Final Stats

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DAYTON, Ohio – Led by Casie Hutchinson’s five RBI day and another stellar performance by Savannah Jo Dorsey, the Ohio softball team (13-2) defeated Dayton (8-7) in five innings on Wednesday, defeating the Flyers, 10-2.

“I’m proud of the team for coming out today and putting up double digit hits,” head coach Jodi Hermanek said. “Casie Hutchinson had an awesome day at the plate with her first home run of the season and a clutch two-out double to help accomplish the run rule. I’m excited to have Deanna Cole back in the lineup after her injury, and she looked pretty steady at the plate today.”

The Ohio offense didn’t waste any time getting on the board in the top of the first inning. Alex Day (Hilliard, Ohio) led off by reaching on an error by the left fielder. Taylor Saxton (Circleville, Ohio) followed that up with a single to the pitcher and then Morgan Geno (Chillicothe, Ohio) doubled to score Day. Then the next batter, Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) came to the plate and took a 2-2 and crushed it to right field to put Ohio up 4-0 early.

Dayton got on the board in the bottom of the second inning the lead off batter reached on an error, she would then score later in the inning on a single to left field. However, Dorsey would get out of the remainder of the inning and Ohio would enter the third with a 4-1 lead.

The Bobcats got the run back in the top of the third. Hutchinson led the inning off with a single to center, she then advanced to third on a Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) single to right field. Hutchinson then scored on a sacrifice fly to right field from Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.), giving the Bobcats a 5-1 lead.

Dayton would get a hit in the bottom of the third, but the Bobcats would get out of it unscathed. Then in the top of the fourth inning, Saxton would lead off with an infield single. She then stole second and then would score on a Cooper single to left field, giving Ohio a 6-1 lead.

After another scoreless inning from Dayton in the bottom of the fourth, Ohio came out swinging again in the top of the fifth inning. Alexa Holland (Rochester, Ind.) reached base on an error and then MacKenzie Brunswick (Bellefontaine, Ohio) followed that up with a hard hit single down the leftfield line. Brunswick then stole second and Holland advanced to third on the play. Day then singled to third to load the bases and Natalie Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) would single to center, scoring Holland. Geno would register a sacrifice fly, scoring Brunswick. The final blow to the Dayton defense came when Hutchinson registered her third hit of the day, a two-RBI single to center, giving Ohio a 10-1 lead ad the end of the top of the fifth.

Dayton would get one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but that would not be enough to extend the game, and Ohio would come away with the 10-2 road victory.

“Savannah and Madison were solid as a battery, earning again double digit strikeouts with some being in pressure situations,” Hermanek said.

At the plate, Ohio scored 10 runs on 12 hits. Leading the day was Hutchinson who went 3-for-4 with five RBI, a single, double and a homerun and she scored two runs. Cooper went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Saxton also added three hits while scoring three runs. Geno would record a hit with two RBI and a run scored. Day, Alvarez, Brunswick and Deanna Cole (Akron, Ohio) all added hits for Ohio.

In the circle, Dorsey (7-1) pitched five innings, allowing two runs on five hits. Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio) also struck out 10 on her way to her seventh win of the season.

Up next, the Bobcats continue their spring break trip when they head to Bowling Green, K.y. to take on Western Kentucky on Thursday, March 9. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

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