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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio softball team (18-10, 2-2 MAC) returned to Athens Friday afternoon (March 20) for the first time this season, defeating Northern Illinois (8-8, 2-2 MAC), 11-7, at the Ohio Softball Field.
Overall, Ohio scored 11 runs on seven hits and committed one error, while NIU scored seven runs on 12 hits and committed one error.
At the plate, junior
Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and one run scored. Junior
Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) added one hit, two RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore
Alexis Book (Chillicothe, Ohio) added one hit and two RBI. Senior
Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded one hit and scored two runs and drew a walk, while senior
Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) drew two walks and scored one run. Senior
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) recorded a hit, one RBI and scored two runs, while graduate student
Rylee McDaniel (Ventura, Calif.) had a double and scored one run.
In the circle, graduate student
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start and picked up the win, pitching 6.1 innings, allowing seven runs, six earned, on 12 hits, walked one and struck out one. Senior
Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) threw two-thirds an innings, allowing no runs or hits.
NIU got on the board first with a two-out home run, taking a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first. Ohio then quickly took the lead in the bottom of the inning. After loading the bases with no outs, Westler was hit by a pitch to score Hummel, before Wilson drew a bases loaded walk to give Ohio a 2-0 lead with no outs. After an NIU pitching change, Farmer crushed a two-run double to left center. Ohio would add one more run before the end of the inning on a ground out from sophomore
Jordyn Wycuff (Pataskala, Ohio), giving the Bobcats a 5-1 lead headed into the second inning.
After Ohio made quick work of the Huskies in the top of the second, the Bobcats added on in the bottom of the second, scoring a run on a ground out from Wilson, giving Ohio a 6-1 lead after two full innings. NIU would get a run back in the top of the third innings, scoring on a two-out RBI single, cutting the Ohio lead to 6-2 going into the bottom of the frame.
Ohio got the run back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Book, giving Ohio a 7-2 lead. After solid defense in the top of the fourth kept NIU off the board, Ohio added on in the bottom of the frame. After the Bobcats loaded the bases, Farmer capitalized with an RBI single. Still with no outs, pinch hitter junior
Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) drew a bases loaded walk, scoring Westler and putting Ohio up 9-2. The Bobcats would add two more runs before the inning was over, scoring on a passed ball and a ground out to take an 11-2 lead into the fifth inning.
NIU extended the game in the top of the fifth inning, scoring three runs on four hits and one error, cutting the Ohio lead to 11-5 going into the bottom of the inning. After two scoreless innings from the Bobcats, NIU looked to rally in the top of the seventh, cutting the Ohio lead to four after a two-run home run. With one out, Moore entered the game to pitch, retiring the final two batters of the game, securing the 11-7 win.
Up next, the Bobcats are back in action on Saturday, March 21 when Ohio and NIU faceoff with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET at the Ohio Softball Field and can be seen on ESPN+.
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