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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Ohio softball team (5-10) returned to action on Saturday (March 4) for their second day of the EKU Colonel Classic hosted by Eastern Kentucky. Ohio opened the afternoon by defeating Dayton (6-8), 6-5, before returning to the diamond Saturday evening, falling to host EKU (12-5), 5-3 at Gertrude Hood Field. 
 
GAME ONE: Ohio 6, Dayton 5
Overall, Ohio scored six runs on four hits and committed one error, while Dayton scored five runs on nine hits and committed two errors. 
 
Individually, junior Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while freshman Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) went 1-for-2 with a double, three RBI and a run scored. Senior Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.) recorded one double and one RBI. Junior Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) drew two walks and scored one run, while freshman Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomores Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) and Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) all scored a run for the Bobcats. 
 
In the circle, freshman Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) got the start, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, and walked one batter, while graduate student Kylie Coffelt (Beloit, Ohio) pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and struck out one. 
 
After Dayton stranded a runner in the top of the first inning, Ohio threatened in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Logan drew a walk, stole second and then moved to third on a wild pitch, all with one out. However, Ohio was unable to capitalize, sending the game to the second inning with it still scoreless. 
 
Dayton took the lead in the top of the second inning on a two-run homerun, giving the Flayers a 2-0 lead going to the bottom of the second.
 
Ohio tied the game in the bottom of the third inning. After Hummel reached on an error and moved to second on a passed ball, Logan drew her second walk of the game, allowing both to steal a base and put runners on second and third with one out. Paoli then singled to score Hummel, setting up Dawe's RBI ground out to knot the game at 2-2 going to the fourth inning. 
 
Dayton retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning, scoring one run on two hits to go up 3-2 going to the bottom of the inning. After Dayton took a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth, the Ohio offense sprung to life in the bottom of the inning. Paoli led off with a single and then moved to third on a double from Dawe. With the bases loaded and no outs, Ohio took a 5-4 lead on a three RBI double from Westler. Then with one out, Westler scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Austy Miller (Bradford, Ohio), giving the Bobcats a 6-4 lead going to the seventh inning, 
 
Dayton threatened to rally in the top of the seventh inning, scoring one run with two outs to cut the Ohio lead to 6-5. However, the Ohio defense held strong, getting the final batter to ground out, securing the 6-5 victory.
 
GAME TWO: Eastern Kentucky 5, Ohio 3
 Overall, Ohio scored three runs on six hits and committed one error, while Eastern Kentucky scored five runs on eight hits and committed three errors. 
 
Individually, Paoli went 2-of-4 with a run scored, while Dawe registered a hit and an RBI. Westler added a base hit, RBI and run scored, while Hoffner and Logan both had hits for the Bobcats. 
 
In the circle, redshirt freshman Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching 3.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walked four and struck out five. Coffelt entered in the fourth inning, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits, walked one and struck out one. 
 
Eastern Kentucky jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs on three hits, including a two-run homerun to put EKU up 3-0 going into the second inning. The Bobcats worked to get on the board in the top of the second, with Hoffner reaching on a two-out single. However, the Bobcats were unable to capitalize, sending the game to the bottom of the frame still trailing, 3-0 
 
EKU added on in the bottom of the third, scoring a run on a solo homerun, putting them up 4-0 going to the fourth inning. 
 
Ohio got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Paoli singled and the moved to second on ana error. After Dawe drew a walk, Paoli scored on an RBI single by Westler, cutting the Ohio deficit to 4-1 going to the bottom of the fourth. However, EKU got the run back in the bottom of the frame, takin a 5-1 lead to the fifth inning. 
 
After a scoreless fifth inning, Ohio got a run back in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Wester reached on an error. Then with two outs, she would score on an error after senior Kaci Branch (Villa Park, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice, cutting the Ohio deficit to 5-2 going to the bottom of the sixth. 
 
After the Ohio defense sent EKU down in order in the bottom of the sixth, Ohio attempted to rally in the top of the seventh inning. After junior Sydney Grein (Mokena, Ill.) and Logan drew walks, Paoli followed that up with a single, loading the bases with one out. Junior Tori O'Brien (Mason, Ohio) then scored on an RBI single from Dawe, cutting the EKU lead to 5-3 with one out and three runners on. However, the Bobcats were unable to finish the rally, falling 5-3. 
 
UP NEXT
The Ohio softball team wraps up play at the 2023 EKU Colonel Classic on Sunday (March 5) when Ohio takes on Indiana State. First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m. 
 
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