Sports
Ohio Softball drops both games in Friday doubleheader to MAC’s top team
By: Austin Yau
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio Softball (33-14, 14-7) hosted MAC leader Akron (27-21, 17-4) in a crucial battle for MAC tournament seeding. The Bobcats came in on a hot streak, having beat top-25-ranked Marshall and sweeping Kent State in the past week.
Akron started the scoring with a solo home run by Lily Sullivan in the top of the second, giving the Zips a 1-0 lead.
Both teams mounted pressure on the bases over the next three innings, with both loading the bases at times. However, neither team was able to convert that into runs.
The Bobcats finally got on the board in the sixth inning as Izzie Wilson hit a two-run home run that scored her and Shelby Westler. This put them up 2-1 with one inning left.
In the top of the seventh, the Bobcats got an out on the first batter of the inning but then gave up a double to Haley Glass. Delaney Jenkinson was walked to put runners on first and second for the Zips.
Morgan Sizemore hit a flyout to put Akron on the ropes with two outs.
Then Megan Lee came to the plate and hit an RBI single to score Glass which tied the game. Sydney Selker then walked to load the bases for Sophia Wygast.
Wygast hit a single that scored Lee and Jenkinson and put the Zips up 4-2.
Ohio hit three straight fly outs in the bottom of the sevenths and were unable to respond, losing game one 4-2.
Wygast continued her hot hitting into the top of the first inning of the second game where she scored Megan Lee with an RBI single.
Akron got another run with Sydney Selker getting walked with loaded bases, causing Wygast to score and put Akron up 2-0
Ohio would also get a bases loaded walk by Shelby Westler in the bottom of the first, which scored Belle Hummel.
Izzie Wilson grounded out, but Colleen Bare was able to score to tie the game 2-2.
Akron got hot again in the third, starting off with a sacrifice fly by Andrea Day that scored Sullivan.
Selker then blasted a homerun that scored her and Katie Cantrell, this put the Zips up 5-2.
Ohio would steal a run back in the bottom of the third. on a Rylee McDaniel RBI double that scored Kylie Gorsuch.
But the offense continued to rake in the top of the fourth for Akron. Sullivan hit an RBI single to score Glass and Lee, and Andrea Day hit a sacrifice fly to score Wygast.
Ohio was able to respond with two runs in the fourth. Shelby Westler hit a single to score Coleen Bare and Izzie Wilson scored Brenna Farmer on a sacrifice fly.
Akron was only able to get one run in the top of the fifth, with Wygast hitting a sacrifice fly to score Brooke Sivek.
In the top of the sixth, the Bobcats managed to stop Akron from scoring, as the Zips batters went down in a 1-2-3 inning for Ohio.
Both teams went scoreless through the final two innings as Akron won 9-5, to sweep the doubleheader.
Head Coach Jenna Hall spoke on what needs to change before tomorrow’s crucial final game. “We need to work on game plans, staying in our zones. Those are the only two pitchers they have. We know exactly who we’re going to face tomorrow,” she said.
The teams will play Saturday at 1 p.m. to finish the series and celebrate Ohio Softball’s seniors.