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ATHENS, Ohio – The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, which means it's time for the Cherry Blossom Invitational at Goldsberry Track, while baseball is also home this week to host Kent State! Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints, presented by Memorial Health System.
TRACK AND FIELD
April 3/ at 2026 Cherry Blossom Invitational / Athens, Ohio / Goldsberry Track / 11 a.m. ET / Live Results / Meet Information / Schedule of Events / Digital Guide / Senior Day
The Ohio track and field squad is set to host the 2026 Cherry Blossom Invitational this Friday, April 3 at Goldsberry Track. The annual event is set to begin with field events at 11 a.m. ET and track events at 12 p.m. ET, while Senior Day festivities are scheduled for an 11:45 a.m. start.
The Bobcats are coming off a weekend at the 2026 Raleigh Relays, where the Bobcats posted several personal bests. On Friday in the women's 1500m, Ellie Greenwell set the school record with a time of 4:23.86, placing 46th in the event. Sophomore Kaitlyn Stewart and senior Sara Doughman also set personal bests in the 1500m, with Stewart finishing in 4:29.98 and Doughman in 4:32.58. In the women's 1000m, graduate student Kelsi Harris led three personal best performances for Ohio in the event, finishing with a time of 34.04.65, placing 16th overall. Senior Leila Boussedra placed 24th and finished with a PR of 34.22.84, while senior Allie Martin finished with a personal best of 34.53.46, placing 37th overall.
On Saturday, three Bobcats set personal bests in the women's 800m to begin Saturday at the Raleigh Relays. Greenwell led the way with a time of 2:09.36, placing 31st in the event. Senior Sophie Besett and junior Elinor Shuttleworth also set personal bests in the event, with Besett running a 2:10.52 and Shuttleworth a 2:14.86.
BASEBALL
March 31 / at Marshall / Huntington, W. Va. / Jack Cook Field / 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
April 2 / vs. Kent State / Athens, Ohio / Bob Wren Stadium / 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
April 3 / vs. Kent State / Athens, Ohio / Bob Wren Stadium / 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
April 4 / vs. Kent State / Athens, Ohio / Bob Wren Stadium / 1 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
The Ohio baseball team (5-22, 3-9 MAC) is back in action for four games this week. The week begins on Tuesday, March 31, when the Bobcats head to Marshall (13-13, 5-4 SBC) to take on The Herd. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET at Jack Cook Field and can be seen on ESPN+. Ohio then returns to Athens for a three-game series against Kent State (19-7, 9-3 MAC). The series begins on Thursday, April 2, at 6 p.m. ET at Bob Wren Stadium. Game two of the series will take place on Friday, April 3 at 6 p.m. ET, before concluding on Saturday, April 4 at 1 p.m. ET. All three games can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio is coming off a weekend at Ball State. On the season, Ohio is led at the plate by Dylan Shepherd, who is hitting .329 with 25 hits, six doubles, one triple, three home runs and 13 RBI. Cam Hill is batting .307, while recording 23 hits, six doubles, three home runs, 16 RBI and has scored a team-leading 18 runs.
Marshall is 13-13 overall and 5-4 in the Sun Belt and are coming off being swept at No. 15 Coastal Carolina this past weekend. At the plate, Marshall is led by Evan Battone, who is hitting .408 with 40 hits, one double, one triple, six home runs and 22 RBI. Cooper Hinson is batting .349 with 30 hits, nine doubles, two home runs and 25 RBI. On the mound, Drew Harlow is 3-2 with seven starts, registering a 4.81 ERA. In 41.0 innings, he has allowed 26 runs, 21 earned, while walking 15 and striking out 39.
Kent State is 19-7 overall and 9-3 in MAC play and is coming off dropping a series at home to Miami this past weekend. The Flashes will take on Baldwin Wallace on Tuesday before hosting the Bobcats. At the plate, Kent State is led by Sawyer Solitaria, who is batting .337 with 35 hits, five doubles, eight home runs and 19 RBI, while Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe is batting .304 with 24 hits, four doubles, one triple, two home runs and 21 RBI. On the mound, Ciaran Caughey is 3-0 in seven starts with a 2.78 ERA, allowing 11 earned runs in 35.2 innings, while walking eight and striking out 41.
WOMEN'S GOLF
March 30-31 / 2026 Georgia State Invitational / Johns Creek, Ga. / Rivermont Golf Club / All Day / Live Results
The Ohio women's golf team is back in action March 30-31 at the 2026 Georgia State Invitational. The two-day event is hosted by Georgia State at the Rivermont Golf Club in Johns Creek, Ga. The event begins on Monday, March 30, with 36 holes, before concluding on Tuesday, March 31, with 18 holes.
Teams at this year's event are: Murray State, Emory, Boston, Georgia State, Dayton, West Georgia, Seton Hall, Kennesaw State, Seminole State College, Tennessee, Bowling Green, Idaho, Ohio, Auburn, Tarleton State, Quinnipiac and Palm Beach State College.
On the green for Ohio this week are senior Mackenzie McRee, juniors Zoe Luebbers and Morgan Rodgers, sophomore Ally Turner and freshman Paige Treherne.
Ohio last competed March 2-3 at the 2026 River Landing Classic, where, as a team, Ohio shot a 327 (+39) and a 309 (+21) on the first day of the Classic, finishing in sixth place. On the second day of the classic, Ohio shot a 320 (+32) and finished in sixth place with an overall score of 956 (+92).
Individually, Turner led the Bobcats, finishing in 21st place overall. In the first round, Turner shot an 80 (+8) and a 79 (+7) in round two, finishing the day tied for 24th place. On day two of competition, Turner shot a 78 (+6) and ended with a final score of 237 (+21).
SOFTBALL
April 3 / at Ball State / Muncie, Ind. / Ball State Softball Stadium / 3 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
April 4 / at Ball State / Muncie, Ind. / Ball State Softball Stadium / 1 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
April 4 / at Ball State / Muncie, Ind. / Ball State Softball Stadium / 3 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
The Ohio softball team (22-12, 5-4 MAC) is back in action for three Mid-American Conference matchups this week when it heads to Muncie, Ind. April 2-4 for a three-game series against Ball State (13-15, 2-7 MAC). The series is set to begin on Friday, April 3, with one game at 3 p.m. ET, before concluding on Saturday, April 4, with a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. ET. All three games will take place at the Ball State Softball Stadium and be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio is coming off a 3-1 week that saw Ohio defeat Pitt at home before winning the three-game series against Central Michigan in Athens. Senior center fielder Belle Hummel helped lead the Ohio softball team this past week. Overall, Hummel hit .583 with seven hits, two doubles, one home run, scored seven runs and registered two RBI and 12 total bases. She recorded a 1.000 slugging percentage, drew four walks and had a .688 on-base percentage, while not recording an error in the field.
Ball State is currently 13-15 overall and 2-7 in MAC play and is coming off a series loss at Toledo last weekend. The Cardinals will take on IU Indy on the road on Tuesday before hosting the Bobcats. For Ball State, Lindsey DeRoeck leads the Cardinals at the plate, hitting .411 with 37 hits, 11 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 25 RBI, while Ella Whitney is batting .360 with 32 hits, eight doubles, one triple and a team-leading eight home runs and 35 RBI. In the circle, Brinkley Kita is 4-2 with a 2.77 ERA. In 43 innings, she has allowed 23 runs, 17 earned, while walking 19 and striking out 20.
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