Ohio Softball shares day two of the Runnin’ Bulldog Classic

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BOILING SPRINGS, NC – The Ohio Softball team (2-1) returned to action for a second day at the Gardner Webb Runnin’ Bulldog Classic on Saturday (Feb. 11). In the first game, the Bobcats beat Austin Peay (0-3), 10-5, before falling to Gardner Webb (2-0), 3-2, in the second game of the day.

Game One: Ohio 10, Austin Peay 5

Overall, Ohio scored 10 runs on 16 hits and committed five errors, while Austin Peay recorded five runs, ten hits and had one error.

Senior Alexis Dawe (Valley Springs, Calif.) led Ohio offensively, going 4-for-4 with two runs on four hits and recording three RBIs. Dawe also tied for the team high in shutouts with five. Junior Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) scored two runs on two hits, with three RBI. Freshman Austin Miller (Bradford, Ohio) filled the stat sheet with two runs on four hits and three RBI. Freshman Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) went 3-4 with a run and an RBI. Second year student CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) recorded one run, a hit and an RBI.

Graduate student Kylie Coffelt (Beltoit, Ohio) got his first start of the season. Coffelt pitched 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Redshirt freshman Skip Miller (Bradford, Ohio) pitched 2.1 innings, allowing four hits, walking one batter and striking out another.

The Bobcats got off to a slow start as an error led to Austin Peay scoring the first run of the day to end the inning at 1-0. Despite two hits, Ohio did not score in the second inning and went into the third down 1-0. Austin Peay added to its lead in the top of the third, scoring two runs on two hits and two errors to push its lead to three runs.

The fourth inning began with excellent defense by the Bobcats, Austin Peay with three batters up and three batters down, all flied out to center. Austin Miller hit Ohio’s first run of the day, a two-run home run up the middle to get the Bobcats on the board and cut the deficit to 3-2 entering the fifth.

After allowing Austin Peay to score on a double, Ohio converted Skip Miller. The Governors scored on a fielding error to go up 5-2. The Bobcats continued to hit well, then had a quick double and sacrifice grounder to set Paolo up to score. Kiedel put the ball in play with a single, and Paoli scored. Dawe added to his hitting streak by crushing a three-run home run to give Ohio its first lead of the day, 6-5. The excitement continued for the Bobcats, after forcing a pitch change, Hummel moved to the pitcher to allow Austin Miller run home and record his second run of the day. Paoli then hit a three-run home run to give the Bobcats a 10-5 lead heading into the sixth.

Ohio’s defense stepped up over the next two innings, keeping Austin Peay off the board and securing a 10-5 win for the Bobcats.

Game Two: Gardner Webb 3, Ohio 2

The Bobcats scored two runs on two hits and committed one error, while Gardner Webb recorded three runs on seven hits with no errors.

Paoli tallied the Bobcat’s only RBI of the game. Both Hummel and Logan went 1-3 and each scored a run. Defensively, Dawe led the game in tackles with seven.

Freshman Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) got his first start of the season on the mound today. Moore went 2.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits, two walks and one strikeout. Coffelt took over in the third period. Coffelt allowed two runs on four hits and walked three batters and scored one.

Gardner Webb got off to a quick start, scoring a two-out first inning to take a 1-0 lead. After a scoreless second and third, the Bobcats looked to get their first hit together. Ohio was still hitless in the fifth and was looking for a spark offensively. Gardner Webb managed to steal a base and score an inside-the-park home run to extend the lead to 3-0.

The Bobcats got two quick hits to start the sixth inning, putting Hummel and Logan in scoring position. Paoli made a sacrifice bunt to put Ohio on the scoreboard 3-1. Gardner Webb through a wild pitch that allowed Logan to come home from third. The Bobcats attempted a late push in the top of the seventh, but ultimately fell short, 3-2.

Ohio is back in action for the final day of the Runnin’ Bulldog class tomorrow (Feb. 12) as they look to sweep Austin Peay at 12 p.m.

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