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ATHENS, Ohio—The Ohio softball team (19-14, 10-2 MAC) won its ninth-straight game on Sunday afternoon (April 2), sweeping Ball State (16-16, 6-5 MAC) at the Ohio Softball Field, Ohio took game one, 10-2 in six innings, before defeating the Cardinals, 4-2 in game two.
GAME ONE: Ohio 10, Ball State 2 (6 Innings)
Overall, Ohio scored 10 runs on nine hits and committed three errors, while Ball State scored two runs on five hits and committed four errors.
Individually, senior
Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.) went 3-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored, while freshman
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) went 3-for-4 with one double, two RBI and one run scored. Junior
Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) had one hit and one run scored, while sophomore
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) had one hit, two RBI, drew three walks and one run scored. Sophomore
CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) added one hit and one run scored, while junior
Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) drew two walks, scored two runs and had one RBI.
In the circle, graduate student
Kylie Coffelt (Beloit, Ohio) pitched six innings, allowing two runs, none earned, on five hits, while walking one and striking out one.
After Ohio sent Ball State down in order to open the game, Ohio got on the board in the bottom of the inning. After freshman
Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) drew a walk and Logan reached on a fielder's choice. A single from Paoli put runners on first and second with one out. Moments later, Dawe crushed an RBI double to left center, putting Ohio up 1-0 after the first inning.
After Ball State stranded runners on second and third in the top of the second, Ohio added on in the bottom of the inning. After Westler doubled to lead off the inning, she then scored on a bunt single from Keidel. After Keidel moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, she then scored on a sacrifice fly from Logan, putting Ohio up 3-0 after two innings.
After another quick inning from the Ohio defense, Ohio added two more runs in the bottom of the third. With runners on second and third, junior
Sydney Grein (Mokena, Ill.) recorded a sacrifice fly, scoring sophomore
Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.). Hoffner then scored on the same play when the Ball State centerfielder throw the ball away, giving Ohio a 5-0 lead after three.
Ball State got on the board in the top of the fourth inning, scoring one run on an error, cutting the Ohio lead to 5-1 going into the bottom of the inning. The Bobcats got the runs back in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Logan walked and moved to second on a fielder's choice from Paoli. After a walk from Dawe loaded the bases, a two RBI single from Hoffner and an RBI single from Westler gave the Bobcats an 8-1 lead going into the top of the fifth.
Ball State got a run back in the top of the fifth. After a leadoff double scored, the Cardinals had runners on first and second with two outs, allowing the Ohio defense to force the final out of the inning, sending the game to the bottom of the inning with the Bobcats still leading, 8-2.
After the Bobcats made quick work of the Cardinals in the top of the sixth, Ohio wrapped up the game in the bottom of the inning. After Dawe led the inning off with a single up the middle, she then scored when Grein reached on an error. Moments later, and RBI single from Westler scored the Bobcats' 10
th run, securing the 10-2 win.
GAME TWO: Ohio 4, Ball State 2
Overall, Ohio scored four runs on eight hits and did not commit an error, while Ball State scored two runs on five hits and committed one error.
Individually, Keidel went 2-for-3 with a double, while Hummel recorded a hit, RBI and run scored, while Logan, Paoli and Dawe all had RBI doubles. Hoffner and junior
Tori O'Brien (Mason, Ohio) also had hits for Ohio.
In the circle, redshirt freshman
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits, while walking three and striking out five.
After a scoreless first inning, Ball State threatened in the top of the second, getting runners on first and second with no outs. However, the Ohio defense was able to throw a runner out at third trying to steal, before getting a strikeout and a ground out to end the threat, sending the game to the bottom of the inning still scoreless. Ohio threatened in the bottom of the second. With one out, Hoffner reached on a single down the left field line. She then moved to second on a deep fly out from Grein. However, Ohio was unable to capitalize, sending the game to the third still scoreless.
Ohio got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. After Keidel led off with a double, she moved to third and then scored on an RBI single from Hummel. Moments later, three-straight RBI doubles from Logan, Paoli and Dawe gave the Bobcats a 4-0 lead after three innings.
Ball State threatened again in the top of the fourth, getting runners on first and second with no outs. However, the Bobcats were able to get three quick pop outs after that, sending the game to the bottom of the inning still leading 4-0. Ball State finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning, scoring on a two-run homerun to cut the Ohio lead to 4-2 going into the bottom of the inning.
Ohio threatened to get the run back in the bottom of the fifth when Logan reached second on an error. She then moved to third on a ground out, however the Bobcats were unable to capitalize, sending the game to the sixth with Ohio leading, 4-2.
Ohio threatened in the bottom of the sixth, getting runners on second and third with one out. However, the Ohio offense was unable to capitalize, sending the game to the seventh with the 4-2 lead.
After a quick out in the top of the seventh, Ball State got a runner with a single, bringing the tying run to the plate. However, the Bobcats were able to execute a perfect game-ending double play, securing the 4-2 win and the sweep.
UP NEXT
Ohio heads to Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday, April 4 to take on Ohio State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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