Final Stats

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AKRON, Ohio – The Ohio softball team (27-13, 8-7 MAC) wrapped up a three-game series with Mid-American Conference East foe Akron (19-22, 8-7 MAC) on Saturday (April 15), falling to the Zips by the final of 2-1.

After the Bobcats went down in order in the top of the first inning, Akron got runners on in the bottom of the frame. With two outs, Savannah Fruin reached first on a hard hit single through the left side. She then advanced to second when Kelly Hysong rocketed a pitch up the middle to centerfield. Then with runners on first and second, starter Danielle Stiene (Loveland, Ohio) would get the next batter to strikeout, ending the inning with the game still tied at 0-0.

Ohio got things going in the top of the second inning, when with one out, Natalie Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) smashed a double to right center. Then Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.) would reach first on an Akron fielding error. Stiene would move the runners over on a ground out, putting runners on second and third with two outs. However, the Bobcats would be unable to get a runner around and the game would go to the bottom of the second still tied at 0-0.

Akron would get on the board first in the bottom of second when Anna Tarpley led the inning off a double to left field. The next batter would pop up trying to sacrifice bunt to move the runner over. With one out, Caitlin Gambone would single home Tarpley and then advance to second on the throw home. With two outs, Gambone would advance to third on a wild pitch. Ashley Sims would then walk, putting runners on first and third with two outs. After the walk, Savannah Jo Dorsey (Grove City, Ohio) would enter the game Sims would then steal second and then Gambone would score on a wild pitch. Dorsey would get the batter at the plate to strikeout and the game would go to the third inning with Akron leading 2-0.

After Dorsey struck out the side in the bottom of the third inning, the Bobcats made noise again in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) reached first on a single to shallow right field. She then advanced to second on a passed ball. Claytor would reach base for the second time in the game on a fielding error by the Zips. Then with runners on first and second with two outs, MacKenzie Brunswick (Bellefontaine, Ohio) would reach on a fielder’s choice, however that play erased Copper from the bases and ended the inning with Ohio still trailing 2-0.

Akron would get a runner on in the bottom of the fourth inning when with one out, Laura Lakins reached on a base hit to left field. She then stole second and then with two outs, stole third. However, Dorsey would get the last batter in the inning to strikeout and the score would remain 2-0 in favor of Akron going to the top of the fifth inning.

The Bobcats would finally get a run on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Taylor Saxton (Circleville, Ohio) would lead the inning off with a double to left center. Then with two outs, Morgan Geno (Chillicothe, Ohio) would double to left field and advance to second on an error by the Akron catcher. However, the double would score Saxton and the Bobcats would cut the lead to 2-1.

Akron would get a runner on in the bottom of the fifth inning when Sims led the inning off with a single to left field. She would then advance to second on a sacrifice bunt, however Dorsey would get the final two batters out, sending the game to the top of the sixth with Ohio trailed 2-1.

The Bobcats would get things moving again in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Claytor reached first when she crushed a single to center field. She would then move to second when Stiene was hit by a pitch. However, the Bobcats would not score and they would go to the bottom of the sixth with the Bobcats trailing 2-1.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Bobcats would try to mount a comeback, but would be unable to do so and would fall by the final of 2-1.

In the circle, Stiene (9-6) got the start, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and struck out two while walking one. Dorsey pitched 4.1 innings and did not allow a run on two hits while striking out five and not walking anyone.

In the circle, Ohio scored one run on five hits. Saxton registered a double and a run scored. Alvarez also registered a double, while Geno had a single and an RBI. Claytor and Cooper also added hits for the Bobcats.

Up next, the Bobcats head to Huntington, W. Va. to take on Marshall in a med-week nonconference matchup. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

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