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MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ohio softball team (23-13, 6-5 MAC) returned to action Friday afternoon (April 3), splitting a doubleheader with Mid-American Conference foe Ball State (15-16, 3-8 MAC). The Bobcats fell in game one, 7-6, before winning game two, 6-3.
GAME ONE: Ball State: 7, Ohio 6
Overall, Ohio scored six runs on six hits and had one error, while Ball State scored seven runs on eight hits and did not commit an error.
At the plate, sophomore Jordyn Wycuff (Pataskala, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with two runs. Graduate student Rylee McDaniel (Ventura, Calif.) registered a home run, two RBI and a run scored. Junior Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) finished with one hit and three RBI, while senior Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded one hit, one run and one RBI.
In the circle, graduate student Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching five innings, allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits, walked four and struck out two. Senior Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) did not allow any runs nor hits in one inning pitched.
After a scoreless first inning, Ball State got on the board in the bottom of the second to go up 1-0.
McDaniel responded in the top of the third, crushing the ball over the right center fence for a two-run home run. With the bases loaded, Farmer doubled to deep right field to drive in two runs for the Bobcats, taking a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the inning, the Cardinals hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third to get within one run going into the fourth.
In the top of the fourth, Ohio had a runner on third who raced home on a sacrifice fly to extend their advantage to 5-3. Ball State responded with one run of its own to get back within one after four.
The Cardinals hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-5 lead heading into the sixth.
With two runners in scoring position, a sacrifice fly got the Bobcats within one, but it was not enough as they ultimately dropped game one, 7-6.
GAME TWO: Ohio 6, Ball State 3
Overall, Ohio scored six runs on nine hits and committed two errors, while Ball State scored three runs on five hits and did not commit error.
At the plate, junior Kylie Gorsuch (North Canton, Ohio) went 1-for-4, including one home run, two RBI and one run scored. McDaniel went 1-for-2, including a home run, two RBI and a run. Senior Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) hit one home run to finish with one hit, one RBI and one run. Senior Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) recorded her 100th career RBI, finishing the game with one run on one hit, one RBI and one run scored, while Farmer added a double.
In the circle, junior Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) got the win, pitching six innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits, walked two and struck out one. Moore allowed one hit and struck out two in one inning pitched.
After a scoreless first, Wycuff got on base in the top of the second with an infield single, followed by McDaniel sending the ball deep over the center field fence for a two-run home run.
Ball State cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the second, setting the score, 2-1.
After each team was held scoreless in the third through fifth innings, a double from Farmer got a runner on second base before Westler recorded an RBI double to left field for the run and her 100th career RBI. Moments later, Gorsuch recorded a two-run home run, extending Ohio's lead to 5-1.
Bare opened the seventh with a solo home run for a 6-1 lead entering the bottom of the seventh. After an hour weather delay, the Cardinals answered with a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh, but consecutive strikeouts from Moore sealed the 6-3 win for Ohio.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats wrap up the three-game series with Ball State on Saturday, April 4. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+.
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