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Game One PDF Boxscore | Game Two PDF Boxscore 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Ohio softball team (1-8) returned to action today (Feb. 15) at the 2020 Chattanooga Challenge. The Bobcats split today's action, defeating Indiana State (3-4), 10-7, in their first game, before falling to Marshall (3-3), 6-5, in game two. 

GAME ONE: Ohio 10, Indiana State 7
After a scoreless first inning from both teams, Indiana State threatened in the top of the second inning, loading the bases. However, the Bobcats defense was able to work out of the jam, sending the game to the bottom of the second with the game still tied at 0-0. Ohio struck in the bottom of the inning when freshman Molly Troutman (Gahanna, Ohio) led the inning off with a double to center. She then moved to third when junior Ava Heidorn (Marysville, Ohio) grounded out. Then with one out, sophomore Caroline Spacek (Beaumont, Texas) roped a single to center, scoring Troutman and giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead going into the third inning.   

After a scoreless top of the third for Indiana State, Ohio threatened to add on in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles from freshman Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.) and junior Katie Yun (North Canton, Ohio), putting runners on with two outs. Troutman then loaded the bases, however, Ohio was unable to score, sending the game to the fourth inning with the Bobcats leading, 1-0. 

After Indiana State tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning, Ohio resounded in the bottom of the frame. Spacek led the inning off with a double down the left field line and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. With one out, freshman Sophia Bernard (Canton, Ohio) registered a sacrifice fly, scoring Spacek and putting the Bobcats up 2-1. 

Ohio was not done with the offense in the inning. With two outs, freshman Sydney Larson (Liberty Township, Ohio) drew a walk, followed by a single from junior Allie Englant (Long Beach, Calif.). Dawe then singled to center, scoring Larson and putting runners on second and third with two outs. Yun then stepped to the plate and crushed a double down the left field line, scoring Dawe and Englant, putting the Bobcats up 5-1 going into the fifth inning.

After a scoreless fifth inning from both teams, Indiana State rallied in the top of the sixth inning, scoring five runs on seven hits to take a 6-5 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning. 

Ohio responded with a five-spot of their own in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Englant singled and then moved to second on a wild pitch. Englant then moved to third after Dawe singled to put runners on first and third with one out. Englant then scored on a sacrifice fly from Yun, tying the game at 6-6. Troutman then singled up the middle to score Dawe, putting the Bobcats up, 7-6. 

The Bobcats' offence continued to roll in the inning. After Troutman stole second, Heidorn singled to left, scoring Troutman. Spacek continued the run with an RBI double down the right field line, before an RBI single from junior Brooke Rice (Mason, Ohio) gave Ohio a 10-6 lead going into the top of the seventh inning. 

Indiana State was able to get one run back in the top of the seventh inning, however it was not enough, as the Bobcats picked up their first win of the season, defeating ISU, 10-7. 

Overall, Ohio scored 10 runs on 16 hits and did not commit and error, while Indiana State scored seven runs on 16 hits and did not commit an error. 

Leading the way at the plate was Spacek who went 4-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Dawe finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Yun finished 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Englant finished with two hits and two runs scored, while Troutman registered two hits, a double, two runs scored and one RBI. Heidorn and Rice both registered hits with an RBI, while senior Alexa Holland (Rochester, Ind.) recorded a single, with Bernard adding an RBI. 

In the circle, junior Madi McCrady (Brimfield, Ohio) pitched six innings, allowing six runs on 13 hits, walked three and struck out two. Redshirt sophomore Baylie Thornhill (Baton Rouge, La.) finished the game, pitching one inning, allowing one run on three hits. 

GAME TWO: Marshall 6, Ohio 5
In the second game of the day, Englant led the game off with a single to short and then stole second. However, the Bobcats were unable to score, sending the game to the bottom of the inning with the game still scoreless. Marshall struck in the bottom of the frame, hitting a solo homerun with one out, giving the Herd a 1-0 lead going into the second inning. 

In the top of the second, Heidorn led the inning off with a double to left before Spacek reached on a fielder's choice. Then with runners on second and third with one out, the Bobcats were unable to push the equalizer across, sending the game to the bottom of the frame with Ohio trailing, 1-0. Marshall added on in the bottom of the second inning, scoring two runs on three hits and one error, giving the Herd a 3-0 lead going into the third inning. 

Ohio struck in the top of the third inning. After Englant led the inning off with a single and then moved to second on a ground out, Yun singled to center, scoring Englant, cutting the Marshall lead to 3-1. However, Marshall got the run back in the bottom of the frame, taking a 4-1 lead to the top of the fourth inning. 

After a scoreless fourth inning from both teams, Ohio rallied in the top of the fifth inning. After Dawe led the inning off with a walk, Yun singled to left and then Troutman walked to load the bases with no outs. Heidorn then tripled down the right field line to clear the bases, trying the game at 4-4. Then with one out, Heidorn scored on a sacrifice fly from Rice, giving Ohio a 5-4 lead going into the bottom of the inning. 

After Marshall went down in order in the bottom of the sixth inning, Ohio threatened to add on in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Dawe walked, followed by a two-out single from Troutman, putting runners second and third. However, Ohio was unable to get a run across, sending the game to the bottom of the inning with the Bobcats leading, 5-4. 

Marshall rallied in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs on a double to take a 6-5 lead to the top of the seventh inning. 

The Bobcats attempted to mount a rally in the top of the seventh inning. Spacek led the inning off with a double down the left field line, however, the Ohio offense was unable to get her around, sealing the 6-5 victory for Marshall. 

Overall, Ohio scored five runs on 20 hits and committed one error, while Marshall scored six runs on 10 hits and committed one error. 

Leading the Bobcats at the plate was Heidorn who went 2-for-4 with a triple, double, three RBI and one run scored. Englant finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Yun finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Holland finished with two hits, including a triple, while Troutman recorded one hit with one run scored, while Spacek added a double, and Rice registered an RBI. 

In the circle, Thornhill got the start, pitching 2.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walked one and struck out three. Sophomore Mackensie Kohl (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) pitched 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits. 

UP NEXT
Ohio concludes play at the 202 Chattanooga Challenge on Sunday, Feb. 16 when Ohio faces off with Lipscomb at 10 a.m. 

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