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AKRON, Ohio – The No. 2 Ohio softball team (36-17) opened play at the 2025 Mid-American Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon (May 8), defeating No. 6 Northern Illinois (21-29), 7-0, inside Firestone Stadium. The Bobcats advance into the winner's bracket and will take on No. 1 Miami Friday at Noon ET.
Overall, Ohio scored seven runs on 12 hits and did not commit an error, while NIU did not score a run on three hits and committed one error.
At the plate, junior
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while sophomore
Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with a home run, run scored, walk and an RBI. Senior
Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) added two hits with a walk and a run scored, while sophomore
Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) added a double and two RBI and a run scored. Junior
Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) added a home run, RBI and a run scored, while junior
Belle Hummell (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded two hits with a run scored. Senior
CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) added a hit, and a run scored, with freshman
Abby Kennelly (Waterville, Ohio) adding a hit and a walk.
In the circle, redshirt junior
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching seven innings, allowing no runs on three hits, walked two and struck out four.
Ohio threatened in the bottom of the first. After Keidel was hit by a pitch with one out, she advanced to third on a base hit from Hoffner, putting runners on first and second with two outs. However, the Huskies defense was able to grab a deep fly ball at the centerfield wall to end the threat, sending the game to the second tied at 0-0.
After NIU left two on in the top of the second, Ohio once again got base runners with Wilcox drawing a walk and Kennelly reaching on a single. After Westler bunted the runners over, Ohio had runners on second and third with one out. However, NIU was able to get the final two outs of the inning, securing the 0-0 tie going into the third inning.
After Ohio sent the Huskies down in order in the top of the third, Ohio struck in the bottom of the frame when Farmer hit a solo home run to right, giving Ohio a 1-0 lead headed into the fourth.
After NIU stranded two in the top of the fourth, Ohio once again made noise on the bases. After Westler led the inning off with a double and Hummel moved her to third on a bunt single, Farmer would draw a walk to lead the bases with two outs. However, NIU was able to get the final out, sending the game to the fifth with Ohio still leading, 1-0.
After NIU went down in order in the top of the fifth, Ohio added on in the bottom of the inning when Bare hit a solo home run to right, giving Ohio 2-0 lead going into the fifth inning.
NIU looked to get on the board in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, NIU reached on a double and then moved to third on a bunt. However, Miller was able to get the final batter of the inning to strikeout swinging, ending the inning and keeping Ohio's 2-0 lead headed into the bottom of the sixth.
Ohio broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth. After Hummel led the inning off with a single, she moved to second and then scored when Keidel reached on a bunt single and an NIU error. Moments later, Farmer and Hoffner reached on back-to-back singles to load the bases, setting up a two-RBI double from Wilson to center to put the Bobcats up 5-0. After an NIU pitching change, Kennelly drew a walk, setting up a two-RBI single up the middle from Westler, giving Ohio a 7-0 lead headed into the top of the seventh.
NIU looked to get on the board in the top of the seventh, getting a runner on with one out, but the Bobcats were able to record the final two outs, securing the 7-0 victory.
Up next, the Bobcats are back in action on Friday, May 9 when the Bobcats take on No. 1 Miami. First pitch is set for Noon ET inside Firestone Stadium and can be seen on ESPN+.
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