Sports
Ohio Softball Drops Double Date With Dayton
By: Kaleb Carter, Nathan Takitch
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Game One
A five-run third inning, capped by a Tiffany Ricks Grand Slam paved the way for a 7-4 win for the Dayton Flyers in the Bobcat Softball team’s first home game of the season.
Dayton was able to put together a string of base runners and scored first on an error by first baseman Caitlin Colvin that brought in Leah Sitter. After a few Dayton bunts, the Flyers found themselves in a bases loaded situation.
The Bobcats failed to retire anyone on two consecutive bunts, both times electing to throw the ball to second, rather than first base. Lauren McClary then surrendered a one-out Grand Slam off of the equipment building beyond the left field fence to Dayton Sophomore Catcher Tiffany Ricks, making the score 5-1 in favor of the Flyers.
Even as the Flyers tacked on an additional insurance run in the sixth and seventh innings, the Bobcats fought back with a Raven King two-run homer in the sixth and a run in the bottom of the last frame. King would come up with a chance to tie the game with two runners on and facing Alysha Isaacson, who had come on in relief of starter Kayla English. She would ultimately ground out to third sealing the deal for the Flyers.
McClary surrendered four hits, three walks, and seven runs in 6.1 innings the losing effort. Ohio would manage to crack out seven hits and push four across the plate, but the third inning was the difference. With the loss, McClary moved to 5-2 on the year.
Game Two
After allowing seven runs in the first game of a double-header against the Dayton Flyers, Ohio squandered 6 more runs in Game 2, dropping the contest by a final of 6-3.
Ohio starting pitcher Savannah Jo Dorsey held Dayton to just two runs through the first five innings. But the floodgates opened with two outs in the sixth, when Natalie Mariano struck for a two-RBI single and Jordan Jennings reached base on an error that allowed two more Flyers to score.
The Bobcats’ bats were mostly quiet until the bottom of the sixth inning, when two of Ohio's best hitters combined for two runs.
After Mid-American Conference Scholar Athlete of the Week Lauren Gellerman drew a walk, Caitlin Colvin hit her team-leading 10th homerun of the season, getting Ohio on the board.
The Bobcats mounted an impressive comeback effort in the final inning. Alexandria Basquez’s fielder’s choice scored Amanda Dalton, bringing Ohio to within three runs.
Basquez’s at-bat also advanced Ohio base runners to second and third, bringing Gellerman to the plate representing the tying run. However, the Bobcats’ star flew out to center field, clinching the win for the Flyers.
Ohio finished the game with one more base hit than Dayton but committed two errors, including the sixth inning miscue that put the game out of reach.
The Bobcats will face Eastern Kentucky and Canisius in double-headers before beginning MAC competition against Kent State March 29.
Ohio will look to snap their three-game losing streak in their next contest in Richmond, Ky. against the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky on March 19 at 2 p.m.