39-18
Northern Illinois
25-18
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 18 | 0 |
| Northern Ill. | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
No. 4 Ohio Softball Topples No. 2 Northern Illinois with Five Home Runs in Friday’s Elimination Game
5/8/2026 9:01:00 PM | Softball
AKRON, Ohio - The No. 4 Ohio softball team (38-19) returned to action for another elimination game on Friday (May 8), using five home runs to defeat No. 2 Northern Illinois (25-18), 15-5, at Firestone Stadium. Due to weather, the Bobcats' and No. 6 Western Michigan will now play an elimination game on Saturday, May 9 at 11 a.m. ET, with the Championship game to follow at 2 p.m. ET.
The Bobcats had another outstanding day at the plate, blasting five home runs to make it back-to-back games with 15 runs scored.
At the plate, senior outfielder Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI while junior outfielder Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio) was 3-for-4 with a double, triple and home run. Senior infielder Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) was 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI and sophomore infielder Sydney Young (Charleston, W. Va.) was 2-for-4 with two home runs.
In the circle, graduate student Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start and threw a total of two innings while allowing four runs. Senior Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) went over four innings while allowing one run and striking out four batters.
Leading off the game, Hummel made it back-to-back days with a leadoff home run to start the game, which was followed by a double from Bare. Wilson was able to drive her home with a triple to make it 2-0 in favor of Ohio.
The Huskies would respond with a two-run inning of their own, tying the game. In the bottom of the second, they would add another two before Moore got out of a bases-loaded jam thanks in part to a great diving catch from Wilson. Hummel would get the Bobcats on the board again in the top of the fourth with an RBI double, scoring graduate student Rylee McDaniel (Ventura, Calif.), cutting the deficit to 4-3.
Ohio would regain the lead in the top of the fifth with a moonshot two-run home run from Young, which scored Wilson, giving the Bobcats a 5-4 lead headed into the bottom of the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, Northern Illinois loaded the bases, but Moore stayed composed and got out of the inning unscathed, holding on to a 5-4 lead.
The top of the order continued to deliver for Ohio, as Hummel would get on base with a walk before scoring thanks to another two-run home run, this one off the bat of Bare, her 16th of the season, putting the Bobcats up, 7-4. A few batters later, Westler would rope an RBI double down the left-field line to score freshman infielder Sena Smith (East Liverpool, Ohio) who was pinch running for Farmer, putting Ohio up 8-4.
After giving up a run in the bottom of the sixth, Ohio was able to turn a double play to get out of the inning, sending it to the seventh with an 8-5 lead.
The Bobcats offense exploded in the top of the seventh. After Young hit her second home run of the game to make it a 9-5, sophomore Abby Kennelly (Waterville, Ohio) would drive in two more runs with a two-RBI triple. Moments later, Hummel would bring her home with an RBI groundout the next pitch.
The Bobcats would hit yet another home run before the end of the inning, with Wilson blasting a three run shot to give Ohio a 15-5 lead. Miller would re-enter the game and close it out, securing the 15-5 victory.
Up next, Ohio will play No. 6 Western Michigan tomorrow (May 9) for a chance to advance to the MAC Tournament Championship. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. at Firestone Stadium and can be seen on ESPN+. With a win, Ohio would advance to the Championship Series at 2 p.m. ET.
#OUohyeah
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Moore, Keegan (10-2)
L: Madison Carlson (11-2)
Batting:
2B: Hummel, Belle 1 ; Bare, Colleen 1 ; Westler, Shelby 1 ; Wilson, Izzie 1 ; McDaniel, Rylee 1 ; Kennelly, Abby 1
3B: Wilson, Izzie 1 ; Kennelly, Abby 1
HR: Hummel, Belle 1 ; Bare, Colleen 1 ; Wilson, Izzie 1 ; Young, Sydney 2
RBI: Hummel, Belle 3 ; Bare, Colleen 2 ; Westler, Shelby 1 ; Wilson, Izzie 4 ; Young, Sydney 3 ; Kennelly, Abby 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hummel, Belle 2 ; Bare, Colleen 3 ; Farmer, Brenna 1 ; Smith, Sena 1 ; Wilson, Izzie 2 ; Young, Sydney 2 ; Wycuff, Jordyn 1 ; McDaniel, Rylee 1 ; Cervola, Allie 1 ; Kennelly, Abby 1
Batting:
2B: Rylie Hartman 1
RBI: Izzi Hanna 1 ; Danielle Stewart 2 ; Kayla Estrada 1
SH: Kayla Estrada 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jenna Turner 2 ; Danielle Stewart 1 ; Mia Morera 1 ; Lia Nance 1
HBP: Jenna Turner 1
