The Bobcats tasted victory for the first time in nearly two weeks yesterday, snapping an eight-game losing streak. However, the victory was quickly replaced with the sting of defeat against Youngstown State.
Jennifer Tisevich belted a walk-off home run over the left field fence to give Ohio (12-24 overall, 0-8 Mid-American Conference) a 4-2 victory in the first game of the double header.
The second game did not go as planned for the Bobcats. Youngstown State (12-17) jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead and didn't look back, winning 6-3.
Tisevich, who leads the Bobcats in almost every offensive category, rescued Ohio in the first game. She stepped to the plate with two outs and a runner on first base in a tie game, 2-2. Tisevich worked a 2-2 count before hitting the winning home run.
I knew we had a girl on first
and I just wanted to get a hit Tisevich said. I didn't think they'd probably score from first I was just looking to put the ball in play and hit it hard
make things happen.
Ohio coach Roanna Brazier said that the Bobcats need some more offensive players to step up like Tisevich has.
Jenny (Tisevich) came through
she's been coming through for us a lot lately
Brazier said. We just need more than one person to do it though. One person can't win a softball game.
Ohio had built an early 2-0 lead, with Courtney Waters and Emily Futscher both collecting RBI singles. Pitcher Michelle Sauter (3-6) held the lead until the sixth inning.
Tiffany Patteson drove home two runs with a two-out double to left-center field in the sixth inning, Sauter's only mistake.
Sauter, who came back to pitch the seventh inning, said it was nice to get the win in the end.
Thankfully
in the last inning
our offense really stepped it up
she said. Jenny Tisevich had a really nice two-run home run. It feels really good when your teammates pick you up like that.
The glow of the dramatic victory didn't last long. The Penguins jumped on Ohio starting pitcher Kerri Harley (1-6) in the first inning, her only inning of work. A walk, a double and another walk loaded the bases with two outs, setting the stage for Lacey Hess. Hess promptly cleared the bases with a double over center fielder Kelly Rodriguez's head, putting Ohio in a 3-0 hole.
The Bobcat offense battled back though. Tisevich picked up where she left off in game one by smacking an RBI single to left field to cut the lead to 3-1 in the first inning.
After falling behind 4-1 in the top of the second, the Bobcats used speed to put pressure on the Penguin fielders. Futscher reached second base after an error and a sacrifice bunt and later scored on an infield hit by Waters and a Penguin error.
After an infield hit by Rodriguez, the Bobcats scored their third and final run of the day on a double steal. Waters broke for home from third base while Rodriguez went for second. Rodriguez got in a run-down, but beat the Penguin defense to the second base bag, allowing Waters to score to make it 4-3.
A bright side for Ohio in the second game was the relief pitching of Candy Warden and Natalie Armstrong. They gave up two runs in six innings of relief.
Tisevich said the team wasn't happy with splitting the double header.
Obviously
we could've won that second game as well
she said. It's not taking anything away from our first win earlier. We're still kind of disappointed we couldn't come away with two today.
Ohio won't have to wait long to get another shot at a win. The Bobcats host Wright State (6-8) today at the Ohio Softball Field with the first pitch of the double header scheduled for 2 p.m.
