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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Ohio softball team (4-9) opened play at the 2023 EKU Colonel Classic hosted by Eastern Kentucky on Thursday night (March 2), defeating Dayton (5-7), 16-0, in five innings at Gertrude Hood Field.
Overall, Ohio scored 16 runs on 12 hits and committed one error, while Dayton did not score a run on four hits and committed two errors.
Individually, senior
Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.) went 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored, while sophomore
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) added two hits, a triple, RBI and three runs scored. Junior
Tori O'Brien (Mason, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, senior
Kaci Branch (Villa Park, Calif.) had a homerun and two RBI, while freshman
Austy Miller (Bradford, Ohio) went 1-for-2 with a double, four RBI and two runs scored. Freshman
Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) added a hit, run scored and RBI, as did junior
Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Sophomore
Reagan Farmer (Baltimore, Ohio) had one hit, while freshman
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) recorded a hit with two runs scored.
In the circle, redshirt freshman
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) pitched four innings, allowing no runs on four hits, walked one and struck out four. Freshman
Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) pitched one inning and did not allow a run or a hit while striking out one,
The Bobcats threatened early in the top of the first inning when Hummel reached on a throwing error. Moments later, Logan drew a walk, however Hummel was called out for leaving early. After junior
Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) reached on a fielder's choice and Dawe reached on a single up the middle, the Bobcats were unable to get a run across, sending the game to the bottom of the inning still scoreless. Dayton attempted to get a run on the board in the bottom of the first, but stranded two runners, keeping the game scoreless.
Ohio struck in the top of the second inning. After Hoffner started the inning by drawing a walk, sophomore
CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a wild pitch. Moments later,
Austy Miller reached on a throwing error, allowing Hoffner to score to put Ohio on the board. The Bobcats were not finished in the inning, when O'Brien singled to short, scoring Keidel. Hummel was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs and the Bobcats already up 2-0. The Bobcats kept adding on, scoring on a single from Logan and a ground out from Paoli. However, the biggest blow came on a two-RBI triple from Dawe, putting Ohio up 6-0 with one out. The Dayton defense was able to close out the inning with the next two outs, however the Bobcats would score six runs on three hits and one error to take a 6-0 lead.
After the Ohio defense kept Dayton off the board again in the bottom of the second, Ohio threatened once again in the top of the third, loading the bases with two outs. However, the Dayton defense was able to keep Ohio off the board, sending the game to the bottom of the third with Ohio still leading 6-0.
The Bobcats added on in the top of the fourth inning, scoring seven more runs on five hits. The inning was highlighted by three RBI double from
Austy Miller. After Miller scored on an RBI single from O'Brien, Branch homered to center, clearing the bases, and putting Ohio up 13-0 going into the bottom of the fourth inning.
After Dayton stranded two on in the bottom of the fourth, the Bobcats added on in the top of the fifth. After Westler led off with a single to center, Hoffner tripled to right center, putting Ohio up 14-0 with no outs. Ohio added two more runs before the inning was over, with an RBI single from Hummel, increasing Ohio's lead to 16-0 going to the bottom of the fifth. Moore entered the circle in the bottom of the fifth, and she and the Ohio defense sent Dayton down in order, securing the 16-0 victory.
Up next, due to rain, the Bobcats will have tomorrow off before returning to action on Saturday March 4 for two matchups in the Colonel Classic. Ohio opens the day against Dayton at 10 a.m., before taking on host Eastern Kentucky at 3 p.m. The Bobcats' second game of the day can be seen on ESPN+.
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