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COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Ohio softball team (4-1) wrapped up play at the 2017 Carolina Classic, shutting out Longwood (0-4), 5-0, on Sunday morning (Feb. 12). Ohio finished the tournament with a 4-1 record.

"The coaching staff is proud of the 4-1 start in opening week," head coach, Jodi Hermanek said. "Defensively, we did a great job with routine plays and working together. Our pitching staff came out strong in the wins weekend. I thought we had great approaches and attack at the plate this weekend, up and down the line-up. The one loss, to a good team, showed us what we needed to build on, and we were happy that we got those adjustments out of our team in the final three wins on the weekend."

The Bobcats didn’t waste anytime getting on the board in their final day at the Carolina Classic. After starting pitcher Savannah Jo Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio) struck out the side in the top of the first inning, Ohio jumped on the board right away in the bottom of the frame. Jamie Wren (Whittier, Calif.) led the inning off with a single to left field. Alex Day (Hilliard, Ohio) followed that up with a single of her own and then Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. The next batter, Natalie Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.), then singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw, allowing Wren and Day to score and putting Ohio up early.

The Bobcats weren’t done in the inning. The next batter, Morgan Geno (Chillicothe, Ohio) singled through the left side, scoring Cooper. Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.) would then double to center field, scoring Alvarez and putting Ohio up 4-0 after the first inning.

After a scoreless second inning for both teams, Dorsey would strike out two more Longwood batters in the top of the third inning to keep the shutout going. The Bobcats would enter the bottom of the inning with the bats swinging once again. Geno singled to lead off the inning and Deanna Cole (Akron, Ohio) would come in to pinch run. Alexa Holland (Rochester, Ind.) would then single to move Cole to second and MacKenzie Brunswick (Bellefontaine, Ohio) would be hit by a pitch to lead the bases. Taylor Saxton (Circleville, Ohio) would ground out to first base, allowing Cole to score from third and give the Bobcats a 5-0 lead after three innings.

After another scoreless frame from the Bobcat defense in the top of the fourth, the Ohio bats went back to work with Day and Alvarez both roping singles to put runners on first and second. Then with one out, Geno flew out to right field, allowing Day to advance to third. However the Bobcats would not be able to get her home and Ohio would enter the fifth inning still leading 5-0.

After another one-two-three inning by Ohio in the top of the fifth inning, the Bobcats would get another runner on when Brunswick doubled down the right field line. However she would not score and the Bobcats would go on to the top of the sixth where Dorsey would send Longwood down in order once again, keeping the shutout and Ohio’s 5-0 lead alive.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bobcats once again got another base runner, but she would not score, sending the Bobcats into the top of the seventh inning still leading 5-0.

Longwood refused to go quietly and in the top of the seventh Destiny Martinez would single to lead off the inning. With one out she would advance to second on a wild pitch and then Glenn Walters would reach first on a throwing error, but the strong Bobcat arms would get the lead runner out at home. The next batter would ground out to third to end the inning and Ohio would come away with the 5-0 victory.

At the plate, Ohio scored five runs on 11 hits and was led by Day who was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Alvarez went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored while Geno also went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Claytor went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI and Wren, Holland and Brunswick all added hits for Ohio.

In the circle, Dorsey was dominant once again, pitching six scoreless innings while only allowing one hit and striking out 10. Desirae Villanueva (Surrey, British Columbia) closed out the game for the Bobcats, pitching one inning and did not allow a run on one hit.

The Bobcats return to action Feb. 17-19 when they head to San Diego, Calif. for the 2017 Cartier Classic. The Bobcats will begin completion Feb. 17 at 2:30 ET against 13^th-ranked Washington.

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