Sports
Ohio Softball Splits Doubleheader With Western Michigan
By: Kaleb Carter
Posted on:
Game One
Despite having just three hits, Ohio Softball manufactured enough runs to take down the Western Michigan Broncos, 7-5, in the first game of a doubleheader Friday.
A four-error sixth inning allowed the Bobcats to break a 5-5 tie and score a run without recording a single hit. Sloan Walker reached base on a throwing error by shortstop Christina Pigozzi. She then attempted to steal second base, and the errant throw flew into center field. Walker rounded third and headed for home, where yet another throwing error allowed her to score, making it 6-5.
Caitlin Colvin added on in the seventh by smashing a solo blast, good to tie her for the team lead in home runs with 18, and now both Colvin and Lauren Gellerman hold joint possession of the single-season home run record for Ohio, as both have been battling back and forth for the program record.
The home run was the third time on the day that Colvin reached base, with the other two times coming in the form of walks. She scored two of the Bobcats’ runs on the day.
Ohio collected their only other hits in the game in a three-run second inning in which an Adrienne Gebele single, Colvin walk, and Raven King walk culminated in a two-run double by Amanda Dalton.
The other run in the second came on a Sloan Walker ground ball fielder’s choice that scored King.
The Bobcats also scored two runs in the fifth without collecting a hit. A combination of walks and a throwing error helped the Bobcats score Erin Lashley, and a bases loaded hit-by-pitch scored Eyrise.
Savanah Jo Dorsey had a solid outing before running into some trouble in the fourth inning. A Megan Stamm grand slam put the Broncos up, 5-3, for the moment and prompted coach Jodi Hermanek to call on Lauren McClary.
McClary went 3.2 innings strong while only allowing two hits and picked up the win, moving her to 10-12 on the year.
Becca Shemberger fell to 7-14 on the year with the loss.
Game Two
The Bobcats were riding a five game winning streak going into game two of a doubleheader with Western Michigan, but they fell to the Broncos, 4-3.
The ‘Cats were down, 4-2, in top of the seventh inning and managed to add on a run, but it was not enough to get a win against the Broncos’ combination of pitcher Mackenzie Shepeck (3-5) and first baseman Loren Nagy.
Nagy collected a hit in three of her four at-bats and drove in all four of her team’s runs. Shepeck pitched a complete game to get the win, striking out 11 Bobcat hitters.
Ohio was quick to score. Gellerman hit a solo home run to left field in the first inning to give the Green and White an early 1-0 lead.
The Broncos tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning with Nagy’s first RBI of the game. Her single up the middle scored Shepeck, who also singled earlier in the inning.
Gellerman carried Ohio’s offense early in game two, as she struck again in the third inning with another solo blast to left and again gave her team a lead at 2-1. She also singled later in the game.
In the fourth, Nagy tied the game for a second time with an RBI double to center field.
Nagy got the best of Ohio starter Lauren McClary (10-13) again in the fifth inning. Nagy’s two-RBI double knocked McClary out of the game. She took the loss after pitching 5.1 innings and allowing four runs.
At 4-2 in the seventh inning, Ohio got its last chance. With two outs, Raven King doubled, and Amanda Dalton hit another double to drive King in. Shepeck struck out Kaylin Clarke to end the game.
Ohio will continue its conference road trip Saturday against Northern Illinois. The Bobcats will start a two-game series with the Huskies. First pitch on Saturday is set for 3 p.m.