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Game One Box Score (PDF) | Game Two Box Score (PDF)

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio softball team (19-20, 15-15 MAC) returned to action on Friday (May 7), splitting a doubleheader with Buffalo (17-30, 15-17 MAC) at the Ohio Softball Field. The Bobcats dropped game one, 7-5, before coming back to defeat the Bulls, 8-3 in game two. 

GAME ONE: Buffalo 7, Ohio 5
Ohio and UB both recorded seven hits and one error. Sophomore designated player Sophia Bernard (Canton, Ohio) led the Bobcats with two hits and two RBI, while senior infielder Katie Yun (North Canton, Ohio) recorded a solo homerun. Junior infielder Caroline Spacek (Beaumont, Texas) added a double and freshman infielder Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) recorded a hit and an RBI. Senior catcher Brooke Rice (Mason, Ohio) and junior outfielder Caitlin Fogue (Columbia, Mo.) both added base hits for the Bobcats. 

Buffalo struck first in the top of the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead on a two-run homerun from freshman Rachel Steffan. Ohio responded in the bottom of the frame, cutting the Bulls' lead in half with a solo homerun from Yun, making the score 2-1 after one full inning. 

The Bulls added on in the top of the third inning on a one-out homerun from senior Anna Aguon, giving the Bulls a 3-1 lead. Ohio got the run back in the bottom of the third inning when Tori O'Brien (Mason, Ohio) scored on an RBI single from Bernard, cutting the UB lead to 3-2. 

The Bobcats tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with an RBI single from Paoli that scored senior outfielder Allie Englant (Long Beach, Calif.) from second, knotting the game at 3-3. However, the Bulls retook the lead in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single from freshman Madison Fernimen, putting UB up 4-3 going to the bottom of the sixth. 

The Bulls extended their lead in the top of the seventh inning, scoring three runs on three hits. The inning was capped by a two-run homerun from Steffan, her second of the game, to give UB a 7-3 lead. 

Ohio mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning with freshman pinch hitter Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) stealing home to cut the lead to 7-4. Then, an RBI single from Bernard brought the score to 7-5 with one runner on and one out, however, the Bobcats would hit into a game-ending double play, falling 7-5. 

In the circle, junior Mackensie Kohl (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) got the start, allowing seven runs on seven hits in six and two-third innings, walking four and striking out eight. Sophomore Holly Brehm (Mullens, W. Va.) pitched a third of an inning and retired the lone batter she faced. For Buffalo, graduate student Ally Marcano pitched six and a third innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out three. 

GAME TWO: Ohio 8, Buffalo 3
Senior pitcher Madi McCrady (Brimfield, Ohio) struck out a career-high 13 batters, while allowing three runs on four hits and walking two.

Overall, Ohio out-hit UB, 8-4. Graduate student infielder Mikenzie Vaughn (Kennesaw, Ga.) finished the game with two hits, a homerun and four RBI, while Bernard added one hit, a homerun and three RBI. Spacek added three hits, one double with two runs scored, while Rice added a homerun and Englant a base hit. 

Ohio struck first in the bottom of the third inning when Rice demolished a ball over the top of the centerfield scoreboard, giving Ohio a 1-0 lead after three innings. 

Buffalo responded in the top of the fourth when Steffan hit her third homerun of the day to put the Bulls up, 2-1. However, the Bobcats got the runs back in the bottom of the inning when Vaughn hit a two-run homerun to rightfield, putting Ohio up, 3-2. 

Ohio's offense exploded in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring five runs on three hits, and was capped by a three-run homerun from Bernard, giving Ohio an 8-2 lead after five innings. Buffalo added a run in the top of the sixth on a lead-off homerun from Augon, cutting the Bobcats' lead to 8-3. 

The Bobcats' defense and McCrady held strong and shut the door on the Bulls in the seventh inning, sealing the 8-3 victory. 

In the circle for the Bulls, sophomore Alexis Lucyshyn pitched four innings, allowing eight runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out one. Freshman Julia Tarantino pitched two innings, while not allowing a run on one hit. 

UP NEXT
The Bobcats wrap up the home portion of its schedule tomorrow (May 8) with a doubleheader with the Bulls. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Ohio Softball Field. 

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