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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Ohio softball team (11-6) was back in action for the second day of the 2025 Purple/Gold Challenge hosted by Lipscomb on Saturday (March 1), sweeping the day's game. Ohio defeated Northern Iowa (9-4), 7-2, in game one, before defeating Lipscomb (8-10), 5-4, in game two.
GAME ONE: Ohio 7, Northern Iowa 2
Overall, Ohio scored seven runs on 13 hits and did not commit an error, while UNI scored two runs on five hits and did not commit an error.
Individually, junior
Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while senior
Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with and RBI. Senior
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and one RBI, with sophomore
Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) adding two hits, a double and three RBI. Senior
Maddie Wilcox (Grove City, Ohio) added two hits and one RBI.
In the circle, redshirt junior
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio), got the win, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits, walked three and struck out three. Sophomore
Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) pitched one inning and allowed one run, walked three and struck out two, while freshman
Anna Wise (Broadview Heights, Ohio) pitched 1.2 innings and earned her first career save.
Ohio struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Hummel led the inning off with a single and then scored on an RBI single from Hoffner. Moments later, a two-RBI double from Wilson put Ohio up 3-0 headed into the second inning. UNI was able to get on the board in the top of the second with a one-out solo home run, cutting the Ohio lead to 3-1 headed into the third.
Ohio looked to add on in the bottom of the third inning, with singled from Yuhas, Wilcox and Wilson leading the bases with two outs. However, Ohio was unable to capitalize, sending the game to the fourth with Ohio still leading, 3-1.
UNI's offense looked to get going in the top of the fifth, with Northern Iowa loading the bases with one out. However, Lieving was able to get the next two batters to strikeout, ending the threat and keeping the score, 3-1 headed into the bottom of the frame.
Ohio added on in the bottom of the fifth. After sophomore
Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) led the inning off with a single, Hoffner followed right behind her with one of her own, setting up an RBI single for Wilcox. Moments later, Wilson recorded another RBI, giving Ohio a 5-1 lead headed into the sixth.
UNI got a run back in the top of the sixth inning, scoring one run on one hit, while leaving the bases loaded to send the game to the bottom of the inning with Ohio leading, 5-2.
Ohio then added on in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs on two hits, sending the game to the top of the seventh with Ohio leading, 7-2.
UNI looked to rally in the top of the seventh, however Wise was able to send Northern Iowa down in order, securing the 7-2 win.
GAME TWO: Ohio 5, Lipscomb 4
Overall, Ohio scored five runs on five hits and committed two errors, while Lipscomb scored four runs on seven hits and committed one error.
Individually, Yuhas recorded a double, two RBI and a run scored, while Hoffner added a double, RBI and a run scored. Wilcox added a hit and an RBI, while Hummel scored two runs. Wilson added and Farmer both had a hit, while Farmer added an RBI.
In the circle, Wise got the start and picked up the win, throwing seven innings, while allowing four runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out two.
Ohio struck first in the top of the first inning, when Hoffner drove in Hummel, giving Ohio a 1-0 lead headed into the bottom of the first. After a scoreless second inning, Ohio added on. With two outs, Hoffner doubled and then scored moments later an RBI single to right center from Wilcox, giving Ohio a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the third.
After Ohio kept Lipscomb off the board in the third, Ohio added on again in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs and two runners on, Yuhas crushed a two-RBI double to left, setting up an RBI single from Farmer, giving Ohio a 5-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth.
After the Bobcats kept Lipscomb off the board until the bottom of the seventh inning when Lipscomb looked to rally. After a one-out two-RBI single and a two-out two-run home run cut the Ohio lead down to one, the Bobcats' defense was able to get the final batter to fly out, securing Ohio's 5-4 victory.
UP NEXT
Ohio wraps up the 2024 Purple/Gold Challenge on Sunday, March 2 when Ohio takes on Illinois State. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. ET.
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