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AKRON, Ohio – After a long day of rain and delays, the No. 2 Ohio softball team (31-22) opened play at the 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament Thursday night (May 9), defeating No. 6 Ball State (26-28), 8-0 in five innings at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. The Bobcats advance in the winner's bracket and will take on No. 1 Miami tomorrow (May 10) at 1 p.m.
The Bobcats were originally slated to open play at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, however rain throughout the day caused seven hours of delays, causing first pitch to occur around 9:30 p.m.
Overall, Ohio scored eight runs on 11 hits and did not commit an error, while Ball State did not score a run on three hits and committed two errors.
At the plate, junior
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) went 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and a walk, while freshman
Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) had two hits and three RBI. Sophomore
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio), in her first game back since April 16, went 2-for-3 with a double, run scored and one RBI. Junior
CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) recorded a bunt single and scored a run, while senior
Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) went 1-for-2 with a walk, RBI and a run scored. Senior
Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) had a hit and two RBI, while junior
Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) had a hit and a run scored, with senior
Sydney Grein (Mokena, Ill.) recording one hit.
In the circle, redshirt sophomore
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) was dealing, pitching five shutout innings, allowing three hits, while walking three and recording a season-high eight strikeouts.
After Ball State stranded two runners in the top of the first, the Bobcats struck in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Logan drew a walk and moved her to third on a double, putting runners on second and third with one out. Then with two outs, Paoli roped a ball through the left side, scoring both and giving Ohio a 2-0 lead going into the second inning.
After the Bobcats sent the Cardinals down in order in the top of the second, Ohio added on in the bottom of the inning. After Westler scored on an RBI single from Logan, Ohio would go to on to load the bases with two outs. Wilson then came to the plate and rocketed a three-RBI single into centerfield, clearing the bases and putting Ohio up 6-0 after two innings.
After a scoreless third, Ball State would have runners on first and second with two outs when the lights at Firestone Stadium went out. After a 20-minute delay, the Bobcats would get a ground out to end the inning.
Ohio added on in the bottom of the fourth, when Keidel laid down a perfect bunt for a single and then scored on a Ball State throwing error to give Ohio a 7-0 lead. Ohio would threaten to add on later in the inning after back-to-back singles from Hoffner and WIlson, however, Ball State would end the threat, sending the game to the fifth with Ohio leading, 7-0.
After a scoreless top of the fifth for Ball State, the Bobcats put an end to the game in the bottom of the inning. After Grein reached on a leadoff single down the left field line, sophomore
Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio), entered the game to run for her, allowing the Bobcats to score on Westler's RBI double, securing Ohio's 8-0 five inning victory.
Ohio is back on the diamond on Friday, May 10 when Ohio takes on No. 1 Miami. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Firestone Stadium and can be seen on ESPN+.
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