Final Stats

Game One Boxscore | Game Two Boxscore

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Led by Savannah Jo Dorsey and MacKenzie Brunswick, the Ohio softball team (1-1) opened up the 2017 season at the Caronia Classic, hosted by South Carolina, on Friday (Feb. 10), splitting its two games. Ohio defeated Longwood (0-1) 5-0 and fell to South Carolina (1-0) 10-0 in five innings.

“I am pleased with the .500 day right out of the starting blocks with strong competition from Longwood and South Carolina,” head coach Jodi Hermanek said. “It was great to see Savannah jump right back in where she left off in 2016, posting a double-digit strikeout win against a very good hitting Longwood team. Offensively we had great attack in both games and really came through with timely hitting in the first game. Also, I’m extremely proud of Kenzie on the day offensively. She showed her power and getting that from the eight-hole is a key factor in our offense.”

GAME ONE: Ohio 5, Longwood 0
The Bobcats opened up the 2017 season against Longwood in the opening game of the Carolina Classic. In the top of the first inning, Jamie Wren (Whittier, Calif.) led off the game with a walk, but would get called out trying to steal second and the Bobcats’ early threat would come to an end.

After Longwood left two runners on base in the bottom of the frame, Ohio would come out swinging in the top of the second. Morgan Geno (Chillicothe, Ohio) led the inning off with a walk, which would allow pinch runner Deanna Cole (Akron, Ohio) to steal second and would then advance to third on a wild pitch. Cole would then score on a single up the middle by Brunswick (Bellefontaine, Ohio), giving Ohio a 1-0 lead after the second inning.

After a scoreless third inning by both teams, the Ohio bats came alive once again in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Natalie Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) reached first on a throwing error and then Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.) walked. Brunswick would then double to left center, scoring Alexa Holland (Rochester, Ind.) who was pinch running for Alvarez. Claytor would then score when Taylor Saxton (Circleville, Ohio) reached on a throwing error and then the final run of the inning was scored when Alex Day (Hilliard, Ohio) singled down the left field line, scoring Saxton and giving the Bobcats a 4-0 lead after four innings.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Longwood would get their first hit of the game on an infield single. Starting pitcher Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio) would then strike out a batter and then forced another one to hit into an inning-ending double play, keeping the score 4-0.

After a scoreless top of the fifth inning for the Bobcats, Dorsey struck out the side in the bottom of the frame, moving on to the top of the sixth with a 4-0 lead. The Bobcats would add on in the top of the sixth when Brunswick crushed 1-0 pitch over the leftfield wall, giving Brunswick her first career homerun and the Bobcats a 5-0 lead after six.

Dorsey would send Longwood down in order in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, Geno singled up the middle with two outs, however Ohio would not get her home and they would go to the bottom of the frame with a 5-0 lead.

Danielle Stiene (Loveland, Ohio) entered the game in the bottom of the seventh and after allowing a leadoff single, Stiene struck out the final three batters, sending Ohio to a 5-0 victory.

Offensively, Ohio scored five runs on six hits and did not commit an error. Leading the way at the plate was Brunswick who went 3-for-3 with a single, double, homerun and three runs batted in. Day registered a hit and an RBI. Geno and Saxton both registered base hits for the Bobcats. Wren recorded an RBI and Cole, Holland, Claytor, Brunswick and Saxton all scored runs for Ohio.

In the circle, Dorsey (1-0) picked up right where she left off last year, pitching six scoreless innings, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out 11. Stiene pitched one inning and did not allow a run on one hit and struck out three.

GAME TWO: South Carolina 10, Ohio 0 (5)
In the Bobcats second game of the day, Ohio’s offense attempted to pick up where it left off in the first game, when with two outs, Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) doubled to right center. However, she would not score and South Carolina would come to bat with the game still tied 0-0.

South Carolina would strike first in the top off the first inning, scoring two runs on three hits and giving the Gamecocks an early 2-0 lead.

The Bobcats would threaten again in the top of the second when Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) walked to lead off the inning. Cole would enter the game to run for Hutchinson and then she would advance to third on a crushed single up the middle by Alvarez. However, the South Carolina defense would get the next two Bobcats to strikeout and keep the score at 2-0.

South Carolina added on in the bottom of the second inning, scoring three runs on one hit and taking a 5-0 lead after two frames. After the Bobcats went down in order in the top of the third inning, South Carolina added three more runs in the bottom of the frame, led by a two run homerun by Krystan White, and would lead 8-0 after three innings.

In the top of the fourth inning, Hutchinson would walk for the second time in the game. However, she would not score. South Carolina would then add on two more runs in the bottom of the frame, taking a 10-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Bobcats refused to go quietly and with one out, Brunswick continued her stellar day by roping a single to left field. Saxton would then reach base on a fielder’s choice, however the Bobcats would not be able to get a run across and South Carolina would come away with the 10-0 victory.

At the plate, Ohio registered three hits with Brunswick, Cooper and Alvarez all recording singles. Hutchinson also reached base for the Bobcats, walking twice.

Getting her first career start, Desirae Villanueva (Surrey, British Columbia) pitched two innings and would allow four runs on four hits and strike out one. Stiene entered the game in the bottom of the second inning and pitched 1.2 innings, allowing three runs on two hits and striking out one. Geno entered the game in the bottom of the third inning and pitched a third of an inning, allowing two runs on three hits.

UP NEXT
The Bobcats return to action at the Carolina Classic on Saturday, Feb. 11 when Ohio takes on Charlotte at 12:30 p.m. and Presbyterian at 5:30 p.m.

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