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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Ohio softball team (12-6) wrapped up play at the 2025 Purple/Gold Challenge hosted by Lipscomb on Sunday afternoon (March 2), defeating Illinois State (5-13), 7-2.
Overall, Ohio scored seven runs on 10 hits and did not commit an error, while Illinois State scored two runs on four hits and did not commit an error.
Individually, senior
Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, while senior
CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBI and a run scored. Sophomore
Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) added two hits, while junior
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) also added a hit and a run scored for the Bobcats.
In the circle, redshirt junior
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walked two and struck out two.
Ohio looked to get on the board in the top of the first inning with Yuhas and Farmer reaching on back-to-back singles. However, Ohio was unable to capitalize, sending the game to the second still 0-0. After a scoreless second inning, Illinois State got on the board in the top of the third, taking a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly.
After a scoreless bottom of the third and fourth inning, the Ohio offense struck in the bottom of the fifth. After Keidel reached on a leadoff single, Yuhas crushed a two-run home run, putting Ohio up 2-1. Ohio continued to add on, with Farmer reaching on a single and Hoffner moving her to third on a double, setting up senior
Maddie Wilcox (Grove City, Ohio) driving in Farmer to out Ohio up 3-1.
The Bobcats' offense kept rolling in the inning, helping set up a three-RBI double from Keidel, her second hit of the inning, putting Ohio up 7-1 headed into the sixth. Illinois State got a run back in the top of the sixth, cutting the Ohio lead to 7-2 headed into the bottom of the inning after a run was scored on a wild pitch.
After a scoreless bottom of the sixth, Illinois State looked to rally in the top of the seventh, however, the Ohio offense was able to send the Redbirds down in order, securing the 7-2 win.
Up next, Ohio heads to Fairfax, Va. March 8-9 to participate in the George Mason Tournament, where they will take on George Mason and Longwood over the weekend.
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