Sports
Softball: Ohio Sweeps Kent State, Locks Up Four Seed in MAC Tourney
By: Jerod Scheetz
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Ohio took game two of the weekend series against Kent State this afternoon by a final score of 6-0.
On a day in which the Bobcats (28-27, 14-8 MAC) celebrated the college careers of seniors Alexis Joseph, Brooke Morgart and Jillian Van Wagnen, freshman Kaylin Clarke stole the spotlight with her performance on the mound.
Clarke (7-7) shut down the Golden Flashes for her second career complete game and her first shutout. She allowed just three hits and one walk in the seven innings.
Ohio jumped out early, plating a run in the bottom of the first when Raven King’s single to left field brought home Brooke Morgart.
The game was broken open in the fourth inning when Chelsea Hortman stepped into the batter’s box for the first time of the day.
Hortman came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. With two strikes on her, Hortman connected and sent the ball over the right field wall for a grand slam. The junior’s homer gave Ohio a 5-0 lead.
The Bobcats tacked one more run on in the fifth.
Van Wagnen reached safely on a single, and would go on to steal second base, her 30th stolen base this season. Lauren Gellerman singled to left, bringing home Van Wagnen later that inning.
Ohio ended its regular season on a 5-game winning streak, capped by this weekend sweep of MAC-East foe Kent State.
The victory gives the Bobcats an impressive final record at home, finishing 14-4 in the friendly confines.
The win also locked up the number four seed for Ohio in the upcoming MAC Tournament.
Ohio will take the field on Wednesday at Akron’s Firestone Stadium for its first game of the MAC tournament. The Bobcats will play the winner of Western Michigan and Toledo.