FOLLOW OHIO SOFTBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram     

ATHENS, Ohio -- In their first game at home in almost two years, the Ohio softball team (6-5, 2-0 MAC) swept Northern Illinois (5-10, 0-2 MAC) in a doubleheader. Ohio won game one in nine innings by a score of 6-5, and by a score of 7-2 in game two to stretch their win streak to six games. 

Game One: Ohio 6, Northern Illinois 5
Freshman third baseman Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) led the way for Ohio, going 4-of-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Junior first baseman Caroline Spacek (Beaumont, Texas) went 3-of-5 plate and drove in two runs. Ohio out-hit the Huskies 13-8.

The Huskies got on the board first with a three-run first inning. A leadoff single and a walk set up junior catcher Katie Keller, who doubled to bring home the first run. With two on and two out, senior right fielder Kira Mickelson launched a two-RBI double to left. The Bobcats were quick to respond by tallying two in the bottom half of the inning. Senior center fielder Allie Englant (Long Beach, Calif.) got things started with a leadoff single and stole third later in the inning. Senior shortstop Katie Yun (North Canton, Ohio) drew a walk, putting runners on first and third for Paoli who doubled to drive in two.

Northern Illinois pushed their lead to two with a run in the top of the third. 

The Bobcats took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Yun drew a leadoff walk scored on a single by junior right fielder Caitlin Fogue (Columbia, Mo.). With runners on second and third, Spacek drove a RBI double down the right field line to tie the game. A sac fly RBI by senior catcher Brooke Rice (Mason, Ohio) would give the Bobcats the lead. 

The lead was short lived as the Huskies tied the game in the top of the sixth with a solo home run by junior designated player Carley Goetschius. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Ohio scored the winning run. Paoli hit her second double of the day to leadoff the inning. Sophomore infielder Kaci Branch (Villa Park, Calif.) entered the game as a pinch hitter and laid down a sac bunt to advance Paoli to third. Spacek drove in the winning run with a single down the right field line. 

In the circle, junior pitcher Mackensie Kohl (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) earned the win, improving to 2-0 on the season. Kohl pitched nine complete innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, striking out eight and walking two. 

For Northern Illinois, freshman starting pitcher Claire Norred went four innings giving up five runs, all earned, on ten hits, striking out three and walking three. Sophomore pitcher Delaney Ostrowski is tagged with the loss, giving up three hits, and one run while striking out one. 

Game Two: Ohio 7, Northern Illinois 2
Ohio out-hit the Huskies 9-5. At the plate, Ohio was led by left fielder Walker who went 3-of-3 at the plate, driving in two runs. Yun continued to show at the plate in game two, going 1-of-2, including her second home run of the season, and scoring two runs. 

Northern Illinois scored first in the second inning. With runners on first and second, Guericke lined a single up the middle to plate a run. Ohio responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs to take an early lead. 

Ohio extended their lead in the third to 4-1. Sophomore designated player Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to get to first. Graduate student Mikenzie Vaughn (Kennesaw, Ga.) launched her second home run of the season, driving in two runs. 

Yun smacked a solo homerun in the fifth to stretch the lead to 5-1. 

The Huskies tallied another run in the sixth. Junior Katie Keller hit a solo homerun to center to cut the lead to three. 

Ohio added their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth. 

In the circle, Madi McCrady earned the win. McCrady pitched a complete game, striking out nine, allowing two runs on five hits, and walking two. 

For Northern Illinois, freshman starting pitcher Emily Dato took the loss. She went three innings, giving up four hits on four runs. In relief, Ostrowski went three innings, allowing three runs on five hits. 

UP NEXT
The Bobcats return to action on Sunday (March 21) with a doubleheader against Northern Illinois. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET. 

#OUohyeah