Final Stats

Game One PDF Boxscore | Game Two PDF Boxscore

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Ohio softball team (9-2) returned to action on Thursday (March 2) when they opened play at the 2017 Tennessee Invitational hosted by Tennessee. The Bobcats opened competition at the invitational by defeating Southeastern Louisiana (8-9), 5-2. The Bobcats would return to action later in the day and fall in a hard fought defensive battle to No.15 Tennessee (15-2), 2-1.

"Today we set the standard of the team and program that we work to achieve each time we compete," head coach Jodi Hermanek said. "Game one against Southeastern Louisiana, our offense delivered timely hits early and defensivly we handled their speedy attack. It was a big game at the plate for Cooper.Then in game two we faced a very solid pitching staff and I was proud of our offensive attack. We out hit them and had runners in scoring position more innings than not, which speaks volumes to the offense we are and to the stellar outting from Savannah in the circle. Mostly, I was proud of our defense. They really delivered in crucial moments."

GAME ONE: Ohio 5, Southeastern Louisiana 2
After a scoreless first inning for the Bobcats, the Ohio offense got rolling in the bottom of the second. Natalie Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) led the inning off with a single to left field. Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) doubled to center field. Then with no outs, Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) hit her first home run of the season to left field, putting Ohio up 3-0.

Later in the inning the Bobcats would continue to threaten when MacKenzie Brunswick (Bellefontaine, Ohio) singled to left center and then stole second, however she would not score and Ohio would enter the third inning leading 3-0.

After a scoreless third inning for the Bobcats and after starting pitcher Danielle Stiene (Loveland, Ohio) sent Southeastern Louisiana down in order, the Bobcats added on in the bottom of the fourth inning. Cooper started the inning off by rocketing a single up the middle. Then with two outs she stole second. Taylor Saxton (Circleville, Ohio) would single home Cooper and would advance to second on a throwing error by the catcher.

Alex Day (Hilliard, Ohio) would then single to the shortstop, scoring Saxton and giving the Bobcats a 5-0 lead. After the Day single, Jamie Wren (Whittier, Calif.) would also single to put runners on first and second, however they would not score and they would finish the inning leadings 5-0.

In the top of the next frame, Southeastern Louisiana would finally get on the board. Mychal Truxillo led the inning off with a single. Kalyn Watts would then double down the left field line, putting runners on second and third. Then the next batter, Ali McCoy would double to right center, scoring Truxillo and Watts. Then the next batter would walk putting runners on first and second. Stiene would get the next batter to strikeout looking before Savannah Jo Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio) entered the circle, getting the next two outs and preserving the Bobcats’ 5-2 lead.

After a scoreless bottom of the fifth for the Bobcats, Southeastern Louisiana tried to add on again by forcing a leadoff walk. However, Dorsey would get two batters to strikeout and another to fly out and the Bobcats would get out of the inning still leading, 5-2.

The Bobcats would get base runners again in the bottom of the sixth inning when Saxton singled up the middle, however she would get caught stealing. Day would add another single, however the Bobcats would not score in the frame and Ohio would move on to the top of the seventh with the 5-2 lead.

Dorsey and the Bobcats entered the top of the seventh inning, and in true Dorsey fashion, she struck out the side, giving Ohio the 5-2 victory to open the Tennessee Invitational.

At the plate, the Bobcats would register five runs on 11 hits. Leading Ohio in the game was Cooper who went 2-for-3 with a home run, run scored and three RBI. Day went 2-for-3 at the plate and added and RBI, while Hutchinson went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Saxton also went 2-for-3 with and RBI and a run scored, while Wren, Alvarez and Brunswick all added hits for Ohio.

In the circle, Stiene (3-0) got the start, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four. Dorsey entered the game in relief and pitched 2.2 innings and did not allow a run or a hit while striking out six of the nine batters she faced and earn the save.

GAME TWO: Tennessee 2, Ohio 1
In the Bobcats’ second game of the day, Ohio took on fifteenth-ranked Tennessee. The Volunteers jumped on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. After the leadoff batter walked, she then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then the next batter, Brooke Vines singled, putting runners on first and third. Then with no outs, Meghan Gregg doubled to left center and putting Tennessee up 2-0.

Tennessee would then load the bases with one out, however starting pitcher Savannah Jo Dorsey would get the batters to strikeout and ground out to end the inning only down 2-0.

Ohio would get its first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning when Alvarez singled to lead off the inning and later in the inning Madison Claytor would walk, however the Bobcats would not score and the Bobcats would still trail 2-0 after two innings.

Ohio would strike in the top of the third inning when with one out, Day singled, she then advanced to second when Wren singled to left field. Then with a 2-2 count, Morgan Geno (Chillicothe, Ohio) would crank a long single to right center, scoring Day and cutting the Tennessee lead to 2-1 after three innings.

After Tennessee left a runner on base in the bottom of the third, Ohio threatened again in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Cooper would walk. Then Claytor would smash a double to right center, placing runners at second and third. However, Tennessee would make a pitching change and the new Volunteer pitcher, Matty Moss would get the next two Bobcat batters out and Ohio would end the inning still trailing 2-1.

After Wren reached base on a single in the top of the fifth inning, Tennessee would come back out and threaten to add on to the lead in the bottom of the frame. Aubrey Leach would lead the inning off with a single. She would however be thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice. Dorsey would get the next batter to pop up and after walking the next batter, Dorsey would get the final batter of the inning to ground out to second base.

Tennessee would threaten to add on in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Scarlet McSwain would walk, the next batter, Jenna Holcomb would reach first on an infield single, putting runners at first and second. However, Dorsey would get the next two batters to pop out and ground out, to end the frame with the score still 2-1.

Ohio would try to put together a late-inning rally in the top of the seventh inning. When with one out, Saxton walked. She would then advance to second on a ground out. However, Tennessee would get the final Ohio batter to strikeout swinging and the Bobcats would fall by the final of 2-1.

At the plate, Ohio scored one run on six hits. At the plate, Day was 1-for-4 with a run scored and Geno was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Wren added two hits for the Bobcats, while Alvarez had a single and Claytor registered a double for Ohio.

In the circle, Dorsey (4-1) was solid, pitching six innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five and walking four.

"If we could, would there be some moments we want back? Yes, absolutly," Hermanek said. "But we are strong, we fought and played a heck of a game tonight. It stings a bit. But like I siad, we have set the standard to win and we intend to rise up from here."

UP NEXT
The Bobcats return to action at the 2017 Tennessee Invitational on Friday, March 3 when the Bobcats take on Bradley. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.

#BleedGreen