The start of a seven-game road trip for Ohio did not start well as Cleveland State swept the doubleheader yesterday on the strength of dominating pitching.
Ohio (15-28 overall, 2-9 Mid-American Conference) fell in the first game 5-3, and 2-1 in the second contest. The Bobcats were held to five hits on the day and struck out 16 times.
We didn't hit either game; obviously we have to hit to score runs
Ohio coach Roanna Brazier said. We just weren't getting the job done. They had a great game but we just did not get the job.
The two pitchers for the Vikings (9-19) were Grace Luginbuhl (4-9) and J.J. Thornberry (4-5). Both pitchers threw complete games at the Bobcats.
Zoe Heim (4-9) took the first loss for Ohio, despite pitching a complete game. Errors proved costly to the Bobcats, as they committed two errors in the bottom of the second inning, leading to two unearned Viking runs.
Every error costs us Brazier said. Recently we've been doing a good job with our errors
but the first game
errors cost us
and it snowballed.
The Bobcats answered with their biggest offensive inning of the day in the third. Walks to right fielder Kelly Rodriguez and catcher Marian Davis set the stage for designated player Shannon Weidner. Weidner sent a three-run home run over the left field wall -her second home run of the season -to give the Bobcats a 3-2 lead.
Cleveland State answered the next inning with two runs on four hits to take the lead back for good.
The second game started out well for Ohio. The Bobcats scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning when second baseman Jennifer Tisevich singled home Davis.
Cleveland State responded quickly, just as they did in game one. The Vikings scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning off of Ohio pitcher Michelle Sauter (4-8). A sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt produced the Vikings' only two runs of the game.
Sauter pitched a complete game, giving up two runs, six hits and striking out four batters.
Michelle threw good enough to win
and Zoe
Brazier said.
Brazier said it can be tough on the pitchers feeling like they have to do everything with the lack of run support but that they are hanging in there nonetheless.
Brazier also said the losses are disappointing but that the team will bounce back for the weekend series with Marshall.
I can't imagine this will kill our weekend. But it's too bad; we just weren't ready to play today.
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