FOLLOW OHIO SOFTBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
ATHENS, Ohio – Despite a solid relief performance from redshirt freshman pitcher
Skipp Miller, the Ohio softball team (30-21, 20-9 MAC) fell in the regular season finale to Buffalo (14-36, 7-19 MAC), 3-0, at the Ohio Softball Field.
After the game, the Bobcats honored seniors
Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.),
Kylie Coffelt (Beloit, Ohio) and
Kaci Branch (Villa Park, Calif.) for their contributions to the Ohio softball program.
Overall, Ohio did not score a run on seven hits and did not commit an error, while Buffalo scored three runs on five hits and did not commit an error.
Individually, junior
Tori O'Brien (Mason, Ohio) had two hits, while freshman
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) had a double, while juniors
Sydney Grein (Mokena, Ill.) and
Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) both had hits, while Branch recorded her second-straight pinch-hit single. Dawe also added a hit for Ohio.
Coffelt got the start and pitched a third of an inning, allowing two runs on two hits and walked three. Miller (Bradford, Ohio) entered in the top of the first, pitching 6.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits, while walking three and striking out a career-high 11 batter.
Buffalo struck first in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs on two hits. With one out, Miller entered the circle and got the final two outs on three pitches, sending the game to the bottom of the first with Ohio trailing, 2-0. UB added a run in the top of the third on a leadoff solo home run, taking a 3-0 lead to the bottom of the third.
Ohio threatened in the bottom of the third. Westler led the inning off with a double and moved to third on a ground out. After O'Brien reached on an infield single and moved to second on a wild pitch, the Buffalo defense was able to get the final two outs, keeping the 3-0 lead.
Ohio threatened again in the bottom of the fourth. After Dawe led off with a single, junior
Emily Walker (Plain City, Ohio) entered to run for her. Then with two outs, Grein drew a walk and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. However, the UB defense was once again able to get out of the jam, keeping the Ohio deficit at 3-0.
After a scoreless fifth, Ohio threatened again in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, Paoli and Grein reached on back-to-back singles. However, once again, Ohio was unable to score, sending the game to the seventh trailing 3-0.
After Buffalo went down in order in the top of the seventh inning, Ohio was unable to generate any offense, falling to Buffalo, 3-0.
Up next, the Bobcats begin play in the 2023 Mid-American Conference Tournament May 11-13 in Oxford, Ohio.
#OUohyeah
