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CONWAY, S.C. – The Ohio softball team (11-10) returned to action on Friday (March 8) for the first day of the 2024 Beach Chicken Brawl hosted by Coastal Carolina. The Bobcats fell in game one to Boston University (14-1), 5-2, before Ohio's rally fell short against Coastal Carolina (14-6), 4-3.
GAME ONE: Boston University 5, Ohio 2
Overall, Ohio scored two runs on four hits and committed three errors, while BU scored five runs on nine hits and committed one error.
Individually, sophomore
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) recorded one hit and two RBI, while senior
Tori O'Brien (Mason, Ohio) and junior
Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) recorded a hit and a run scored, and junior
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) registered a basehit and drew a walk.
In the circle, freshman
Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) pitched six innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on nine hits, while walking two and striking out three.
Ohio got on the board first in the top of the first inning after an RBI single from Westler put the Bobcats up 1-0 early. Ohio added on in the top of the third after Westler's second RBI of the game increased the Ohio lead to 2-0 entering the bottom of the frame.
BU would take the lead in the bottom of the third inning after back-to-back singles from the Terriers put Boston up 3-2 going into the fourth. BU added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a two-run lead.
After BU took a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth on a fielding error from the Bobcats, the Ohio offense was unable to generate any offense to cut into the deficit, falling 5-2.
GAME TWO: Coastal Carolina 4, Ohio 3
Overall, Ohio scored three runs on nine hits and committed one error, while Coastal Carolina scored four runs on eight hits and committed two errors.
Individually, O'Brien and sophomore
Austy Miller (Bradford, Ohio) both had two hits with an RBI, while junior
CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) added two hits as well. Westler added another hit, while senior
Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) had a double and a run scored.
In the circle, redshirt sophomore
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, did not walk a batter and struck out two.
After two scoreless innings to open the game, Coastal Carolina struck first in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs on back-to-back RBI singles, taking a 2-0 lead into the top of the fourth.
Ohio looked to get on the board in the top of the fifth inning, with
Austy Miller and Keidel reaching base on back-to-back hits. Unfortunately, Ohio was unable to capitalize, sending the game to the bottom of the innings still trailing 2-0.
Coastal Carolina added on in the bottom of the inning after a leadoff homerun, Coastal up 3-0 after five innings. After Ohio was unable to cut into the lead in the top of the sixth inning, Coastal added on one more in the bottom of the inning after an RBI single put them up 4-0 going into the seventh inning.
Ohio looked to rally in the top of the seventh. After Paoli led the inning off with a double to center, she scored on an RBI single from
Austy Miller to get Ohio on the board. After Keidel singled moments later,
Austy Miller scored on an RBI single from O'Brien, cutting the Ohio deficit to two. After Yuhas reached on an error to load the bases, Hoffner drove Keidel home on a ground out, cutting the Coastal lead to one with one out. Unfortunately, Ohio was unable to finish the rally, falling by the final of 4-3.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats are back in action on Saturday (March 9) for the second day of the 2024 Beach Chicken Brawl. Ohio will take on Boston University at 12:30 p.m., before taking on Coastal Carolina again at 6 p.m.
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