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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Ohio softball team (2-0) opened the 2026 season in dominate fashion at the 2026 Founders Classic in Spartanburg, S.C. Ohio opened the season with a 16-2 five inning victory over Saint Francis (0-1), before taking down Towson (0-1), 9-0, in six innings in the second game. Senior Belle Hummel finished the day 8-for-8 with a home run, six runs scored and four RBI.  

GAME ONE: Ohio 16, Saint Francis 2 (5 Innings) 
Overall, Ohio scored 16 runs on 19 hits and committed three errors, while Saint Francis scored two runs on two hits and committed three errors.  

Individually, Ohio was led by senior Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) who went 4-for-4 with four RBI, three runs scored and one homerun. Senior Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while junior Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) picked up where she left off last season, with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Junior Kylie Gorsuch (North Canton, Ohio) went 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and two runs scored in her first game as a Bobcat, while senior Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) added a double, RBI, two runs scored and drew a walk.  

In the circle, sophomore Ally Meyers (Waterville, Ohio) got her first start and win of her career, throwing four innings, while allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits and did not walk a batter, while striking out four. Senior Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) returned to the circle for the Bobcats to close out the game, tossing one inning, allowing no runs, no hits, no walks and struck out one batter.  

The Bobcats struck first in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs on five hits. After Hummel led the game off with a single, she then stole second before scoring on an RBI double from Bare. Later in the inning, after Gorsuch singled on her first at bat as a Bobcat, she then scored on an RBI double from Farmer, putting Ohio up 2-0 early. After the Bobcats loaded the bases with one out, the Bobcats would add another run after Farmer scored when sophomore Alexis Book (Chillicothe, Ohio) drew a walk. Still with one out, Saint Francis would be able to force the Bobcats into the final two outs of the inning, sending the game to the bottom of the frame with the Bobcats leading, 3-0.  

After Meyers and the Ohio defense sent Saint Francis down in order in the bottom of the first, Ohio added on in the top of the second, scoring nine runs on eight hits and one error. After Farmer's second RBI double of the game scored Hummel and Gorsuch, an RBI single from junior Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) put Ohio up 6-0. After a Saint Francis pitching change, Hummel would hit a three-run home run giving Ohio an 11-0 lead. Moments later, an RBI double from Gorsuch increased the Ohio lead, putting the Bobcats ahead, 12-0, headed into the bottom of the second.  

The Bobcats added to their lead in the top of the third, taking a 14-0 lead. In the bottom of the frame, Saint Francis got on the board with a two-run home run, cutting the Bobcats' lead to 14-2 heading into the top of the fourth. 

The Bobcats got a run back in to top of the fourth inning, with Bare scoring on an RBI single from sophomore Sydney Young (Charleston, W.Va.). Then after a scoreless bottom of the frame, an RBI single from Hummel put the Bobcats up 16-2 headed into the bottom of the fifth inning.  

Saint Francis looked to extend the game, however Moore and the Ohio defense would shut the door, securing the 16-2 victory. 

GAME TWO: Ohio 9, Towson 0 
Overall, Ohio scored nine runs on 16 hits and one error, while Towson did not score a run on four hits and committed three errors.  

Hummel once again led the Bobcats, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored, while Farmer went 3-for-4. Gorsuch went 2-for-4 with a homerun, four RBI and two runs scored, while Bare added two hits, one double and two runs scored. Lieving recorded her first career home run and added two RBI and a run scored, while freshman Allie Cervola (Hunker, Pa.) recorded her first career hit with a double.  

Graduate student Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching six innings and did not allow a run on four hits, did not walk a batter and struck out four.  

The Ohio offense picked up immediately where it left off against Saint Francis, with the Bobcats taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to a three-run home run from Gorsuch.   

After a scoreless bottom of the first for Towson, Ohio added on in the top of the second when Hummel scored after Bare singled and advanced to second on an error, putting the Bobcats up 4-0 after two innings.  

Ohio threatened in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Cervola recorded the first double of her career. Hummel would single, while Bare reached after she was hit by a pitch. However, the Bobcats would leave the bases loaded, going to the bottom of the fourth still leading, 4-0.  

After Towson stranded a runner in the bottom of the fourth, Ohio added in the top of the fifth inning with a two-run home run from Liveing, the first of her career, to put the Bobcats up 6-0 entering the middle of the fifth. 

After a scoreless fifth inning from Towson, Ohio added on in the top of the sixth. Hummel led the inning off with an infield single, moved to third on a double from Bare and then scored on an RBI single from Gorsuch. Later in the inning, Gorsuch would score on an RBI single from Book, putting the Bobcats up 9-0 headed into the bottom of the sixth.  

The Ohio defense went out in the bottom of the seventh with Towson looking to extend the game. However, Miller would send the Tigers down on order on eight pitches, securing the 9-0 shutout victory.  

UP NEXT 
The Bobcats are back in action for day two of the 2026 Founders Classic on Saturday, Feb. 7 when the Bobcats take on Towson at 10 a.m. ET and host USC Upstate at 3 p.m. ET  

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