The Ohio softball team (28-22, 16-8 MAC) returned to action Tuesday afternoon (April 30), fighting the weather to earn a doubleheader sweep of Akron (22-18, 10-13 MAC). The Bobcats took game one, 5-0, before securing game two, 9-7. The Bobcats’ wins clinched Ohio a spot in this year’s Mid-American Conference Tournament in Akron next week. The Bobcats currently sit tied for second in the league.
GAME ONE: Ohio 5, Akron 0
Overall, Ohio scored five runs on eight hits and committed two errors, while Akron did not score a run on eight hits and committed one error.
Individually, junior Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) had two hits, a home run, RBI and run scored, while junior Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa.) had a home run, RBI and run scored. Freshman Brenna Farmer (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio) added a home run, two RBI and a run scored, while freshman Emily Caron (Cumming, Ga.), in her first career start, had one hit, RBI, run scored and drew a walk. Freshman Izzie Wilson (Delaware, Ohio), sophomore Austy Miller (Bradford, Ohio) and sophomore Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) all had base hits for Ohio.
In the circle, redshirt sophomore Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, the win and the shutout, pitching seven innings and did not allow a run on eight hits, while walking one and striking out four.
Akron looked to get on the board first, recording three hits in the first inning, however, the Ohio defense was able to get important outs when needed to keep the game scoreless going into the bottom of the inning. Ohio looked to strike first in the bottom of the first, with Yuhas reaching on a single up the middle to lead off the inning, however, Ohio was unable to capitalize, sending the game to the second still scoreless.
Ohio struck in the bottom of the second inning, taking an early lead on a two-run home run from Farmer to right center, giving Ohio a 2-0 lead early in the game. Akron looked to respond in the top of the third, with the Zips getting runners on first and second with one out. However, Skipp Miller was able to produce a strikeout and a popup to end the inning, keeping Ohio up. 2-0.
After an hour and 20-minute rain delay in the bottom of the third inning, the game resumed with the Bobcats getting another baserunner. However, the Bobcats were unable to score, sending the game to the fourth with Ohio still leading, 2-0.
Akron’s biggest threat came in the top of the fifth inning, with the Zips loading the bases with one out. However, Skipp Miller was able to get a force out at home and a strikeout to end the inning, keeping the Ohio 2-0 lead in intact.
The Bobcats added on in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs on five hits, including back-to-back solo home runs from Yuhas and Hoffner and an RBI single from Caron in her first career start, putting Ohio up 5-0 going into the sixth inning.
After the Bobcats sent Akron down in order in the top of the sixth, Ohio looked to add on in the bottom of the inning, with Hummel reaching on a one-out single. However, the Bobcats were unable to add on, sending the game to the top of the seventh with a 5-0 lead.
Akron looked to get on the board in the top of the seventh inning getting a leadoff single. However, Skipp Miller was able to force a double play and get the final batter of the game to fly out, which was caught by the diving Hummel, securing the Bobcats’ 5-0 win.
GAME TWO: Ohio 9, Akron 7
Overall, Ohio scored nine runs on 11 hits and committed two errors, while Akron scored seven runs on eight hits and committed two errors.
Hoffner went 3-for-4 with a double, grand slam and four RBI, while Farmer also went 3-for-4 with a home run, RBI and two runs scored. Caron recorded her first career home run, two runs scored and two RBI.
Junior CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) added two hits and a run scored, while Wilson recorded a base hit as well. Junior Maddie Wilcox (Grove City, Ohio) recorded her first hit of the season as well in the win.
In the circle, freshman Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) got the start and the win, pitching five innings, allowing six runs, two earned, while walking one and striking out six. Skipp Miller entered the game in the sixth, pitching two innings and earning the save, while allowing one run on two hits, walked one and struck out two.
The Bobcats looked to get on the board first when Hoffner reached on a one-out double in the bottom of the first. However, Ohio would be unable to capitalize, sending the game to the top of the second with the game still scoreless.
Akron struck in the top of the second inning. After Akron got runners on first and second with no outs, Lieving was able to strike out the next two batters. However, moments later, a two-RBI double from the Zips, gave Akron a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the inning.
The Bobcats got a run back in the bottom of the inning. After Caron and Farmer drew walks, an RBI single from Keidel and an obstruction call on the Akron catcher cut the Akron lead to 2-1 going into the third inning.
The Bobcats took the lead in the bottom of the third. With one out and a runner on first, Caron hit her first career home run to center field, giving the Bobcats the 3-2 lead. Ohio added on later in the inning when Wilcox scored on a dropped popup by the Akron first baseman, giving Ohio a 4-2 lead going into the fourth inning.
The Bobcats blew the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning. After singles from Farmer and Keidel and a fielder’s choice from Hummel, Yuhas drew a walk to load the bases with one out. With Hoffner at the plate, the catcher crushed her second home run of the day, this one a grab slam to clear the bases, giving Ohio an 8-2 lead going into the top of the sixth.
Akron responded in the top of the sixth inning, scoring five runs on three hits and two errors, including a one-out grand slam to cut the Ohio lead to 8-7 going into the bottom of the inning. Ohio got a run back in the bottom of the frame, with Farmer crushing a two-out home run to center, her second of the day, to put the Bobcats up 9-7 going into the top of the seventh inning.
Akron looked to rally once again in the top of the seventh, getting a runner on with one out in the frame. However, Skipp Miller was able to record a strike out and get the final batter of the game to fly out, securing the Bobcats’ 9-7 win.
UP NEXT
Ohio wraps up the regular season with a three-game series against Bowling Green, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday, May 4. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Ohio Softball Field.
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