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ELON, N.C. – The Ohio softball team (3-0) returned to action Friday morning (Feb. 7) at the 2025 Elon Softball Classic, defeating UConn (0-1), 18-14 in eight innings. The Bobcats' 18 runs are the third most scored in a single game in program history and the most since March 15, 2019.
Overall, Ohio scored 18 runs on 16 hits and had two errors, while UConn scored 14 runs on 13 hits and had three errors.
Individually, sophomore
Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) led the Bobcats with three hits, two doubles and six RBI, while senior
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) added two hits, one double, two walks, four runs scored and three RBI. Junior
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) recorded four hits, one double, one homerun, four runs scored and one RBI. Senior
Maddie Wilcox (Grove City, Ohio) hit her first career homerun and added three RBI, while sophomore
Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) also hit a three-run homerun.
In the circle, freshman
Anna Wise (Broadview Heights, Ohio) recorded her first career start, allowing three runs on five hits with one walk and one strikeout, while redshirt junior
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) pitched four innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while walking one and striking out six to earn the win.
Ohio struck first in the top of the first inning. After senior
Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) reached on a double and Hoffner was hit by a pitch, Wilcox game to the plate with two outs and crushed her first career home run to left field, giving Ohio a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the frame. However, UConn responded with three runs of their own to tie the game at 3-3 headed into the second inning.
Ohio retook the lead in the top of the second. After Westler led the inning off with a single to center, she would later score on an RBI single by junior
Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio). Then after drew a bases loaded walk to score senior
CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio), Farmer reached on an error, scoring Hummel and giving Ohio a 6-3 lead.
Ohio added on four more runs in the top of the third inning, highlighted by a three-RBI double to left center by Farmer, putting the Bobcats up 10-3 going into the bottom of the third. UConn threatened to get runs back in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with one out. Sophomore
Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) entered the game and got the next two batters to strike out swinging to end the inning.
Ohio added on two more runs in the top of the fourth thanks to a two-RBI double from Hoffner, giving the Bobcats a 12-3 lead headed into the bottom of the frame. However, UConn got the runs back in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of an Ohio miscue to help plate four runs on three hits to cut the Ohio lead to 12-7 going into the fifth inning.
UConn tied the game up in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring five runs on three hits to tie the game at 12-12 heading into the sixth inning. Ohio retook the lead in the top of the sixth on an RBI double from Farmer, however, UConn took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the inning on a two-run home run to put the Huskie up, 14-13 headed into the seventh.
Ohio rallied in the top of the seventh. With one out, Westler hit a one-out solo homerun to tie the game at 14-14 headed into the bottom of the seventh.
Ohio then took the lead for good in the top of the eighth inning. After an RBI single from Farmer gave Ohio a one-run lead, the Bobcats were able to put two runners on, setting up Wilson for a three-run homerun to give Ohio the 18-14.
UConn came to bat in the bottom of the inning looking to rally once again, however, the Ohio defense was able to shut the door on the Huskies and secure the 18-14 extra inning win.
Up next, the Bobcats wrap up the 2025 Elon Softball Classic on Saturday, Feb. 8 against UNC Greensboro. First pitch is set for 9:30 a.m.
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