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TUCSON, Ariz. –  The Ohio softball team (4-2) returned to action Friday afternoon (Feb. 14) for the first day of the 2025 Bear Down Fiesta hosted by Arizona at Hillenbrand Stadium. The Bobcats dropped the first game of the day, 2-1, to Cal State Fullerton (4-1), before falling to South Alabama (5-3), 7-2, in game two. 

GAME ONE: Cal State Fullerton 2, Ohio 1
Overall, Ohio scored one run on four hits and committed one error, while Cal State Fullerton scored two runs on seven hits and committed one error. 

Individually, senior Maddie Wilcox (Grove City, Ohio) recorded one double, while senior Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.), sophomore Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) and freshman Sydney Young (Charleston, W. Va.) all recorded base hits for the Bobcats. 

In the circle, freshman Anna Wise (Broadview Heights, Ohio) got the start, pitching six innings, allowing two runs, none earned, on seven hits, while not walking a batter. 

Cal State Fullerton struck first in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of an Ohio miscue, taking a 2-0 lead into the second inning. 

Ohio looked to get a run back in the top of the second, with Wilson picking up Ohio's first hit of the game, however, the Titans defense was able to get out of the inning unscathed. After a scoreless third and fourth innings from both teams, Ohio once again looked to get a run across in the top of the fifth, with freshman Abby Kennelly (Waterville, Ohio) drawing a two-out walk. However, once again, the Bobcats were unable to capitalize on the free baserunner, sending the game to the bottom of the inning trailing, 2-0. 

The Titans looked to add on in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Cal State Fullerton got a runner on second after a single and a stolen base. Moments later, the Titans recorded another single and attempted to score from second, however the Ohio defense was able to throw her out at home, sending the game to the sixth with Ohio still trailing, 2-0. 

The Bobcats looked to get on the board in the top of the sixth after Yuhas reached on a one-out single. However, the Bobcats were once again unable to push a run across, sending the game to the bottom of the inning with the Titans still leading, 2-0. 

After Cal State Fullerton stranded runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the sixth, Ohio looked to rally in the top of the seventh. After Wilcox reached on a leadoff double through the left side, sophomore Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W.Va.) entered the game to run for her, scoring moments later after junior Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) reached on an error, cutting the Ohio deficit to 2-1 with one out.

Moments later, pinch hitter Young singled, putting runners on first and second with one out. However, the Titans' defense was able to retire the final two Bobcats, ending the Ohio threat and picking up the 2-1 victory. 

GAME TWO: South Alabama 7, Ohio 2
Overall, Ohio scored two runs on eight hits and committed three errors, while South Alabama scored seven runs on seven hits and committed one error. 

Individually, junior Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Yuhas both recorded two hits, while Westler added a double and an RBI. Senior Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) and Farmer both added one hit, while senior CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) added a hit and a run scored. 

In the circle, Lieving got the start, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing two runs, none earned, on four hits, while walking four. Redshirt junior Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) entered the game to pitch, throwing 2.2 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on three hits, while walking three and striking out two. 

South Alabama threatened in the top of the first inning, loading the bases with one out. However, the Ohio defense was able to keep the Jaguars off the board, sending the game to the bottom of the inning still scoreless. 

The Bobcats looked to strike first in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Hummel and Yuhas reached on back-to-back singles, however the South Alabama defense was able to force a popup to end the inning, keeping the game scoreless after three. 

After Ohio held South Alabama off the board in the top of the fourth, Ohio looked to take the lead in the bottom of the inning. After Farmer reached on a leadoff single, the Jaguars were able to get the next two Bobcat to strikeout, bringing Westler to the plate who crushed a double to left center. However, the South Alabama defense was able to throw Farmer out at home, ending the inning and keeping the came scoreless headed into the fifth. 

South Alabama struck in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs on an error, taking a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the inning. South Alabama added on in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs on three hits and two errors to take a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the inning. 

Ohio looked to get on the board in the bottom of the inning, with Farmer and Young drawing back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second with no outs. After the runners moved up, a sacrifice fly from Westler got a run across, cutting the deficit to 7-1 going into the seventh inning. 

After a scoreless top of the seventh, Ohio looked to rally in the bottom of the frame. After Keidel reached on a leadoff single, she would move to second on a two-out single by Hoffner and then score moments later when Farmer reached on an error. However, the was the last run the Bobcats would score in the inning, falling 7-2. 

UP NEXT
The Bobcats are back in action for day two of the Bear Down Fiesta starting at 2:30 p.m. ET when Ohio takes on South Alabama. Ohio then returns to the diamond at 5 p.m. ET to take on host No. 15 Arizona, which can be seen on ESPN+.

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