The Ohio softball team headed to Bowling Green looking to avenge an early season loss but returned home still grasping for its first Mid-American Conference victory.
The Falcons (11-17-1 overall, 2-5 Mid-American Conference) swept the Bobcats (3-15-1, 0-8-1 MAC) in a doubleheader Wednesday.
After a 5-0 loss in the first game, Ohio coach Roanna Brazier gave the team an ultimatum.
"I told them you can look at the rest of the season two ways - you can be a spoiler and keep people out, or you can win out and get in yourself," Brazier said. "That's the bottom line at this point in the season. We're almost halfway through. We're going to have to step it up or we're not going to make it."
Brazier said the team played with a more aggressive attitude in the second game, a 1-0 loss.
"Overall our defense played a heck of a lot better; we played very good the second game," Brazier said.
Ohio pitcher Candy Warden took the loss in the second game, giving up the only run of the game in the second inning on a double by first baseman Lindsay Heimrich.
"I saw that they were hitting it hard, and they got some hits but she didn't let it snow ball," Brazier said. "If they got a hit, she beared down and got the next three outs...I liked how she recovered."
Warden said the communication of the players behind her in the second game helped her performance.
"I felt really good today because my pitches were working well and everything just fit together," Warden said.
After failing to win for the 12th straight game, the team remains frustrated, Brazier said.
"To see a team so good not winning, it's the saddest thing." Brazier said. "At the end of each game that we lose it gets worse and worse."
Warden said the team is confident they can still pull things together.
"For the position we're in, everyone's in high spirits," Warden said. "We're a little beat up that we can't get it to come together in one game."
Ohio faces Akron at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Ohio softball field.
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Chris Littman
