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DEKALB, Ill. – The Ohio softball team (24-18, 14-6 MAC) returned to action Saturday afternoon (April 15), splitting a doubleheader with Northern Illinois (19-19, 9-7 MAC). Ohio fell in game one, 4-3, before picking up the 8-3 win in game two. 
 
GAME ONE: NIU 4, Ohio 3
Overall, Ohio scored three runs on six hits and committed one error, while NIU scored four runs on eight hits and committed one error. 
 
Individually, senior Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.) went 2-for-3 with a homerun, RBI, drew one walk and scored one run. Junior Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had a double, while sophomore CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) had a double and an RBI. Junior Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) had one hit and one RBI, while junior Sydney Grein (Mokena, Ill.) drew two walks and scored one run. 
 
In the circle, redshirt freshman Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching six innings, allowing four runs, three earned, while walking three and striking out three. 
 
Ohio struck in the top of the first inning when Dawe hit a two-out solo homerun to center, giving the Bobcats an early 1-0 going into the bottom of the first. After an hour weather delay, NIU took a 2-1 lead, scoring two runs on two hits and one error. 
 
Ohio tried to get a run back in the top of the third inning after Logan doubled to lead off the inning. However, Ohio was unable to capitalize, sending the game to the bottom of the inning with Ohio trailing, 2-1. NIU added a run on in the bottom of the third, going up 3-1 after three innings.
 
Ohio then got a run back in the top of the fourth inning. After Grein drew a walk, she then scored on an RBI double from Keidel, cutting the deficit to 3-2. However, the Huskies got a run back in the bottom of the inning on two hits, taking a 4-2 lead into the fifth inning. Ohio responded in the top of the fifth. With one out, Dawe singled and moved to second on an error. Then with two outs, Paoli drove in a run, cutting the Ohio deficit to 4-3 after five innings. 
 
Ohio tried to rally in the top of the seventh, however the Ohio offense was unable to get going, falling by the final of 4-3.
 
GAME TWO: Ohio 8, NIU 3
Overall, Ohio scored eight runs on nine hits and committed one error, while NIU scored three runs on six hits and committed one error. 
 
Individually, freshman Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) went 3-for-3 with a homerun, one RBI and two runs scored. Paoli went 1-for-3 with a homerun, two RBI, walk and two runs scored, while freshman Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) went 2-for-4. Senior Kaci Branch (Villa Park, Calif.) recorded a double and three RBI, while sophomore Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) had a hit, RBI and a run scored. Logan added a hit as well and Keidel registered a walk, RBI and a run scored. 
 
In the circle, graduate student Kylie Coffelt (Beloit, Ohio) got the start, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits, while walking two. Freshman Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) pitched 3.2 innings, allowing no runs on one hit, and walking two. 
 
Ohio struck first in the top of the first inning once again. After Hummel and Logan reached on back-to-back singles, Logan scored on a two-out RBI single from Hoffner. Moments later, Paoli followed that up with a two-run homerun to left center, taking a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the frame. 
 
Ohio added on in the top of the second with Westler led the inning off with a solo homerun, putting Ohio up 4-0 going into the bottom of the second. NIU got two runs back in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on one hit, cutting the Bobcats' lead to 4-2 going into the third inning. After a scoreless top of the third for the Bobcats, NIU added another run after capitalizing on a leadoff triple, cutting the Ohio lead to 4-3 after three innings.
 
Ohio added on in the top of the fourth. Paoli led the inning off with a walk and then moved to second when Grein reached on an error. After a bunt single from Westler loaded the bases, a walk to Keidel scored Paoli. Moments later, pinch hitter Branch crushed a three-RBI double to left center, clearing the bases, and putting Ohio up 8-3 going into the bottom of the fourth. 
 
After the Bobcats were unable to score in the next two innings, NIU looked to get runs back in the bottom of the sixth, getting a runner on due to an Ohio error. However, the Bobcats were able to work their way out of the inning, sending the game to the seventh with Ohio leading, 8-3.  
 
NIU looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, getting runners on first and second with two outs. However, the Ohio defense was able to record the final out of the inning, securing the 8-3 victory. 
 
UP NEXT
Ohio returns to action for the final game of the three-game series with NIU on Sunday, April 16. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET. 
 
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