Final Stats

Game One PDF Boxscore | Game Two PDF Boxscore

LOUISVILLE, K.y. – The Ohio softball team (13-5) opened play at the 2017 Louisville Tournament on Friday. In the first game of the day, the Bobcats fell to Northern Iowa (13-8), 8-0. They then came back later in the day and fell to Louisville (13-7), 2-1 in an eight inning defensive battle.

GAME ONE: Northern Iowa 8, Ohio 0 (6)
After a scoreless first inning for the Bobcats, Northern Iowa would attempt to get to the Bobcat defense early, getting a runner on base on a one-out single. However, Danielle Stiene (Loveland, Ohio) would get the next batter to ground out and then Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.) would throw out the runner attempting to steal second, ending the inning still in a scores tie.

Northern Iowa would strike first in the bottom of the second innings, scoring four runs on two hits and putting UNI up 4-0.

The Bobcats attempted to cut the lead in the top of the fourth when Jamie Wren would walk. She would the advance to second on a fielder’s choice, however she would not score and Northern Iowa would lead continue to lead 4-0.

UNI threatened again in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with no outs. Ohio the Bobcat defense would be able to get out of the jam, trailing 4-0.

After Claytor would reach on an error in the top of the fifth inning, Ohio would be unable to get her around. And after a scores UNI inning in the bottom of the frame, Ohio would come up in the top of the sixth and make noise again. Taylor Saxton (Circleville, Ohio) led the inning off with a walk. Alex Day (Hilliard, Ohio) would then single to center field, putting runners first and second, however the Ohio offense would not be able to get a run on the board.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Northern Iowa took advantage of Ohio miscues, scoring four runs on two hits and coming away with the 8-0 six-inning victory.

At the plate, Ohio registered one hit, a single by Day.

In the circle, Stiene (4-2) got the start and pitched 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on two hits. Desirae Villanueva (Surrey, British Columbia) pitched 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on three hits and striking out three.

GAME TWO: Louisville 2, Ohio 1 (8)

The Bobcats didn’t waste any time getting on the board in the second game of the day. In the top of the first inning, Day led off with a single and with two outs stole second. Then Natalie Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) singled to left field, scoring Day and giving Ohio a 1-0 lead.

Louisville tied the game up in the bottom of the second inning, when the lead off batter reached third on a throwing error by the Bobcat third baseman. She would then score on a sacrifice fly, tying the game at 1-1.

Ohio would threaten again in the top of the third inning when Day singled to the left side to put a runner on base. Jamie Wren (Whittier, Calif.) would then reach on a fielder’s choice, but that was all the action the Bobcats would get and the score would remain 1-1.

After scoreless frames from both pitchers, Louisville attempted to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. The leadoff batter would single and then the next batter would double, putting runners on second and third with no outs. However, starter Savannah Jo Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio) would get the next three batters out, getting out of the jam and keeping the score tied at 1-1.

Louisville would make its biggest threat since the second inning in the bottom of the sixth. After the leadoff batter walked, the next batter would reach on a fielder’s choice, putting runners at first and second. The next batter would fly out, advancing a runner to third. Dorsey would then get the next two batters to foul out and fly out, getting out of the inning with the game still tied at 1-1.

Ohio tried to take the lead in the top of the seventh, when with one out, Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) singled through the right side to get on base. However, she would not score and the game would go to the bottom of the seventh tied 1-1.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Dorsey would strikeout the side to send the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, with a runner on second base due to the international tiebreaker rule, Louisville would get a two out single, scoring the runner and giving the Cardinals the 2-1 lead.

At the plate, Ohio scored one run on four hits. Day went 2-for-4, while Alvarez and Cooper both added hits for Ohio.

In the circle, Dorsey (7-2) was solid, pitching 7.2 innings, allowing two runs, none earned on four hits and striking out 11.

Up next, all games at the tournament tomorrow are canceled due to cold weather. The bobcats will return to action Sunday, March 12 when they wrap up play at the tounment. The Bocbats will tke on UNI at 10 a.m. and Wright State at 3 p.m. 

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