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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Ohio softball team (2-4) opened play at the Hilltopper Spring Fling hosted by Western Kentucky Friday afternoon (Feb. 25). The Bobcats opened the weekend, defeating Illinois State (1-9), 16-4 in five innings. 
 
Ohio's second game of the day against Western Kentucky was postponed until tomorrow due to field conditions. 
 
Overall, Ohio scored 16 runs on 12 hits and committed one error, while Illinois State scored four runs on four hits and committed one error. 
 
Individually, senior Caroline Spacek (Beaumont, Texas) led the way for Ohio, going 4-for-4 with a double, grand slam and two singles. She also registered five RBI and scored two runs. Senior Caitlin Fogue (Columbia, Mo.) went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Freshman CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) added a double and two runs scored, while fifth year Brooke Rice (Mason, Ohio) and graduate student Megan McMenemy (Westerville, Ohio) both registered doubles, with Rice adding three RBI and McMenemy adding two. 
 
The Ohio offense struck first in the top of the first inning. With one out, Spacek singled to start the Bobcats off, then after Keidel and Paoli drew walks, Fogue crushed a double to right center, putting Ohio up, 2-0 early. The Bobcats added on later in the inning when junior Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.) and sophomore Tori O'Brien (Mason, Ohio) drew walks and Rice was hit by a pitch, pushing three more runners across, putting Ohio up 5-0 with still one out. 
 
The Bobcats kept adding on in the inning, when with two outs and the bases loaded, Spacek crushed a homerun to left center, increasing the Ohio lead to 9-0. The Bobcats added two more in the frame on a walk and a wild pitch, taking an 11-0 lead to the bottom of the frame. 
 
After Illinois state went down in order in the bottom of the first, Ohio added on in the top of the second on an RBI double from Spacek, giving the Bobcats a 12-0 lead. 
 
Illinois State got in the board in the bottom of the frame, cutting the Ohio lead to 12-2 on a two-run homerun. 
 
Ohio added on in the top of the third inning, scoring three runs on three hits thanks to doubles from Fogue, Rice and McMenemy, giving the Bobcats a 15-2 lead going into the bottom of the third inning. 
 
After ISU went down in order in the bottom of the third, Ohio attempted to add on in the top of the fourth inning, starting with Spacek's fourth hit of the day. After she moved to third in a single from Paoli, the Bobcats were unable to push another run across, keeping the game at 15-2 going to the bottom of the fourth inning. 
 
Illinois State was able to tack on two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, cutting the Ohio lead to 15-2 going into the fifth innings. 
 
Ohio added a run in the top of the fifth inning, taking a 16-6 lead into the final frame. In the bottom of the fifth, ISU was able to get one baserunner, however, the Ohio defense was able to keep them from scoring, sealing the 16-4 win. 
 
In the circle, senior Kylie Coffelt (Beloit, Ohio) got the start, pitching five innings, while allowing four runs on four hits. She walked one and struck out six in the victory. 
 
Up next, the Bobcats return to action Saturday, Feb. 26 when they take on host Western Kentucky at 1:30 p.m. ET, followed by Dayton at 6:30 p.m. ET.
 
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