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GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Ohio softball team (5-4) returned to action for the second day of the 2024 Spiro Classic hosted by UNCG. The Bobcats opened the day with a 6-0 victory over Sacred Heart (0-3), before defeating host UNCG (4-6), 6-2, later in the afternoon. The Bobcats now advance to the final day of the Spiro Classic as the No. 1 seed and will face off against No. 2 UNCG (Feb. 18) at 1 p.m.
GAME ONE: Ohio 6, Sacred Heart 0
Overall, Ohio scored six runs on eight hits and did not commit an error, while Sacred Heart did not score a run on six hits and committed two errors.
Individually, senior
Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with a homerun, RBI and two runs scored, while senior
Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored as well. Sophomore
Shelby Westler (Cincinnati, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while junior
Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) recorded a hit and a run scored.
In the circle, freshman
Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) earned her first career complete game shutout in the win, pitching seven innings and did not allow a run on six hits, while walking three and striking out three.
After a scoreless first three innings to open the game, the Bobcats struck in the top of the fourth inning, when Paoli hit her first homerun of the season to left center, giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead.
After the Ohio defense forced Sacred Heart to leave runners on in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, Ohio added on to their run total in the top of the sixth. After Logan and Paoli started the inning with back-to-back singles, Logan would so on an error by the SHU shortstop. Moments later, Paoli scored on an RBI double from Westler, before a sacrifice fly from freshman
Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) increased Ohio's lead to 4-0 entering the bottom of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, the Bobcats would add on, scoring on an RBI single from Logan and another SHU error, putting Ohio up 6-0 entering the final frame.
Sacred Heart looked to get on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning, pitting runners on first and second with one out, however Lieving and the Ohio defense were able to get a strikeout and a fly out to send the game and secure the 6-0 victory.
GAME TWO: Ohio 6, UNCG 2
Overall, Ohio scored six runs on six hits and did not commit an error, while UNCG scored two runs on eight hits and committed one error.
Individually, Paoli, Logan and freshman
Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) all hit homeruns, while Paoli recorded three RBI and Logan two. Yuhas and Logan each scored two runs.
In the circle, redshirt sophomore
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) picked up the win, pitching seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, walked three and struck out five.
Ohio did not take long to get on the board. After Yuhas was hit by the first pitch of the game, Logan followed it up by driving a 201 pitch to straight away center, putting Ohio up 2-0 early. Moments later, Wilson hit a homerun of her own, increasing the Ohio lead to 3-0 going into the bottom of the first inning.
UNCG got on the board in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single, cutting the Ohio ead to 3-1 entering the fourth. After UNCG cut the Ohio lead to one, Ohio responded in the top of the fifth inning when Paoli hit a three-run homerun to put the Bobcats up 6-2 entering the bottom of the fifth inning.
UNCG looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, however Miller and the Ohio defense held strong, forcing UNCG to strand a runner, securing the 6-2 victory.
UP NEXT
Ohio wraps up the 2024 Spiro Classic on Sunday, Feb. 18. With the Bobcats' advancing to the final day of the tournament as the one-seed, Ohio will face off with the no. 2-seeded UNCG at 1 p.m.
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