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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio softball team (26-12, 9-4 MAC) returned to action on Saturday afternoon (April 12), falling to Toledo (12-13, 5-9 MAC) in a doubleheader at the Ohio Softball Field. The Bobcats dropped game one, 8-5 in eight innings, before falling, 4-0 in game two. 

GAME ONE: Toledo 8, Ohio 5 (8 innings)
Overall, Ohio scored five runs on eight hits and committed two errors, while Toledo scored eight runs on 11 hits with one error. 

Individually, senior Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while sophomore Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) added two hits, and a run scored. Senior Maddie Wilcox (Grove City, Ohio) added one hit, a home run, run scored and three RBI, while junior Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) added a home run, RBI and run scored. Senior Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) added a hit, while senior CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) had one hit, and one run scored. 

In the circle, freshman Anna Wise (Broadview Heights, Ohio) got the start, pitching 2.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits, walked two and struck out two. Redshirt junior Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) pitched 5.1 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out two. Miller recorded her 350^th career strikeout in the appearance. 

After Toledo stranded runners in the top of the first, the Bobcats threatened in the bottom of the frame. After Yuhas reached on a leadoff single, she stole second and then moved to third on a ground out, putting a runner in scoring position with two outs. However, the Toledo third basement made a diving play to end the threat, sending the game to the seconds till scores. 

After the Bobcats stranded two runners on in the bottom of the second, Toledo got on the board in the top of the third. After the Rockets loaded the bases with one out, Toledo would draw a bases loaded walk to take a 1-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, Miller would enter the game, getting the next two batters out, sending the inning to the bottom of the third with Ohio trailing, 1-0. Ohio looked to respond in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with two outs, however, Ohio was unable to capitalize, sending the game to the fourth still trailing, 1-0. 

Ohio threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Keidel and Farmer reached on back-to-back hits. After Hoffner reached on a fielder's choice and stole second, the Bobcats put runners on second and third with two outs. However, the Toledo defense was about to get out of the jam, sending the game to the sixth with the Bobcats still trailing, 1-0. 

Ohio tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, when with two outs, Westler battled at the plate, finally taking the 11^th pitch that she saw and crushed it over the leftfield wall, tying the game at 1-1 going into the seventh inning. 

Ohio threatened to walk off in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Ohio loading the bases with two outs, however, the Rockets would force a deep fly ball to end the inning, sending the game to the eighth inning, tied at 1-1. 

The rockets took advantage of Ohio being unable to take the lead. In the top of the eighth, scoring seven runs on seven hits and four home runs, taking an 8-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth. 

Ohio looked to rally in the bottom of the eighth. After Hoffner drove in the Bobcats' second run of the game – the 100^th RBI of her career – Wilcox followed it up moments later with a three-run homerun to left. Still with two outs, Ohio put runners on first and second, however, the Rockets were able to record the final out, securing the 8-5 win. 

GAME TWO: Toledo 4, Ohio 0 
Overall, Ohio did not score a run on three hits and committed four errors, while Toledo scored four runs on seven hits and committed one error. 

At the plate, Farmer had a double, while sophomore Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) recorded a single, as did Westler. 

In the circle, Lieving got the start, pitching seven innings, allowing four runs one earned, on seven hits, walked one and struck out two. 

Ohio threatened in the bottom of the first inning when Farmer reached on a two-out double. However, Toledo was able to record the final out of the inning, sending the game to the second still scoreless. 

Toledo struck in the top of the third inning, scoring two runs while taking advantage of two Ohio fielding errors, taking a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the inning. 

After a scoreless fourth inning, Toledo added a run in the top of the fifth, taking a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the inning. Ohio threatened in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with one out. However, they would be unable to capitalize on the base runners, sending the game to the sixth still trailing, 3-0. 

The Rockets added a run in the top of the sixth, taking advantage of another Ohio error, taking a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the frame. 

After a scoreless sixth, Ohio looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh, however the Rockets sent the Bobcats down in order, securing the 4-0 victory. 

UP NEXT
The Bobcats hit the road on Tuesday, April 15 when they head to Bowling Green, Ohio to take on Bowling Green for a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+. 

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