Sports
Bobcats Eliminated From MAC Tournament, Lose To Ball State 7-6
By: Cody Linn
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The Ohio Bobcats lost 7-6 on a walk-off triple, despite a four-run comeback, to the Ball State Cardinals in a Mid-American Conference Tournament elimination game.
The Bobcats (28-29, 9-13) looked down and out after fourth inning, trailing Ball State 6-2. The Cardinals (37-16, 18-3) hit a grand slam in the first inning and struck for two more runs in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run and a walk with the bases loaded.
But, just like the previous game against Kent State, Ohio did not lose faith. In the top of the fifth Kaylin Clarke hit a home run to pull the deficit to three.
After pitching a scoreless fifth, Clarke came back up to the plate with two outs and a runner on first. Clarke came through in the clutch and launched a ball to deep left field to score Alyssa Wolfe from first base on a RBI double. One batter later, Lauren Gellerman tied the game on a two-out home run.
It was a new ballgame.
Clarke shut down the Cardinals in the bottom of the sixth and Ball State held Ohio scoreless in the top of the seventh to keep the score tied.
With two outs in the bottom of seventh Ball State’s Taylor Rager came to the plate with a runner on first. Rager smacked the ball to left field and ended the game with a walk-off triple, ending the Bobcats’ season with her fifth RBI of the day.
Clarke, in her relief performance, went three innings and only gave up one run to go with her 2-2 day at the plate with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI.
The loss eliminated the Bobcats from the MAC Tournament, promptly ending their season. Ohio finished the tournament with a 2-2 record.