game with an infield single, but would get thrown out trying to steal and Dayton would get out of the inning.

In the top of the second inning, Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) would lead off the inning and reach first what she was struck by the pitch. Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) would reach on a fielder’s choice, but again Ohio would not score and the game would remain 0-0.

Dayton struck in the bottom of the third inning when with two outs the Flyers got back-to-back infield singles. The next batter walked and then with two outs, Krista Gustafson hit an infield single to the far side of the shortstop, scoring Aspyn Novak from third, putting the Flyers up 1-0. The would be all the run support Dayton would need as both pitchers would stay in command of the game and Dayton would take game one by the final of 1-0.         

In the circle, Danielle Stiene (Loveland, Ohio) would pitch six innings, allowing one run on five hits and strike out four while only walking one batter.

At the plate, Ohio had two hits with Saxton and Deanna Cole (Akron, Ohio) getting one each.

GAME TWO
The Bobcats’ offense responded immediately in the first inning of the second game. Saxton led the game off with an infield hit and then stole second. She then advanced to third on a ground out by Jamie Wren (Whittier, Calif.). Saxton would then score on a hard hit ball by Hutchinson. Then Hutchinson would score when Cooper reached on an error by the pitcher, putting Ohio up 2-0 early.

Dayton would make noise in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with two outs, however Wren, making her first career start, would get the batter to strikeout and the Bobcats would get out of the inning still leading 2-0.

Dayton would get a run in the bottom of the second when Hannah DeSalvo would walk with the bases loaded, scoring Kyle Davidson to make the score 2-1.

Dayton would take the lead in the bottom of the third inning when the Flyers would score two runs on an error by the Bobcat shortstop, giving Dayton the 3-2 lead after three.

The Bobcats thundered back into the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Cooper reached first on a hit to leftfield. She then advanced to second when Alex Day (Hilliard, Ohio) walked and then with two outs, Cooper would score on a base hit by MacKenzie Brunswick (Bellefontaine, Ohio). Runners would advance when Michaela Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio) reached base on an error, loading the bases. Then with the bases juiced, Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.) would enter the game as a pinch hitter and would crush a single to centerfield, clearing the bases and putting Ohio up 6-3.

Dayton would get a run back in the bottom of the fifth when Gustafson hit a lead off homerun, making the score 6-4.

However, Ohio would get the run back and then some in the top of the sixth inning. Stiene would lead the inning off with a base hit and then Hutchinson would reach on a fielder’s choice. Cooper would then walk to put runners on first and second. Natalie Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) would then walk to load the bases. Day would then smash a single though the left side, scoring Hutchinson. Cooper would score on the same play when the catcher was called for obstruction, giving Ohio an 8-4 lead.

Ohio would add on in the top of the seventh inning when Cole reached on a base hit and would steal second and then third. Then with two outs, Hutchinson would rope a single to rightfield, scoring Cole from third and giving the Bobcats the late 9-4 lead.

The Bobcats would wrap up the game by getting the Flyers to go down in order in the bottom of the seventh, giving Ohio the 9-4 victory.

In the circle, Wren would get the start, pitching 1.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out one. Morgan Geno (Chillicothe, Ohio) would enter the game and pitch 2.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and striking out one on her way to picking up her first career win. Sitene would enter the game in the fourth inning and would close it out, pitching three innings, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out two and earning her first save of the season.

At the plate, Ohio had 12 hits. Leading the way was Hutchinson who went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Next was Cooper who went 2-for-4. Claytor registered one hit and two RBI and Saxton, Cole, Stiene, Day and Brunswick all had one hit.

Up next, Ohio returns to Mid-American Conference play when they head to Oxford, Ohio for a three game set with MAC East foe, Miami. The Bobcats will take on the RedHawks on Friday, April 22 at 3 p.m. and then wrap up the season with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 23, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

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