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KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Ohio softball team (27-19, 17-7 MAC) returned to action on Saturday (April 29), taking on Western Michigan (16-24, 10-11 MAC) in a doubleheader. The Bobcats picked up a 7-1 victory in game one, however, game two was suspended in the bottom of the second with Ohio leading, 1-0. The game will resume Sunday (April 30) at 11 a.m.
GAME ONE: Ohio 7, WMU 1
Overall, Ohio scored seven runs on seven hits and committed one error, while WMU scored one run on three hits and committed one error.
Individually, senior
Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.) went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks, while junior
Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had a home run, two RBI and a run scored, as did junior
Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.). Juniors
CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) and
Sydney Grein (Mokena, Ill.) and sophomore
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) both had home runs, one RBI and one run scored. Freshman Shelby Wester (Marion, Ohio) added a hit, while freshman
Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) and junior
Emily Walker (Plain City, Ohio) scored runs for the Bobcats.
In the circle, redshirt freshman
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching seven innings, allowing one run, none earned, on three hits, while walking one and striking out five in the victory.
Western Michigan struck first in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI single. The Bobcats responded immediately in the top of the second. With one out, Hoffner and Grein hit back-to-back home runs to give Ohio a 2-1 lead. The Bobcats' offense wasn't finished, and with two outs, Keidel added a home run of her own, putting Ohio up 3-1.
After Miller struck out the side in the bottom of the second, Ohio threatened to add on in the top of the third with a two-out double from Dawe. However, the WMU defense was able to record the final out, keeping the Bobcats' two-run lead. In the bottom of the inning, WMU put runners on second and third with two outs, looking to get a run across, but the Ohio defense held steady, keeping the 3-1 lead going into the fourth.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Bobcats threaten to add on in the top of the fifth inning, putting runners on first and second after junior
Tori O'Brien (Mason, Ohio) and Dawe drew walks. However, the WMU defense was able to hold the Bobcats off the board once again, keeping the Ohio lead at 3-1.
The Bobcats added on in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs, Hummel reached on an error, scoring when Logan crushed a two-run home run to right center, putting the Bobcats up 5-1. After Dawe drew another walk, Paoli hit the Bobcats' fifth home run of the game, giving the Bobcats as 7-1 lead going into the final frame.
WMU came to bat in the bottom of the inning looking to rally, but Miller and the Ohio defense retired the Broncos in order, securing a 7-1 victory.
GAME TWO: Ohio 1, WMU (Bottom 2nd)
Ohio struck first in the top of the first. After Logan singled and Dawe drew a walk, Logan then scored on a passed ball, putting Ohio up 1-0 going into the bottom of the inning. After the Ohio defense kept WMU off the board in the bottom of the inning, the Broncos looked to get on the board in the bottom of the second. After back-to-back singles put runners on first and second with no outs, the Ohio defense forced a double play for the first two outs of the inning.
After a walk put runners on first and third with two outs, the game was called due to heavy rains in the bottom of the second.
The Bobcats and Broncos will resume the game at 11 a.m., before playing the series finale 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game.
#OUohyeah
