Sports
Ohio Softball avoids series sweep with a crucial game three victory
By: Ayden Crowley
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With a series sweep in Toledo, the Ohio Softball team became one of the four teams to make the May 12 MAC tournament.
But before the the big dance in Oxford, the Bobcats were looking to take care of business in their final regular season series against the Western Michigan Broncos.
Both games of the twin bill on May 7 were pushed back due to rain, but the weather held up long enough for a delayed start time.
The rainy and cold conditions seemed to freeze up the OU bats in game one.
Reily Galloway kept the Bobcats off balance and dominated in her start for the Broncos.
Galloway completed a three hit shutout to keep the Bobcats off the scoreboard for the first time since March 5 as Western Michigan took game one 2-0.
But the Bobcats would not be left off the scoreboard in game two.
Ohio wasted no time drawing first blood off an Annalia Paoli infield single to score Allie Englant and jump out to an early 1-0 lead.
But in the 3rd, Western Michigan erupted for five runs capped off by a Courtney Farrish two-run home-run to take the lead, 5-1.
Once the Broncos led, they never looked back cruising to a 10-5 victory and securing the series win.
Fifth year shortstop Megan McMenemy said the key to a quick turn around was to celebrate small victories.
“We just have to focus on celebrating the small things,” said McMenemy. “That’s something we noticed about them and something we want to take to us. We have to focus on celebrating every strikeout we get, every play we make on defense, every single, just trying to get back to the small things.”
The nicer weather and mother’s day celebrations made things a lot easier to celebrate in game three.
And so did the Bobcats offense.
After a sluggish day at the plate in games one and two, the Bobcats bats came to life in game three.
Ohio blasted two home-runs and tallied six runs on the day.
“It was kind of just a reminder to trust the game plan, not press, and good things will happen when you do that,” said Bobcats Head Coach Kenzie Roark.
Ohio’s six runs would be enough to hold on after Brooke Rice picked off a Bronco runner for the final out. Giving the Bobcats the 6-5 victory.
“Momentum is important, right,” said Roark. “You definitely want to end your regular season on a win going into the postseason. So that’s huge.”
The Bobcats will take on the third seeded Central Michigan Chippewas on May 8.