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TOLEDO, Ohio – The Ohio softball team (17-10, 1-2 MAC) wrapped up the first weekend of Mid-American Conference play on Sunday (March 15), splitting a doubleheader with Toledo (5-19, 2-1 MAC). The Bobcats took the first game of the day, 10-6, before falling in game two, 10-6.

GAME ONE: Ohio 10, Toledo 6
Overall, Ohio scored 10 runs on 13 hits, including five home runs, and committed one error, while Toledo scored six runs on nine hits and committed one error. 

At the plate, senior Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with two home runs, two RBI and three runs scored, while junior Kylie Gorsuch (North Canton, Ohio) went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored. Senior Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored, while senior Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) added two hits, one double and three runs scored. Graduate student Rylee McDaniel (Ventura, Calif.) added two hits, a home run, RBI and run scored, while junior Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) recorded one double. 

In the circle, graduate student Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching seven innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on nine hits, while walking three and striking out four. 

Ohio got on the board in the top of the first inning on an RBI single from Westler, putting Ohio up 1-0 early. The Bobcats added on in the top of the second after McDaniel homered to left, putting Ohio ahead, 2-0 going into the bottom of the second. 

Toledo got a run back in the bottom of the second, cutting the Ohio lead in half, however, Ohio responded in the top of the third when Bare took the first pitch of the inning and crushed a home run to right. The Bobcats added another run later in the inning when Westler scored on an error, giving Ohio the 4-1 lead. Toledo was able to get a run back in the bottom of the third on a solo home run, cutting the Ohio lead to 4-2 entering the fourth inning. 

Ohio added on in the top of the fourth after Gorsuch hit a three-run home run to left, putting the Bobcats up, 7-2. Toledo cut into the Ohio lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring two runs on two hits and an error, making the score 7-4 in favor of the Bobcats heading into the top of the sixth. 

The Bobcats got the runs right back in the top of the sixth after Bare and Gorsuch led the inning off with back-to-back home runs, putting Ohio up, 9-4. However, Toledo got those runs back in the bottom of the inning scoring two runs off a passed ball and an RBI single, cutting Ohio's lead to 9-6 entering the seventh inning. Ohio was able to get a run back in the top of the seventh when Hummel scored after Westler was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, giving Ohio the 10-6 lead entering the bottom of the seventh. 

Toledo looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh, getting a runner on with a two-out double. However, Miller was able to get the final batter of the inning to fly out, securing the 10-6 win. 

GAME TWO: Toledo 10, Ohio 6
Overall, Ohio scored six runs on 12 hits and did not commit an error, while Toledo scored 10 runs on 11 hits and committed two errors. 

Junior Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI, while Hummel went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Farmer went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Westler went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Jordyn Wycuff (Pataskala, Ohio) added two hits and an RBI, while Gorsuch and sophomore Alexis Book (Chillicothe, Ohio) both added hits for the Bobcats. 

In the circle, junior Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) got the start, pitching three innings, allowing six runs on seven hits with three strikeouts, while senior Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, with four walks and one strikeout. 

Toledo got on the board first, taking a 2-0 lead after the first two innings of play. After a scoreless top of the third from Ohio, the Rockets added on in the bottom of the inning, taking a 4-0 lead after a two-run home run. 

Ohio cut the Toledo in half in the top of the fourth inning after Westler singled and then scored on a two-RBI double from Wilson, cutting the Bobcats' deficit to 4-2 going into the bottom of the inning. However, Toledo got the runs back in the bottom of the frame, scoring four runs on three hits to take an 8-2 lead into the fifth inning. 

Ohio got a run back in the top of the fifth off a sacrifice fly from Westler, however, Toledo responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double, taking a 9-3 lead into the sixth inning. 

After Toledo took a 10-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth, the Bobcats looked to rally in the top of the seventh. After Bare and Gorsuch led off the inning with back-to-back walks, a single from Farmer loaded the bases with no outs. With one out, a two-RBI single from Wilson and an RBI single from Wycuff cut the Toledo lead to four. However, the Ohio offense was unable to close the gap with the Rocks' defense recording the next two outs, securing the 10-6 win. 

UP NEXT
The Bobcats finally return to Athens for the first time in 2026 on Wednesday, March 18 when Ohio hosts Dayton. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. ET at the Ohio Softball Field and can be seen on ESPN+.

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