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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio softball team (22-21, 10-8 MAC) returned to Athens on Saturday afternoon (April 20) for a doubleheader against Mid-American Conference foe Western Michigan (23-18, 12-6 MAC). The Bobcats split the doubleheader, with Ohio dropping game one, 2-0, before defeating the Broncos, 9-6 in eight innings off a three-run walk-off home run from
Sydney Grein.
GAME ONE: WMU 2, Ohio 0
Overall, Ohio did not score a run on five hits and committed an error, while WMU scored two runs on four hits and committed one error.
Individually, freshman
Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) went 2-for-3, while junior
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.), freshman
Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) and senior
Tori O'Brien (Mason, Ohio) all had one hit for the Bobcats.
In the circle, redshirt sophomore
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching seven innings, allowing two runs, one earned on four hits, while walking two and striking out five.
Western Michigan struck first in the top of the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead on a one-out two-run homerun. The Bobcats looked to get on the board in the bottom of the second inning with back-to-back singles from Hoffner and Wilson, but the Bobcats were unable to score, sending the game to the third trailing, 2-0.
After keeping WMU off the board for the next three innings, Ohio looked to get the runs back in the bottom of the fifth, with Farmer and O'Brien reaching on back-to-back singles. However, the Bobcats would hit into a double play, ending the threat, and keeping WMU's 2-0 lead intact.
After a scoreless sixth and seventh from the Broncos, Ohio looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh, with Wilson reaching on a one-out single. However, the Ohio offense was unable to keep things going, falling 2-0 in game one.
GAME TWO: Ohio 9, WMU 6 (8 Innings)
Overall, Ohio scored nine runs on 11 hits and committed four errors, while WMU scored six runs on 10 hits and committed four errors.
Individually, senior
Sydney Grein (Mokena, Ill.) had two hits, a double and the game-winning three-run home run, while adding three RBI and two runs scored. Senior
Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) added a three-run homerun that tied it in the seventh, while adding three RBI and two runs scored. Junior
Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) added two hits, a double, RBI and run scored, while Hoffner added two hits and a run scored. Freshman
Emily Caron (Cumming, Ga.) recorded her first career hit and RBI, while senior
Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) had one hit.
In the circle, freshman
Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) got the start, pitching 6.1 innings, allowing five runs, two earned on seven hits, while walking one and striking out four. Miller pitched 1.2 innings to earn the win, allowing one run, none earned, on three hits, while walking one and striking out two.
After a scoreless first inning, Ohio struck first in the bottom of the second. After Wilson and Paoli reached on back-to-back singles, Wilson would score after Logan hit into a fielder's choice, giving Ohio a 1-0 lead entering the third.
WMU responded in the top of the fourth inning. After back-to-back Ohio errors and a walk loaded the bases, a two-RBI double from the Broncos gave them the 2-1 lead. Ohio looked to get the runs back in the bottom of the frame, reaching base on back-to-back errors from the WMU defense, putting runners on first and second with no outs. However, the WMU defense was able to work out of the game, taking the 2-1 lead to the fifth.
After a scoreless fifth, WMU added a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single, putting the Broncos ahead, 3-1 entering the bottom of the inning.
The Bobcats rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Farmer walked, setting up Caron to pinch hit and record her first career-high and RBI for the Bobcats, cutting the deficit to one. After a single from junior
CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) put runners on first and second with one out, an RBI single up the middle from Yuhas tied the game at 3-3 going into the seventh inning.
WMU retook the lead in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs on four hits and one error, taking a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the frame.
Ohio looked to rally in the bottom of the inning with Grein leading off with a double. Then with two outs, Farmer drew a walk, setting up Logan to crush a three-run home run to right field, tying the game at 6-6 and sending the game into extras.
After the Ohio defense kept WMU off the board in the top of the eight, the Bobcats would rally once again. After a double from Yuhas with one out put the Bobcats offense in motion, Hoffner reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Grein to come to the plate with runners on second and third and crush the walk-off three-run home run, clearing the bases and giving Ohi the 9-6 win.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats wrap up the three-game series with Western Michigan on Sunday, April 21. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at the Ohio Softball Field.
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