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Game One PDF Boxscore | Game Two PDF Boxscore

CONWAY, S.C. -- The Ohio softball team (6-11) opened play at the 2020 Courtyard Marriott Barefoot Landing Invitational Friday afternoon (Feb. 28), splitting the day's action. The Bobcats defeated Maryland Eastern Shore (1-10), 10-1 in five innings in the first game, before falling to host Coastal Carolina (11-3), 8-3, in game two. 

GAME ONE: Ohio 10, UMES 1 (5 Innings)
After Maryland Eastern Shore went down in order in the top of the first inning, Ohio threatened in the bottom of the frame. Junior Allie Englant (Long Beach, Calif.) led off with a single to third and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Englant stole third, an RBI single from junior Katie Yun (North Canton, Ohio) gave Ohio a 1-0 lead. Then with two outs, sophomore Caroline Spacek (Beaumont, Texas) singled, scoring Yun and giving Ohio a 2-0 lead going to the second inning. 

After another scoreless inning from UMES, Ohio added on. After junior Brooke Rice (Mason, Ohio) drew a walk, sophomore Justice Ruggles (Grass Lake, Mich.) entered the game to run for her. Sophomore Caitlin Fogue (Columbia, Mo.) tripled to right, scoring Ruggles. Fogue scored moments later when freshman Sophia Bernard (Canton, Ohio) reached on an error and then moved to third on the play. Moments later, Bernard scored on a ground out by freshman Molly Troutman (Gahanna, Ohio), putting Ohio up, 5-0 after two innings. 

UMES got a run back in the top of the third inning to cut the Ohio lead to 5-1. However, the Bobcats got the run back in the bottom of the frame on a leadoff home run by Yun to give the Bobcats a 6-1 lead after three innings of play. 

After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, UMES went down in order in the top of the fifth inning. In the bottom of the frame, Ohio shut the door on the game. Freshman Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.) singled to center to lead off the inning. Yun then singled to left and then Dawe and Yun scored two runs when junior Ava Heidorn (Marysville, Ohio) reached on a fielder's choice to give the Bobcats am 8-1 lead. 

After Spacek drew a walk, Rice came to the plate and crushed her second home run of the season to left-center, ending the game and sealing Ohio's 10-1 five-inning victory. 

Overall, Ohio scored 10 runs on eight hits and did not commit an error, while UMES scored one run on one hit and committed one error. 

Individually, Yun went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, one home run and two RBI, Rice added a home run, two RBI and a run scored, while Yun added a hit and run scored. Fogue added a triple, run scored and RBI, while Spacek also added a hit and an RBI. 

In the circle, junior Madi McCrady (Brimfield, Ohio) pitched five innings, allowing one run on one hit, walked one and struck out two. 

GAME 2: Coastal Carolina 8, Ohio 3
Englant led the inning off with a single up the middle. She then moved to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a passed ball. However, the Bobcats were unable to get them home. Sending the game to the bottom of the inning with the game scoreless. 

After a scoreless top of the second inning for Ohio, Coastal Carolina took a 1-0 lead Ohio responded in the top of the third inning. Troutman singled to lead off the inning. Then with one out, Dawe drew a walk and then Yun singled to load the bases. Spacek then singled up the middle, scoring Troutman and Dawe, giving Ohio a 2-1 lead going to the bottom of the inning. However, Coastal hit two home runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-2 lead going into the fourth inning. 

After a scoreless fourth inning from both team and a scoreless fifth from Ohio, Coastal Carolina scored two runs off of their third home run of the game, taking a 6-2 lead. They added two more before the inning was over, taking an 8-2 lead into the sixth inning. 

Ohio got a run back in the top of the sixth inning after a single from Heidron and a double from Fogue put runners on second and third with no outs. Then with two outs, an RBI single from Bernard scored Fogue, cutting the Coastal lead to 8-3 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. 

After a scoreless bottom of the sixth for Coastal Carolina, Ohio was unable to rally in the top of the seventh, falling by the final of 8-3. 

Overall, Ohio scored three runs on seven hits and committed four errors, while Coastal scored eight runs on six hits and did not commit and error. 

Spacek recorded one hit with two RBI, while Fogue recorded a double and a run scored. Bernard added an RBI, while Englant, Heidorn and Troutman all recorded hits as well. 

In the circle, redshirt sophomore Baylie Thornhill (Baton Rouge, La.) pitched 3.1 innings, allowing five runs, three earned on four hits, walked one and struck out three. Freshman Holly Brehm (Mullens, W. Va.) entered the game and pitched 2.2 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits, walked three and struck out two. 

UP NEXT
Ohio continues play at the 2020 Courtyard Marriott Barefoot Landing Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 29). The Bobcats take on Monmouth at 9:30 a.m. followed by Coastal Carolina again at 11:45 a.m.

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