Ohio Softball Shuts Out Ohio State in Nine-Inning Thriller for 10th-Straight Win - Ohio University (2024)

• Box Score

Game Recap: Softball | 4/4/2023 9:47:00 PM

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COLUMBUS, Ohio–The Ohio softball team (20-14) returned to action Tuesday evening (April 4), defeating Ohio State (21-12), 1-0 in a nine-inning thriller at Buckeye Field. The win extended Ohio's win streak to 10 games.

Overall, Ohio scored one run on seven hits and did not commit an error, while Ohio State scored no runs on eight hits and committed one error.

Individually, senior Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.) went 2-for-4, while junior Annalia Paoli, went 2-for-4. Junior Sydney Grein (Mokena, Ill.), sophom*ore Emma Hoffner (New Stanton, Pa) and freshman Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) all had hits for the Bobcats. Grein also drew three walks, while freshman Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) drew two and Westler, Paoli and Dawe all drew one walk.

In the circle, redshirt freshman Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) pitched nine innings, allowing no runs on eight hits, while walking three and striking out four.

Ohio threatened in the top of the first when Paoli and Dawe drew two-out walks. However, Ohio State was able to get the final batter of the inning to strikeout, sending the game to the bottom of the first still scoreless. The Buckeyes threatened in the bottom of the frame. After the leadoff batter got on with a hit, the Bobcats were able to throw her out trying to steal second. After the second batter reached on a hit, the Ohio defense was able to record the next two outs easily, sending the game to the second still tied at 0-0.

After a scoreless second and third from both teams, Ohio's biggest threat came in the top of the fourth inning After Dawe reached on a leadoff single, Sophom*ore Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) entered to run for her. Moments later, Hoffner reached on a single up the middle, setting up Grein to walk to load the bases with no outs. However, Ohio State was able to retire the next three batters, sending the game to the bottom of the fourth, still tied at 0-0.

The Bobcats threatened again in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Paoli and Dawe reached on back-to-back singles. However, Ohio State would get the final batter to fly out to the warning track in left center, sending the game to the bottom of the fifth inning still scoreless. Ohio State threatened in the bottom of the inning. After a leadoff single, the runner advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, before advancing to third on a ground out. However, the Ohio defense was able to end the inning with a fly out, sending the game to the sixth still scoreless.

After Ohio stranded a runner in the top of the sixth, the Buckeyes led off the bottom of the frame with a double down the left field line. Ohio was then able to record the next three outs, sending the game to the seventh still tied at 0-0.After a scoreless top of the seventh, Ohio State threatened in the bottom of the inning, leading off with a walk. However, Ohio was able to record three-straight outs, stranding the runner at first, sending the game to extra innings tied at 0-0.

Ohio threatened again in the top of the eight. With two outs, Grein drew a walk and moved to third on a single to right center from Westler. Sophom*ore CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, however, the last batter of the inning was called out for being out of the box, ending the Ohio threat and sending the game to the bottom of the inning still scoreless. Ohio State started the bottom of the eighth off with a leadoff double. She them moved the third on a ground out. However, Miller and the Ohio defense were able to record a strikeout and a ground out to end the inning and send the game to the ninth tied at 0-0.

The Bobcats finally got on the board in the top of the ninth inning. Hummel led the inning off with her second walk of the game and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Yasmine Logan (Pittsburgh, Pa.). She then moved to third on a single from Paoli and scored when Dawe reached on a fielder's choice and the second baseman dropped the ball attempting to force an out, putting Ohio up 1-0 with runners on first and second and one out. With two outs, Grein drew another walk to load the bases. After a 15-minute delay due to an injured umpire, play resumed with Ohio State forcing a ground out for the final out of the frame, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth with Ohio leading 1-0.

The Buckeyes threatened in the bottom of the ninth. After a leadoff walk, the Bobcats were able to get the next two outs before another walk put runners on first and second. However, Miller was able to force a deep fly out to Hummel to seal the victory.

Up next, the Bobcats return to MAC play this weekend when they head to Mount Pleasant, Mich. April 7-8 for a three-game series with Central Michigan.

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