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KENT, Ohio – A three homerun day, including a grand slam, from sophomore Annalia Paoli led the Ohio softball team (19-19, 13-6 MAC) to a doubleheader sweep of Kent State (14-22, 5-11 MAC) Wednesday afternoon at the Diamond at Dix. The Bobcats took game one 7-6 before shutting out the Flashes in game two, 7-0. 
 
GAME ONE: Ohio 7, Kent State 6 
Overall, Ohio scored seven runs on 10 hits and committed one error, while Kent State scored six runs on nine hits and did not commit an error. 
 
Individually, Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) led the Bobcats, going 3-for-4 with a homerun, four RBI and two runs scored, while fifth year Allie Englant (Long Beach, Calif.) went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Senior Caroline Spacek (Beaumont, Texas) added a hit and two RBI, while graduate student Megan McMenemy (Westerville, Ohio) added a hit, RBI and run scored. Sophomore Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.), junior Sophia Bernard (Canton, Ohio) and fifth year Brooke Rice (Mason, Ohio) all added hits for the Bobcats 
 
Kent State struck first in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs on four hits and was highlighted by a two-out two-run homerun to put the Flashes up 3-0 after one inning. 
 
The Bobcats struck in the top of the third inning. After Rice reached first on a wild pitch on a third strike, freshman Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) reached after being hit by a pitch. Then with two outs, McMenemy drew a walk to load the bases, allowing Paoli to take the first pitch she saw and rope it up the middle, cutting the Kent State lead to 3-2. After Bernard was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Spacek recorded her own two-RBI single, scoring McMenemy and Paoli, giving Ohio a 4-3 lead going to the bottom of the third inning. 
 
The Bobcats added on in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, Englant singled and then stole second. After Logan reached on a single of her own, McMenemy singled to right field, allowing Englant to score, giving Ohio a 5-3 lead going to the bottom of the fourth inning. 
 
Kent State was able to get two runners on in the bottom of the fourth, however, starting pitcher Mackensie Kohl (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) struck out the side, keeping the game at 5-3. The Bobcats threatened to add on in the top of the fifth inning, loading the bases with one out. However, the Kent State pitcher was able to strike out the next two batters, keeping it a two-run game going into the bottom of the inning. 
 
Kent State tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-run homerun, sending the game to the sixth with it knotted at 5-5. 
 
Ohio retook the lead in the top of the sixth inning. After Englant led off with a double, Paoli came to the plate with two outs and crushed a two-run shot to right center, giving Ohio a 7-5 lead going to the bottom of the frame. 
 
Kent State attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, cutting the Ohio lead to one with a leadoff homerun. Then with two outs, the Flashes got a base runner on with a walk and then moved to second with a wild pitch, however, Kohl was able to get the final batter of the game to strike out swinging, sealing Ohio's 7-6 victory. 
 
In the circle, Kohl pitched seven innings, allowing six runs on nine hits, walked three and struck out nine. 
 
GAME TWO: Ohio 7, Kent State 0
Overall, Ohio scored seven runs on six hits and committed two errors, while Kent State did not score a run on seven hits and committed three errors. 
 
Individually, Paoli was on fire, going 2-for-3 with two homeruns, including a grand slam, two runs scored and five RBI. Englant added a double and two runs scored, while Logan added a hit and a run scored. Senior Caitlin Fogue (Columbia, Mo.) added a double, while Rice added a homerun, run scored and an RBI. 
 
The Bobcats struck first in the top of the second inning with a two-out homerun to right from Rice, putting Ohio up 1-0 going to the bottom of the second inning. 
 
After a few uneventful innings, the Bobcats added on in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Englant doubled to left and then moved to third on an error. Moments later, Logan drew a walk and then stole second, allowing Englant to score on another Kent State error, giving the Bobcats a 2-0 lead going to the bottom of the fifth. 
 
Kent State threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning, getting two back-to-back singles with two outs. However, the Bobcats' defense held strong, sending the game to the sixth inning with the 2-0 lead. 
 
Ohio added on in the top of the sixth inning with a leadoff homerun from Paoli – her second of the day, putting Ohio up 3-0. 
 
Paoli came up clutch for the Bobcats in the top of the seventh inning, with one out, Englant walked and then moved to second when Logan reached on an error. After McMenemy drew a walk, Paoli crushed her second homerun of the game – her third of the day – for a grand slam, putting Ohio up 7-0 going to the bottom of the seventh inning. 
 
Kent State got a runner on with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, however starting pitcher Kylie Coffelt (Beloit, Ohio) struck out the final batter of the game, sealing the 7-0 win and her second shutout of the season. 
 
In the circle, Coffelt pitched seven innings, allowing no runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out one. 
 
UP NEXT
The Bobcats return to Athens this weekend, April 23-24 when they host Northern Illinois. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m., with the final game on Sunday set to start at Noon. Sunday will also serve as Senior Day for the Bobcats. 
 
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