The Ohio softball team beat Miami three times this season but lost the one that counted the most.
The No. 4 seed RedHawks got their revenge on the Bobcats yesterday, as Ohio fell 7-2 in the first game of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. The No. 5 seed Bobcats move to the loser's bracket of the double-elimination tournament and face No. 2 seed Kent State (26-19 overall, 15-7 MAC).
Ohio (20-30, 13-12 MAC) fell behind early, giving up three runs in the first inning and two more before it got on the scoreboard. Starting pitcher Kerri Harley (6-12) lasted just two-thirds of an inning and took the loss.
Any time we get behind early
it affects us for the rest of the game because it puts us on the defensive said Ohio coach Roanna Brazier. It was just disappointing because we were struggling in all three categories -hitting pitching and fielding.
The Bobcats had their chances. They tallied eight hits and the Miami defense committed five errors, but the Bobcats failed to convert them into runs. They left nine runners on base.
We had eight hits but we just didn't put them together
Brazier said. Miami had 13 hits and scored almost every inning.
After Harley left the game, Candy Warden pitched 2 1-3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits. Natalie Armstrong pitched the final three innings, allowing two runs -one unearned -on six hits.
Miami pitcher Courtney Salmon (9-10) pitched 5 1-3 innings to earn the win, and Jackie Poggendorf held the Bobcats hitless in the final 1 2-3 for her second save of the season for the RedHawks (23-24-1, 15-9 MAC).
Next up for the Bobcats is East Division winner Kent State, which beat Ohio in the regular-season series, 2-1. That series was the first conference series of the season for the Bobcats. The Golden Flashes were shutout Thursday by No. 3 seed Western Michigan, 1-0.
Kent State is a hard swinging team
Brazier said. As long as our pitchers hit their spots and keep the ball off the middle of the plate
we'll be OK.
Ohio now faces elimination for the rest of the tournament with a second loss. It can still win the championship but must win five straight games to do so.
At this point it's definitely self-motivation
Brazier said. Either you do it or not. We have some great leadership this year and I suspect our seniors will step it up tomorrow.
First pitch against Kent State is set for 11 a.m. today at Firestone Field at Akron.
17
Archives
Joe Rominiecki
