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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio softball team (19-11, 3-3 MAC) returned to action Saturday afternoon (March 21), splitting a doubleheader with Northern Illinois (9-9, 3-3 MAC) and winning the series. The Bobcats dropped the first game of the afternoon, 3-1, before responding to down the Huskies, 9-1 in five innings, in game two. 

GAME ONE: NIU 3, Ohio 1
Overall, Ohio scored one run on four hits and committed one error, while NIU scored three runs on six hits and committed one error. 

At the plate, sophomore Alexis Book (Chillicothe, Ohio) had two hits, while senior Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) had one hit and an RBI. Junior Kylie Gorsuch (North Canton, Ohio) added one hit and drew a walk, while graduate student Rylee McDaniel (Ventura, Calif.) scored a run. 

In the circle, junior Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) got the start, pitching four innings, allowing three runs on three hits and walked one. Senior Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) pitched three innings, allowing no runs on three hits. 

After a quick top of the first inning, Ohio looked to get on the board first in the bottom of the frame when Gorsuch reached on a two-out single. However, the NIU defense got out of the inning, sending the game to the second scoreless. NIU threatened in the top of the second, leading the inning off with a triple. However, with one out, the Bobcats threw out the runner trying to steal home, working out of the jam, keeping the game scoreless. 

Ohio got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. After McDaniel reached after being hit by a pitch, she moved to second on a bunt single from Book. Moments later, an RBI single from Hummel put the Bobcats on the board. After senior Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs, the NIU pitcher was able to strikeout the next three Ohio batters, working out of the jam and sending the game to the fourth with Ohio leading 1-0. 

NIU took the lead in the top of the fourth inning on a three-run home run, putting the Huskies up 3-1 going into the bottom of the fourth. Ohio looked to cut into the NIU lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, loading the bases with two outs, however, NIU would once again get out of the jam, sending the game to the sixth with the Bobcats trailing, 3-1.

Ohio would look to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, when with one out, Hummel reached on an error. However, the Huskies would record the final two outs of the inning, securing the 3-1 win. 

GAME TWO: Ohio 9, NIU 1 (5 Innings)
Overall, Ohio scored nine runs on nine hits and committed one error, while NIU scored one run on five hits and committed one error. 

At the plate, sophomore Jordyn Wycuff (Pataskala, Ohio) went 3-for-3 with a double, home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Junior Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Hummel added a double, walk and a run scored, while Bare registered a double and an RBI. Senior Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) recorded a double and scored two runs, while Book recorded a hit and an RBI. 

In the circle, graduate student Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start and the win, pitching five innings, allowing one run one five hits, walked two and struck out two. 

NIU got on the board first on an RBI double, taking a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first.  Ohio responded in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Hummel scored on an NIU error, setting up a three-run blast from Wilson and a solo home run from Wycuff, giving Ohio a 5-1 lead going into the second inning. 

NIU looked to cut into the Ohio lead in the top of the third, putting runners on with two infield singles. However, the Ohio defense was able to get the final out of the inning, keeping Ohio ahead, 5-1, going into the bottom of the third. 

Ohio added on in the bottom of the third, scoring on RBI singles from Wycuff and Book and a sacrifice fly from Bare, giving Ohio an 8-1 lead headed into the top of the fourth inning. After a scoreless top of the fourth, Ohio added on in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double from Wycuff, putting Ohio up 9-1. 

NIU looked to extend the game in the top of the fifth. With runners on first and second and no outs, Miller got the NIU offense to line into a double play, before the final batter flew out to right, securing the Bobcats 9-1, five-inning win. 

UP NEXT
The Bobcats are back at the Ohio Softball Field on Tuesday, March 24 when Ohio hosts Pitt. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+. 

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