Sports
Ohio Falls to Akron Due to Not Capitalizing on Scoring Opportunities
By: Alex Harrison
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Ohio (27-13, 8-7) fell 2-1 to Akron on Saturday, dropping two out three games in the weekend series. The Bobcats misfortune was due to their failure to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities.
Ohio left two runners on base in the second inning. Natalie Alvarez doubled with one out and Madison Claytor reached first base on an error. Danielle Stiene grounded out, but moved the runners to second and third base. With two outs and a chance to produce some early damage, MacKenzie Brunswick went down swinging.
Ohio failed to score in the top of the second inning, but Akron wouldn’t have these issues in the bottom of the frame.
Anna Tarpley led off with a double against Stiene and Caitlin Gambone singled in Tarpley who advanced to second base. Ashley Sims walked and Stiene’s day in the circle was done after a wild pitch moved Gambone to third base.
Savannah Jo Dorsey then stepped up to pitch for the Bobcats. Dorsey had a wild pitch which scored Gambone, allowing Akron to host a 2-0 lead. Dorsey struck out the batter to end the inning before additional damage could be done to the green and white.
Taylor Saxton led off the fifth inning with a double, but Alex Day followed with a popup and Alexa Holland struck out for two quick outs.
Ohio finally put points on the board during this inning following Morgan Geno earning a much needed single, which scored Saxton and compensated for a botched scoring opportunity in the previous inning.
Dorsey found a groove in the circle for Ohio, but her team could not crack Lexie Handley for any more runs.
Ohio’s last big chance came in the sixth inning. Claytor singled with one out and Stiene was hit by a pitch. Brunswick had the same chance at the plate earlier and had the same result: a strikeout. Saxton grounded out to end the inning.
The Bobcats finished the game without scoring again.
Stiene (9-6) pitched 1.2 innings. She allowed two runs on four hits, struck out two and walked one. Dorsey pitched just over four innings and did not allow a run on two hits while striking out five and walking .
Ohio scored one run on five hits. Saxton had a double and scored a run. Alvarez also earned a double, while Geno produced a single and RBI. Claytor and Cooper produced hits.
The Bobcats travel to Huntington, W. Va. to face Marshall in a nonconference matchup on Tuesday. The first pitch is at 4 p.m.