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Game One Box Score (PDF)

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. –  Led in the circle by junior pitcher Mackensie Kohl (Corona Del Mar, Calif.), the Ohio softball team (21-23, 17-18 MAC) opened a four-game series with Central Michigan (18-27, 15-20 MAC) on Friday (May 14), defeating CMU, 7-1. 

Kohl was solid in the circle, pitching seven innings, allowing one run on four hits, while striking out two and not walking a batter. 

Offensively, Ohio out-hit CMU, 9-4. Freshman outfielder Emily Walker (Plain City, Ohio) led the way with two hits, a triple, RBI and two runs scored. Freshman infielder Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) added one hit and two RBI, while senior infielder Katie Yun (North Canton, Ohio) registered two hits and one run scored. Graduate student infielder Mikenzie Vaughn (Kennesaw, Ga.) also recorded two hits, one double and one RBI in the win. 

After an uneventful first two innings, Ohio struck in the top of the third, scoring two runs when Paoli reached first on an error by the Central Michigan first baseman, putting Ohio up 2-0 going to the bottom of the third.

Ohio added on in the top of the fourth inning. After junior infielder Caroline Spacek (Beaumont, Texas) led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a ground out, Walker drove a ball to right, allowing Spacek to score on the sacrifice fly, giving Ohio a 3-0 lead. 

The Ohio offense came alive in the top of the seventh inning. After Walker tripled to lead off the inning, senior outfielder Allie Englant (Long Beach, Calif.) singled and Yun drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Sophomore designated player Sophia Bernard (Canton, Ohio) then drove Walker home with a sacrifice fly, right before Paoli singled to score Englant and Yun, putting Ohio up, 6-0. The Bobcats added one more before the end of the inning, with Vaughn doubling home Paoli, giving Ohio a 7-0 cushion going to the bottom of the inning. 

The only offense CMU generated came in the bottom of the seventh inning, where the Chippewas scored one run on three hits. However, with one out, the Bobcats' defense forced CMU to line out into a game-ending double play to secure the 7-1 win. 

For Central Michigan, the pitching duo of senior Cloe Mallory and junior Kaitlyn Bean pitched seven innings, allowing seven runs, five earned, walked one and struck out three. 

The Bobcats are back in action tomorrow (May 15) for a doubleheader with Central Michigan. First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m. 

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