May 7, 2017
Final Stats
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BUFFALO, N.Y. – Helped by the game-winning RBI double from Desirae Villanueva, the Ohio softball team (36-14, 17-7 MAC) rallied to defeat Buffalo (9-46, 3-21 MAC), 6-4, on a cold Sunday morning in Buffalo, N.Y. for their third-straight sweep to conclude the regular season. With the win, the Bobcats concluded the regular season as Mid-American Conference East Division Champions.
After the Bobcats went down in order to open the game, the Bulls would strike first in the bottom of the inning. Jessica Goldyn would lead off with a double to center. She would then steal second, placing her at third. Jenelle Martinez would then draw a walk and steal second, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Then with one out, Goldyn would score on a sacrifice fly by Essence Savinon. Savinon would then take first on an error by the Bobcat left fielder. Gabby Keller would then single to load the bases and with one out, Martinez would score on a single to shallow right field by Karlie Fernandez. With the bases still loaded, starter Danielle Stiene (Loveland, Ohio) would get the next two Buffalo batters to strike out to end the inning and send the game to the second with Buffalo leading. 2-0.
Buffalo would add on in the bottom of the second. With one out, Goldyn would triple to left center. She would then score on an error after she got caught in a run down. After Martinez walked, Stiene would strike out the next two batters to get out of the inning with Buffalo leading 3-0.
The Bobcats would get their first base runner in the top of the third inning when Taylor Saxton (Circleville, Ohio) would single with two outs. However, she would be erased from the bases after Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning with UB still leading 3-0.
The Bobcats would rally and take the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Jamie Wren (Whittier, Calif.) led the inning off with a hard single up the middle. She would then be thrown out trying to steal second, however, Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.) would hit a single through the left side and then move to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Stiene would come to the plate and crush an RBI double to right center, scoring Claytor. Saxton would then come to the plate and single and move to second on the throw home that scored Stiene, cutting the Buffalo lead to 3-2.
Ohio’s two-out rally wasn’t finished and Cooper would single to right field, scoring Saxton, tying the game. Buffalo would then make a pitching change with Alexa Holland (Rochester, Ind.) coming to the plate. Holland would then take the first pitch she saw and crush w double to right center, putting runners on second and third. Cooper would then score when the UB pitcher was called for an illegal pitch. The Buffalo defense would get the last Ohio batter out, sending the game to the bottom of the fifth with the Bobcats now leading 4-3.
Buffalo would tie the game up in the bottom of the fifth inning when Martinez would single to lead off the inning. She would then move to second on a fly out. Then with two ours, Keller would single to score Martinez, however Keller would be out at second on a throw from left field, ending the inning with the game tied at 4-4.
The Bobcats would retake the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Natalie Alvarez (Long Beach, Calif.) led the inning off with a walk. Alvarez would then be replaced on the bases by Dallas Messenger (Belaire, Ohio). Messenger then moved to second on a ground out by Wren and then Claytor would draw a walk, putting runners on first and second with one out. Michaela would then reach first on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Stiene would then reach first on a fielder’s choice, however Messenger would be out at home on the force play. With two outs, Desirae Villanueva (Surrey, British Columbia) would pinch hit, and with two strikes, she would crush a two-RBI ground rule double, her first career hit, scoring Claytor and Dorsey. The UB defense would get the last Ohio batter out, but Bobcats would now lead 6-4 going into the bottom of the sixth.
Buffalo would try to rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. Fernandez would lead the inning off with a single and then move to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Charlotte Miller would reach first after she was hit by a pitch and then Goldyn would walk to load the bases. However, Stiene would get the next batter to fly out to center on the first pitch to end the inning with Ohio leading 6-4.
Ohio would try to add on in the top of the seventh inning when with one out, Alex Day (Hilliard, Ohio) would single to left field. She would then be erased from the bases when Alvarez hit into a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Wren would then hit into a fielder’s choice, however Alvarez would be out at second on the force to end the inning with the Bobcats still leading 6-4.
Buffalo would try to mount a rally in the bottom of the seventh, but would be unable to do so, sending the Bobcats back to Athens with the 6-4 victory.
In the circle, Stiene pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and struck out 10 on her way to her 13th win of the season.
At the plate, Ohio scored six runs on nine hits. Leading the way was Saxton who went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Villanueva registered her first career hit, a two-RBI double, while Stiene also registered a double, RBI and run scored. Cooper added a hit, RBI and a run scored, while Holland registered a double. Claytor, Day and Wren all record hits for Ohio.
Up next, the Bobcats will head to the 2017 Mid-American Conference Tournament May 10-13 at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. All seeding and opponents will be set following the conclusion of all of today’s games. Stay tuned to OhioBobcats.com and on Twitter at @OhioBobcatSB for all bracket and tournament information.
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