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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Ohio softball team (9-6) returned to action on Friday afternoon (Feb. 28) for the first day of the 2025 Purple/Gold Challenge hosted by Lipscomb. The Bobcats fell in game one to Northern Iowa (8-3), 2-1, in eight innings, before falling to Lipscomb (7-8) in game two, 6-5.
GAME ONE: Northern Iowa 2, Ohio 1
Overall, Ohio scored one run on six hits and did not commit and error, while UNI scored two runs on five hits and committed three errors.
Individually, sophomore
Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while junior
Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) had one hit, and one run scored. Seniors
Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) and
CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) both had a hit, while Keidel drew one walk.
In the circle, freshman
Anna Wise (Broadview, Heights, Ohio) got the start, pitching 7.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walked one and struck out three.
After a scoreless first two innings, Ohio looked to get on the board in the top of the third after Keidel and Yuhas reached on singles to put runners on first and third. However, Ohio was unable to capitalize, sending the game to the bottom of the inning still scoreless.
After neither offense generated much on the bases over the next three innings, UNI looked to strike in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out double to right center. However, the Bobcats' defense forced a ground out to end the threat and send the game to the seventh still tied at 0-0.
After a scoreless seventh inning, Ohio got on the board in the top of the eighth with an RBI single from Farmer, scoring Hummel and giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead headed into the final frame.
However, UNI was able rally in the bottom of the inning, winning the game on a two-run home run to take the game by the final of 2-1.
GAME TWO: Lipscomb 6, Ohio 5
Overall, Ohio scored five runs on 10 hits and committed four errors, while Lipscomb scored six runs on eight hits and committed three errors.
Individually, Yuhas went 2-for-3 with a home run, RBI and three runs scored, while senior
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) went 2-for-3 with a double RBI and a run scored. Senior
Maddie Wilcox (Grove City, Ohio) added two hits and two RBI, while Hummel added a hit, and a run scored. Sophomore
Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) added a hit and an RBI, while Keidel and junior
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) recorded one hit each.
In the circle, sophomore
Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) got the start, pitching three innings, allowing five runs, two earned on four hits, while walking and striking out two. Redshirt junior
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) threw three innings, allowing one run on four hits and struck out six.
Ohio struck first in the top of the first inning, with back-to-back RBI singles from Wilson and Wilcox to take the 2-0 lead headed into the bottom of the first. However, Lipscomb was able to respond in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of Bobcat miscues, scoring three runs on two hits and three errors to take the 3-2 lead into the second inning.
After a scoreless second, Ohio tied the game in the top of the third with a lead-off home run from Yuhas, knotting the game at 3-3 headed into the bottom of the inning. However, once again, Lipscomb had an answer, scoring two runs on two hits to take the 5-3 lead into the fourth.
Ohio looked to get the runs back in the top of the fourth, with Keidel reaching on a two-out single and advancing to third after Hummel and Yuhas reached on back-to-back fielding errors. However, Ohio was unable to take advantage of the miscues, sending the game to the bottom of the inning with Lipscomb still leading, 5-3.
Ohio got within a run in the top of the fifth inning. After Hoffner reached on a leadoff double, Wilcox drove her home with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 5-4 headed into the bottom of the fifth. Ohio would then tie the game up in the top of the sixth inning after an RBI single from Hoffner, knotting the game at 5-5 headed into the bottom of the frame.
However, Lipscomb responded in the bottom of the sixth, scoring one run on one two hits and one error, taking a 6-5 lead into the top of the sixth. Ohio looked to rally in the top of the seventh, but were unable to generate any offense, falling by the final of 6-5
.
UP NEXT
Ohio is back in action at the 2025 Purple/Gold Challenge on Saturday, March 1 when Ohio takes on Northen Iowa at 12 p.m. ET and Lipscomb at 5 p.m. ET. The second game of the day can be seen on ESPN+.
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