Ohio’s weekend at the Frost Classic began with unusual pace, losing its first game of the season on Friday to Tennessee Tech, but the Bobcats responded by winning its next four games and regaining their stride.
The Bobcats (12-1) were down early against Tennessee Tech and mounted a comeback that pushed the game into extras, but fell short. Friday also marked sophomore pitcher Savannah Jo Dorsey’s first loss of the season and allowed a season-high four earned runs.
“We had to learn from that loss, we had to know that could happen in our season, we had to learn what we could adjust, we have a short term memory,” coach Jodi Hermanek said.
The Bobcats were quick to shrug off the loss, though, and later in the day they returned to the diamond to defeat Austin Peay. The Bobcats turned to junior pitcher Lauren McClary, who dominated in the circle. During her seven innings pitched, McClary allowed no earned runs and struck out seven batters.
Ohio turned to McClary again the next day against Middle Tennessee State and tossed another seven innings. She struck out eight batters and allowed just two earned runs.
Later on Saturday, Ohio took down Butler, behind Dorsey who went seven innings and struck out 10 batters.
But Ohio once again went into extra innings on Sunday against Northwestern State. Dorsey tossed 7.1 innings and a struck out a season-high 11 batters. The Bobcat offense scored three in the top of the eighth to win the contest.
Hermanek is excited to have two pitchers start off the season so well, as Dorsey and McClary have been instrumental in the early success of the team.
“It is exactly what they needed to do this early in the season,” Hermanek said. “It takes the pressure off each other, (McClary) really stepped up this weekend.”
At the plate the Bobcats picked up at least 11 hits in four the five games during the Frost Classic. They would also set a new season high in hits, collecting 15 in the win against Middle Tennessee.
“Offensively we are in a great place, (the success) has just been through the hard work and the training all the girls have put in this off season,” Hermanek said.
With another road tournament next weekend, the Bobcats again will have a short turnaround before playing a full weekend of games.
“We are going to get to the practice field on Tuesday and continue to get reps and allow the athletes to keep being who they are,” Hermanek said.
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