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Cullowhee, N.C. – The Ohio softball team (15-8) returned to action on Saturday (March 7) for the second day of the 2026 Catamount Classic hosted by Western Carolina. The Bobcats opened the day with a 7-5 win over Penn (6-8), before falling to host Western Carolina (12-7), 6-1, in game two.
GAME ONE: Ohio 7, Penn 5
Overall, Ohio scored seven runs on seven hits and committed two errors, while Penn scored five runs on eight hits and committed two errors.
At the plate, the Bobcats were led by senior
Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio), who went 2-for-3 with a double, triple, RBI and three runs scored. Graduate student
Rylee McDaniel (Ventura, Calif.) added two hits, a home run, RBI and three runs scored, while senior
Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) added one hit and two RBI. Junior
Kylie Gorsuch (North Canton, Ohio) had two hits and three RBI, with junior
Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) recording one double and one run scored.
In the circle, junior
Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) got the start, pitching 2.1 innings, allowing three runs, two earned on four hits, while walking one. Graduate student
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) entered the game and picked up the win, tossing 4.2 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits, while walking three and striking out five.
Penn got on the board first in the top of the first inning, scoring on an RBI single to take an early 1-0 lead. The Bobcats responded in the bottom of the inning after Hummel led off with a triple to left, before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Gorsuch, tying the game at 1-1 headed into the second.
Penn took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning after an RBI single. Then, after a home run in the top of the third put Penn up 3-1, Ohio responded in the bottom of the inning. After McDaniel led the inning off with a solo home run, Hummel scored on a fielding error, tying the game at 3-3 leaded into the fourth inning.
After Penn scored a run in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead, the Bobcats once again responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs on two hits to take a 5-4 lead going into the fifth inning. After a scoreless fifth inning, Ohio added on in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring on RBI singles from Bare and Gorsuch, putting the Bobcats up 7-4 going into the seventh inning.
Penn looked to rally in the top of the seventh inning, scoring a run on a sacrifice fly, however, the Ohio defense would be able to get the final out of the game, securing the 7-5 win.
GAME TWO: Western Carolina 9, Ohio 1 (6 Innings)
Overall, Ohio scored one run on three hits and did not commit an error, while Western Carolina scored nine runs on 15 hits and did not commit an error.
At the plate, Hummel recorded one hit, while senior
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) recorded a triple and scored a run. McDaniel added a single, while Wilson registered Ohio's lone RBI.
In the circle, sophomore
Ally Meyers (Waterville, Ohio) got the start, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and struck out one. Senior
Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) tossed 4.0 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with one strike out.
Western Carolina struck first in the bottom of the first inning, taking an early 2-0 lead on a two-run home run. The Bobcats cut the WCU lead in half in the top of the second after Westler scored on a ground out by Gorsuch, making the score 2-1 headed into the bottom of the inning.
WCU responded in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs on five hits to take a 5-1 lead into the third inning. The Catamounts would add another run to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 6-1 lead into the fifth.
After a scoreless fifth, Ohio threatened in the top of the sixth inning, putting runners on first and second with no outs after Hummel singled and Bare walked. However, the WCU defense was able to retire the next three batters, sending the game to the bottom of the inning still trailing, 6-1.
Western Carolina added on in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs on four hits including a two-RBI double to right to secure the 9-1, six-inning win.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats conclude the 2026 Catamount Classic on Sunday, March 8 when the Bobcats take on Robert Morris. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. ET.
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