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ELON, N.C. – The Ohio softball team (4-0) wrapped up the first weekend of competition at the 2025 Elon Softball Classic Saturday morning (Feb. 8), defeating UNC Greensboro (1-2), 14-10, to finish the weekend 4-0.
The Bobcats wrapped up the weekend with 52 hits and 52 total runs scored to go along with seven doubles, one triple and five homeruns, while also drawing 19 walks.
Overall, Ohio scored 14 runs on 19 hits and had two errors and left 10 on, while UNCG scored 10 runs on 12 hits, committed two errors and left nine on base.
Individually, senior
Maddie Wilcox (Grove City, Ohio) finished the day 3-for-4 with and RBI and a homerun, while senior
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) finished 3-for-4 with a grand slam, double, six RBI and a run scored. Senior
Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) went 2-for-3 with four runs scored, two walks and one RBI. Sophomore
Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) added two more hits and two more RBI to her stellar weekend, while sophomore
Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) had two hits, as did junior
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio), who also scored two runs.
In the circle, redshirt junior
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits with three walks and two strike outs. Freshman
Anna Wise (Broadview Heights, Ohio) pitched 1.2 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits with one walk and one strikeout, while sophomore
Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W.Va.) closed out the game, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing two runs, none earned, on two hits to earn the decision.
UNCG struck first in the top of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a leadoff homerun. UNCG would then attempt to add more, loading the bases with two outs, however, the Ohio defense was able to get the final batter to ground out, sending the game to the bottom of the first with Ohio trailing, 1-0.
Ohio got the run back in the bottom of the first with an RBI single from Farmer, tying the game at 1-0 going into the second inning. However, UNCG got the run back with a leadoff homerun in the top of the second, giving them a 2-1 lead.
Ohio responded in the bottom of the second. After Westler and junior
Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) singled and Yuhas drew a walk to load the bases, Hoffner crushed a two-out grand slam down the left field line to give Ohio a 5-2 lead going into the third.
After Miller sent UNCG down in order in the top of the third, Ohio added one. After Wilcox led the frame off with a solo homerun to center, Ohio would put runners on second and third with two outs, setting up freshman
Sydney Young (Charleston, W. Va.) to record her first career double and two RBI. Yuhas followed it up with an RBI single of her own, before the Bobcats closed out the scoring with Farmer's second RBI single of the day, giving Ohio a 10-2 lead going into the fourth.
UNCG cut into the Ohio lead in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs on four hits, including a two-run homerun. However, Ohio was able to turn a double play to end the inning, sending the game to the bottom of the inning still leading, 10-5.
After a scoreless fifth inning, UNCG capitalized on two Ohio fielding miscues in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs on four hits and two errors to tie the game at 10-10 going into the bottom of the inning.
Ohio responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs on two hits and capitalizing on two errors, highlighted by a two RBI double from Hoffner to give Ohio a 14-10 lead going into the seventh.
UNCG looked to rally in the top of the seventh, getting the first runner on, however, the Ohio defense was able to retire the rest of the UNCG offense, securing the 14-10 victory.
Up next, the Bobcats head to Tucson, Ariz. Feb. 14-16 for the 2025 Bear Down Fiesta hosted by Arizona. While there, Ohio will take on Cal State Fullerton, South Alabama and Arizona. All three Ohio opponents participated in last year's NCAA Tournament.
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