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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Ohio softball team (6-1) returned to action on Friday (Feb. 13) for the first day of the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn. Ohio took the first game of the day against Canisius (0-1), 11-4 in five innings, before beating Chattanooga (4-3), 7-1.
GAME ONE: Ohio 11, Canisius 3 (5 Innings)
Overall, Ohio scored 11 runs on nine hits and committed no errors, while Canisius scored three runs on six hits and committed one error.
Junior Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) went 3-for-3 at the plate with one home run and three runs scored, while senior Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) also went 3-for-3 along with one RBI and two runs scored. Junior Kylie Gorsuch (North Canton, Ohio) went 1-for-4 at the plate and hit a home run to record three RBI. Freshman Sena Smith (East Liverpool, Ohio) went 1-for-2 at the plate, hitting her first career home run.
In the circle, senior Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) got the start and win, throwing 3.2 innings, allowing 3 runs, 3 earned, while walking 1.
The Bobcats found themselves down early in the first, after the Golden Griffins hit an RBI double to take an early 2-0 advantage after one.
Lieving opened the second inning with a one-run home run to get Ohio on the board. Two Bobcats got on base, and after a double play, one was in scoring position. Hummel singled up the middle to bring junior Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) across home and tie the game 2-2. With two Bobcats on base, Gorsuch homered deep over the left field fence for a three-run home run and a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the second.
Canisius scored one run off a sacrifice fly to cut into Ohio's lead, setting the score 5-3 after two. Lieving got her second hit in the top of the third to get on base, before stealing second and advancing to third. Wilson singled up the middle, and Lieving raced home to extend the Bobcat lead.
The Ohio defense shut down Canisius in the bottom of the third, taking their 6-3 lead into the fourth inning.
Hummel opened the top of the fourth with a single, then advanced to third after a walk and a flyout. A sacrifice fly brought Hummel across home for Ohio's first run of the inning. The Bobcats took advantage of a throwing error to score an additional run, then Smith hit her first career home run to bring three Bobcats home, putting the score 11-3.
The Bobcats were unable to put up any runs in the top of the fifth, keeping the score 11-3.
Lieving came in to finish the game pitching for the Bobcats, sealing the 11-3 victory.
GAME TWO: Ohio 7, Chattanooga 1
Overall, Ohio scored seven runs on 13 hits and committed no errors, while Chattanooga scored one run on four hits and committed three errors.
Senior Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) went 3-for-3 with two doubles, one run scored, and two RBI. Wilson went 2-for-3 with a double, one run scored, and one RBI. Senior Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) went 3-for-3 and had one run. Junior Breanna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) and Hummel each recorded one RBI and had one run.
In the circle, graduate student Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching five innings, allowing no runs, one hit, walked two and struck out four. Moore pitched the final two innings, allowing one run on three hits, walked one and struck out two.
The Bobcat went scoreless through the first three innings, but strong pitching from Miller kept the game scoreless through three.
Ohio opened the top of the fourth with a double to get a runner into scoring position. Farmer followed with an RBI single to right-center to bring Gorsuch across home for the first run of the game. The Bobcats continued hitting well in the fourth, leading to another RBI single to extend the lead, 2-0, heading to the bottom of the fourth.
The top of the fifth began with two Bobcats getting into scoring position on second and third. Westler hit a two-RBI double to right-center, scoring two Bobcats. A foul out led to Ohio's third run of the inning, setting the score 5-0.
The Bobcats' strong offensive performance continued, scoring two runs on three hits in the top of the sixth to extend their lead, 7-0. Chattanooga scored in the bottom of the sixth to get on the board, but ultimately fell short, giving Ohio the win, 7-1.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats return to action for day two of the Frost Classic on Saturday, Feb. 14, when Ohio hosts Middle Tennessee at 12:30 p.m. ET and takes on Chattanooga at 3:00 p.m. ET.
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