Sports
Ohio Softball Wins Fourth Straight, Completes Sweep Of Akron
By: Nathan Takitch
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Ohio Softball needed an extra inning in its game against the Akron Zips Sunday, but the Bobcats were able to escape Lee R. Jackson Field with a 4-2 win on Sunday, extending their winning streak to four games.
Ohio starting pitcher Savannah Jo Dorsey was engaged in a pitchers duel against Akron starter Erin Seiler all afternoon.
But after seven innings of masterful pitching on each side, it was Seiler who blinked first, allowing three earned runs in the top of the eighth frame that proved to be all the Bobcats would need to seal a weekend sweep of the Zips (18-22, 4-10 MAC).
Seiler allowed just five hits in the first seven innings while striking out ten Ohio batters. After retiring one the eighth, she allowed singles on consecutive at-bats by Adrienne Gebele and Caitlin Colvin.
On Colvin’s hit, an errant throw allowed both Bobcat runners to advance into scoring position.
Then, third-baseman Raven King came through in Ohio’s biggest at-bat of the game, slapping a triple into right field, and driving in two runs.
Amanda Dalton followed up with a sacrifice fly to left field brought King home, extending the Bobcats’ lead to 4-1.
Akron made a desperate push in the bottom of the eighth, touching up Dorsey for three hits and a run, bringing the score to 4-2 and chasing the starter from the game.
Lauren McClary was brought in to relive Dorsey and finish off the Zips. With the winning run at the plate, McClary made short work of her role, getting Akron catcher Mckenzi Rhodes to ground out to end the game.
Ohio had a chance to break things open in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs in the inning. Dalton singled for the first of her two RBIs, scoring pinch runner Erin Lashey. However, fellow pinch runner Tessa Bailey was tagged out on a play at the plate to end the inning.
Dorsey earned her second win in as many days to advance to 12-8 this season. Seiler is 12-15 after picking up the loss. McClary was credited her third save of the season.
The Bobcats (23-22, 6-8 MAC) will look to build on their winning streak when they travel to face the Western Michigan Broncos (13-25; 4-8) in a double header on Friday, April 26. The games are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.