Sports
Softball: Ohio Falls 2-0 In Pitchers’ Duel
< < Back to
On a warm Sunday afternoon at Ohio Softball Field, the Bobcats could not capitalize on their scoring chances against conference rival Akron. Ohio fell by a score of 2-0 despite a couple of early opportunities and a good pitching performance.
Akron’s Brittany Maurer picked up the win in a complete game five-hit shutout with four strikeouts. Maurer maneuvered out of a couple early jams before settling in as the game progressed. After the second inning, Ohio never got a base runner past first base.
Ohio starting pitcher Lauren McClary was impressive in her seven innings, allowing seven hits and two runs with six strikeouts. It was McClary’s ninth complete game of the season.
McClary had allowed only four hits in five innings before giving up a two-run home run to Akron’s Alissa Birkhimer in the sixth. That home run was the difference in the game. McClary would allow three base runners in the seventh, but she got out of the jam with a strike out, her 136th of the season.
Ohio had a couple of chances to score early in the game. Jillian Van Wagnen and Alexis Joseph both singled and stole bases in the first inning to get into scoring position, but Ohio left both runners on base with a groundout to end the inning. In the second, Jenna Giusti got on base by virtue of a fielder’s choice and advanced to third before the inning ended with another groundout. Overall, Ohio left five runners on base on the afternoon.
With the loss, Ohio falls to 16-21 (5-6 MAC). The Bobcats have a doubleheader Wednesday at Ohio State.