Sports
Central Michigan Routs Ohio To End Streak
By: Kellen Becoats
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Back-to-back two run innings and the prolific hitting of Central Michigan’s Demeilleure sisters ended the Bobcats’ four-game winning streak Sunday afternoon as Ohio fell 5-0.
Chelsea DeLamielleure brought in two RBIs for the Chippewas and almost snagged a third in the top of the fifth after a hard shot deflected foul off the pole. Her sister, Cory, followed up Chelsea’s solid offensive play with a massive homer in the bottom of the 6th that effectively sealed the win for CMU.
The game also marked the first loss in conference play for the Bobcats (18-14, 3-1 Mid-American Coference), who saw hitting struggles reemerge as they failed to find a run for only the second time this season.
Ohio managed only four hits on the day compared to eight by the Chippewas (18-10, 1-1 MAC) and struggled all game to capitalize on offensive opportunities. The Bobcats also found difficulties in the circle, as Leanna Bachman—who only pitched one inning—was the only Ohio pitcher to not give up a hit or a run.
Bachman came in with CMU already up 5-0 and with the bases loaded and only one out, a tough situation for any pitcher, let alone a freshman who’s only pitched one other time this season. But a neat double play ended the inning and allowed the freshman and her team to breathe a temporary sigh of relief.
The last inning saw Ohio go three up and three down, with the last batter being recent-returnee Chelsea Hortman. Hortman saw her first action of the season in the second half of the Dayton doubleheader, and since the senior slugger’s return to the lineup, the ‘Cats hadn’t lost before Sunday.
A few cringe-worthy moments occurred when freshman catcher Maditon Claytor, hit two foul balls off her shin. She fell to the dirt after clanking the second one off her lower leg in the top of the 6th. Alexia Cortez suffered a similar fate after being hit by a pitch early in the top of the fifth. But both players stayed in the game.
Ohio has a couple days rest before returning to conference play in Athens to face Kent State for a doubleheader Wednesday, April 4.