Sports

Bobcats mercy rule Bulls twice after five innings in doubleheader 

By: Lindsey Crawford
Posted on: Saturday, March 22, 2025

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Coming off a tough loss against the Marshall Thundering Herd, the Ohio Softball team (19-8, 2-0 MAC) returned home to take on the Buffalo Bulls (5-19, 2-3 MAC) in an doubleheader matchup. The Bobcats dominated both games and begun conference play with a 2-0 start.

Off to a strong start, Ohio pitcher Anna Wise showcased her cannon of an arm, striking out the first three batters to step up to the plate. In the bottom of the first, the Bobcats were able to cycle through their roster, putting eight runs on the board to round out the inning. Ohio was able to use its power, adding four doubles to the stat book courtesy of Maddie Wilcox, Shelby Westler and Sydney Young.  

Coming into the next inning, although not being able to find runs on their own, Buffalo was able to hold down the fort, having no hits and no runs to close out second. 

With neither team scoring for the rest of the game, Buffalo was mercy ruled in the fifth inning and Ohio won the first game 8-0. 

In the second game, the Bobcats came back to the field with the same intensity and grit that they had during the first. Ohio pitcher Skipp Miller started the Bobcats off right, firing lasers across home plate. The Bulls would struggle to keep up with Miller’s speed, ending the top of the first just minutes after it started. Now in the bottom, Ohio would take the opportunity to pull ahead, with CiCi Keidel rounding home plate to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead to end the first. 

Ohio would really begin to gain momentum during the second, after Miller once again quickly closed out the top. In the bottom, the Bobcats put their foot on the gas, adding 4 runs to the scorebook. Sydney Young hit a Bobcat Blast, earning her first career home run, and bringing home both herself and Abby Kenelly. Moments later, Brenna Farmer would send the ball down center field, allowing both CiCi Keidel and Sydney Young to score. The Bobcats would finish out the second inning, leading 5-0. 

The Bobcats kept pace in the third and fourth innings, not allowing the Bulls to score while also crossing home plate five more times. Ohio’s Colleen Bare would hit a dinger to left field, marking her first home run as a Bobcat.  

In the end, Ohio would mercy Buffalo after the fifth inning, winning the game 10-0 and moving the Bobcats record to 19-8. 

Both teams will be back on the field Saturday at 1 p.m. to round out their weekend series.