Final Stats

Game One PDF Boxscore | Game Two PDF Boxscore

LOUISVILLE, K.y. – The Ohio softball team wrapped (14-6) up play at the 2017 Louisville Tournament, splitting the final day of competition. In the Bobcats’ first game of the day, Ohio fell to Northern Iowa (12-9), 2-0. Ohio returned later in the afternoon to defeat Wright State (3-13), 14-6 in six innings.

GAME ONE: Northern Iowa 2, Ohio 0
UNI attempted to get on the board first in the top of the first inning. With one out, a runner reached base on a wild pitch and then advanced to second. However, starter Savannah Jo Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio) would get the next two batters to strike out and end the inning.

The Bobcats threatened in the bottom of the frame when Alex Day (Hilliard, Ohio) led the inning off with a single to third base. Taylor Saxton (Circleville, Ohio) followed that up with a perfect bunt single. With two outs and runners on first and second, Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) would rope a single through the right side. However, Day would be thrown out at home trying to score and the game would remain scoreless after one inning.

After a scoreless second inning, Northern Iowa would attempt to get a run again in the top of the third. With one out, the UNI batter would single through the left side and then later steal second. However, the Bobcat defense would hold strong and the game would remain scoreless.

After a scoreless inning from Ohio in the bottom of the third, UNI would get on the board in the top of the fourth inning when the lead off batter was hit by a pitch. Later in the inning, the runner would advance to third on a Bobcats throwing error, putting runners on first and third with one out. Then with two outs, Northern Iowa would get a clutch two-RBI single, giving UNI a 2-0 lead after four innings.

The Bobcats would try and get a run on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning when Saxton registered her second hit of the day, however should would be unable to score.

After Dorsey send the UNI batters down in order in the top of the seventh, the Bobcats attempted to put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Natalie Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) tripled to right center, however the Ohio offense would be unable to get her home and the Bobcats would fall to UNI, 2-0.

At the plate, Ohio registered five hits, Saxton went 2-for-3, Alvarez registered a triple, and Day and Hutchinson both added hits for Ohio.

In the circle, Dorsey pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits and struck out 11.

GAME TWO: Ohio 14, Wright State 6 (6 Innings)
In their final game of the weekend, Ohio didn’t waste anytime getting on the board. Day led the game off with a single to right field. Hutchinson then walked and with one out Alvarez reached on a fielder’s choice. Then with the bases loaded, Morgan Geno (Chillicothe, Ohio) came to the plate and crushed a 3-2 pitch to straight away center for a grand slam and giving Ohio an early 4-0 lead. Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) then singled to center and then advanced to second on a ground out by Alexa Holland (Rochester, Ind.). Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.) would then single to left field, scoring Cooper from second and giving Ohio a 5-0 lead one inning.

Wright State would respond in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs on three hits and making the score 6-4 after one full inning of action.

Ohio added on in the top of the second inning when Day led the inning off with a walk and Saxton followed with a walk of her own to put runners on first and second. Day would later score when Geno reached on a fielding error by Wright State, increasing the Bobcat lead to 6-4.

Wright State would get a double in the bottom of the second, but Dorsey would get the final batter of the inning to foul out, to keep the score 6-4.

The Bobcats would put together a monster inning in the top of the third. Holland would walk to lead off the inning, followed by back-to-back-to-back singles by Claytor, Deanna Cole (Akron, Ohio) and Day. Saxton would then walk to score Claytor. Hutchinson would then reach base on a fielder’s choice, scoring Cole. Then Brittany Keen (Perth, Western Australia) would record her first hit in a Bobcat softball uniform, an RBI single to right field. After Saxton scored on a MacKenzie Brunswick (Bellefontaine, Ohio) sacrifice fly, Cooper would double right field, scoring Hutchinson. Holland would then walk for the second time in the inning, and then Claytor would reach on a fielder’s choice, scoring Keen. By the end of the inning, the Bobcats scored seven runs on five hits, making the score 13-4 after three innings.

Wright State would add two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, making the score 13-6.

After a rather quiet fifth inning, Ohio would put the final nail in the coffin in the top of the fifth inning. Cole led the inning off with a single and then stole second. Day reached on an error, scoring Cole and making the score 14-6.

Wright State would get a leadoff hit in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Danielle Stiene (Loveland, Ohio) would get the next three batters to strike out, giving Ohio the 14-6 six inning victory.

At the plate, the Bobcats scored 14 runs on 10 heads. Leading the way was Day who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Claytor went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, Cooper went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI and Cole went 2-for-4. Geno added a homerun and four RBI and Keen added her first hit as a Bobcat.

In the circle, Desirae Villanueva (Surrey, British Columbia) got the start, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing six runs on three hits. Dorsey entered the game and pitched 2.1 innings and did not allow a run on two hits and struck out three to earn her eighth win of the year. Stiene closed out the game, pitching 2.0 innings and did not allow a run on two hits while striking out three.

UP NEXT
The Bobcats return to Athens on March 15 to take on Marshall. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at the Ohio Softball Field. Following the game there will a free youth clinic hosted by the Ohio softball team.

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