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LONG BEACH, Calif.– Thanks to a second inning solo homerun from senior Alex Day, the Ohio softball team (15-8) wrapped up play at the 2019 UCLA, Long Beach State Invitational on Sunday (March 10), defeating Liberty (15-9), 1-0. The Bobcats wrapped up the weekend with a 4-1 record. 

The Bobcats would threaten in the top of the first inning, when sophomores Allie Englant (Long Beach, Calif.) and Katie Yun (North Canton, Ohio) opened the game with back-to-back singles. Then with two outs, freshman Charlee Pond (Redondo Beach, Calif.) drew a walk to load the bases, however, the Bobcats were unable to get a run across, sending the game to the bottom of the second with the game still tied at 0-0. 

Liberty threatened in the bottom of the first inning when they had runners on second and third with no outs. However, the Bobcats' defense would come up strong, holding Liberty off the board, sending the game to the second with it still scoreless. 

Ohio struck first in the top of the second inning when with one out, Day (Hilliard, Ohio) hit a homerun to right field, putting the Bobcats up 1-0 after two innings. 

After a scoreless third and fourth innings from both teams, Ohio tried to add on in the top of the fifth inning when Yun reached first on a one-out single. However, the offense would be unable to get her around, sending the game to the bottom of the frame with the Bobcats leading 1-0. 

Liberty would threaten in the bottom of the sixth inning, leading off the inning with a single. However, the Bobcats would force two fly outs and a ground out, sending the game to the seventh innings with the Bobcats leading 1-0. 

After a quick inning for the Bobcats in the top of the seventh, the Ohio defense would also make quick work of Liberty, sending them down in order in the bottom of the seventh, securing a 1-0 victory for the Bobcats. 

Overall, Ohio scored one run on five hits and did not commit an error, while Liberty did not score a run on two hits and committed one error. 

Day went 1-for-2 with a homerun, RBI and a run scored.  Yun went 2-for-4, while Englant and Pond both recorded hits. 

In the circle, sophomore Madi McCrady (Brimfield, Ohio) pitched seven innings, allowing no runs on two hits, walked two and struck out three. 

Up next, the Bobcats will travel to Bloomington, Ind. for the Hoosier Classic. On Friday, they will take on Indiana at 6:30 p.m. ET. On Saturday, they will take on St. Francis at 6:30 p.m. ET. On Sunday, play will conclude at 2:30 p.m. when Ohio faces off against Indiana for the second time.

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