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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio softball team (21-12, 4-4 MAC) returned to action Saturday afternoon (March 28), splitting a doubleheader with Mid-American Conference foe Central Michigan (14-14, 5-3 MAC) at the Ohio Softball Field. The Bobcats took game one of the day, 6-3, before falling in game two, 5-3. 

GAME ONE: Ohio 6, CMU 3
Overall, Ohio scored six runs on 10 hits and did not commit an error, while Central Michigan scored three runs on nine hits and did not commit an error. 

At the plate, senior Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the Bobcats, going 3-for-3 with a home run, walk, RBI and two runs scored, while senior Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, RBI and a run scored. Junior Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) registered a home run, RBI and a run scored, while graduate student Rylee McDaniel (Venture, Calif.) added a home run, RBI and two runs scored. Junior Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) added a hit and an RBI, while sophomore Alexis Book (Chillicothe, Ohio) registered a hit for the Bobcats. 

In the circle, graduate student Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio), got the start, pitching seven innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out two for her 12^th win of the season. 

After a scoreless top of the first from CMU, Ohio got on the board with back-to-back home runs from Hummel and Bare to give Ohio a 2-0 lead going into the second inning. CMU tried to respond in the top of the second, putting runners on first and second with two outs. However, sophomore Jordyn Wycuff (Pataskala, Ohio) and Bare were able to team up and pickoff the runner at second, sending the game to the bottom of the inning with Ohio still leading, 2-0. 

After a scoreless bottom of the second, CMU cut the Ohio lead to one with a one-out solo home run, cutting the Ohio lead to 2-1 going into the bottom of the third. Ohio looked to add on in the bottom of the third, with Hummel reaching on a single and moving to third on a double from Bare. Then with two outs, Wilson drove a ball to center, with the CMU centerfielder grabbing the ball right at the wall to save a run, sending the game to the fourth with Ohio still leading, 2-1. 

CMU looked to tie the game in the top of the fourth, getting runners on first and second with one out. After the runners advanced on a ground out, Miller was able to get the next batter to ground out on the first pitch, securing the 2-1 lead entering the bottom of the fourth. 

Ohio added on in the bottom of the fifth inning when Farmer led the inning off with a leadoff solo home run. The Bobcats looked to keep the inning going, with Wilson reaching on a single and Wycuff drawing a walk, putting runners on first and second with no outs. However, once again, the CMU defense was able to retire the next three Bobcat batters, sending the game to the sixth with Ohio leading, 5-1. 

Ohio added on in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring on a fielder's choice to give the Bobcats a 6-1 lead going into the top of the seventh inning. 

CMU looked to rally in the top of the seventh. After a leadoff home run to start the inning cut the Ohio lead to four, CMU kept the pressure on the Ohio defense. With one out, CMU put runners on first and third, allowing a run to score on an infield single. Then with two outs and runners on second and third, Miller was able to get the final batter of the game to ground out to first on the first pitch, securing Ohio's 6-3 win. 

GAME TWO: CMU 5, Ohio 3
Overall, Ohio scored three runs on six hits and committed three errors, while CMU scored five runs on eight hits and committed one error. 

At the plate, Farmer recorded a home run, RBI and a run scored, while Wilson recorded a double and a run scored. Wycuff registering a double and an RBI, while Bare added a double for the Bobcats. McDaniel and Book both had hits for Ohio. 

In the circle, junior Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) got the start, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and walked one. Senior Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) threw 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walked four and struck out four. 

Central Michigan got on the board in the top of the first inning, capitalizing on an Ohio error, taking a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first. Ohio responded in the bottom of the inning when Hummel scored on a sacrifice foul out from Westler, tying the game at 1-1 entering the second inning. 

CMU took the lead in the top of the fourth inning, scoring three runs on three hits to take a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the inning. The Bobcats got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on back-to-back doubles from Wilson and Wycuff, cutting the Ohio deficit to 4-2 going into the fifth inning.  

After a scoreless bottom of the fifth inning from both teams, CMU looked to add on in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs, however, Moore would get the final batter of the inning to strikeout swinging, keeping the Ohio deficit within two going into the bottom of the sixth.

Ohio cut the deficit to one in the top of the sixth inning after a leadoff home run from Farmer cut the CMU lead to 4-3 going into the seventh inning. CMU got the run back in the top of the seventh, scoring on an RBI single to take a 5-3 lead into the final frame. 

Ohio looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh. However, the CMU defense sent the Bobcats down in order, securing the 5-3 win for the Chippewas.

UP NEXT:
The Bobcats wrap up the three-game series with Central Michigan on Sunday, March 29. First pitch is set for Noon ET at the Ohio Softball Field and can be seen on ESPN+. 

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