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TOLEDO, Ohio – The Ohio softball team (16-9, 0-1 MAC) opened Mid-American Conference play on Saturday afternoon (March 14) at Toledo (4-18, 1-0 MAC), falling to the Rockets, 7-6, at Scott Park. 

Overall, Ohio scored six runs on 10 hits and committed two errors, while Toledo scored seven runs on nine hits and committed two errors. 

At the plate, junior Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while junior Kylie Gorsuch (North Canton, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with a double, walk, RBI and one run scored. Senior Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) added two hits and an RBI, while sophomore Jordyn Wycuff (Pataskala, Ohio) added two hits. Senior Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) had one hit, drew two walks and scored one run, while graduate student Rylee McDaniel (Ventura, Calif.) drew two walks and scored two runs. 

In the circle, sophomore Ally Meyers (Waterville, Ohio) got the start, pitching 1.1 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and walked two, while senior Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) pitched 4.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits. 

After Ohio stranded two runners in the top of the first inning, Toledo struck first in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs on four hits and one error, taking a 4-0 lead into the second. Ohio looked to get on the board in the top of the second. After Farmer and Wycuff led the inning off with back-to-back hits, Hummel drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. However, Toledo was able to get the final out of the inning, keeping the lead at 4-0. Toledo added on in the bottom of the second, taking a 5-0 lead on an RBI single. 

Ohio once again looked to get on the board in the top of the third after Gorsuch led the inning off with a double to center. Then with two outs, Farmer singled to center, scoring Gorsuch, cutting the Toledo lead to 5-1 entering the bottom of the third. After a scoreless bottom of the third, Ohio continued to chip into the Toledo lead. After McDaniel and senior Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) walked and Hummel singled to load the bases with one out, Gorsuch drew a walk, scoring McDaniel. Later in the inning, a sacrifice fly from Westler scored another run, cutting the Toledo lead to 5-3 going into the bottom of the fourth inning. 

After Ohio kept the Rockets off the board in the bottom of the fourth, Ohio took the lead in the top of the fifth inning, scoring three runs on one hit and one error to take a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the inning. After a scoreless top of the sixth from Ohio, Toledo tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run, knotting the game at 6-6, before scoring on a throwing error to take a 7-6 lead headed into the top of the seventh. 

Ohio looked to rally in the top of the seventh, but Toledo would send the Bobcats down in order to secure the 7-6 win. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Bobcats and Toledo will now conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday, March 15. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. ET, with game two to follow. 

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