Ohio (21-12, 4-4 Mid-American Conference) split a set of games with Central Michigan over the weekend. The score of the first game was 6-3 in Ohio’s favor, and 5-3 against Central Michigan in the second game. Both teams were very evenly matched, but some unfavorable calls and fielding issues hurt Ohio in the second game.
The first inning of the first game opened in the best way Ohio could have asked for. Central Michigan struggled to get any players on base, and the Ohio duo of senior outfielder Belle Hummel and senior infielder Colleen Bare, launched two home runs out of the stadium to go up 2-0. From there, it was a game of catch-up for Central Michigan.
“Belle and Colleen set the tone,” Ohio head coach Jenna Hall said. “They’re both .400 plus hitters, they’ve been so consistent for us, so whenever they can spark us like that, it makes a huge difference in the momentum and the energy of our team.”
Central Michigan was never able to score in its first run against Ohio in the top of the third inning, but Alexa Carter hit a home run to move Central Michigan up. To answer Central Michigan’s score, Ohio dropped two more home runs from junior Brenna Farmer and graduate student Rylee McDaniel, allowing junior Mikie Lieving to score. Ohio looked unstoppable in this game, as its pitching and fielding also stopped Central Michigan from scoring any extra runs.
In the bottom of the sixth, Central Michigan scored two more runs in a short-lived effort to try and catch up to Ohio in the top of the seventh. Ohio looked very dominant in the first game, as it jumped out to an early lead while also managing to stop any progress from Central Michigan’s batters.
“I just will give credit to our hitters for following the game plan,” Hall said. “For us to get that on time early in the game, it shows a lot of their work and practice getting ready for this weekend.”
The next game would be the exact opposite for the Bobcats, and Central Michigan jumped to an early lead with a run scored by Emma Lotus. Ohio was previously able to shut out this Central Michigan team until the third inning, but it adapted and put the Bobcats in a tight spot.
Ohio answered back with a run from Hummel to tie things as the inning ended, with both teams only able to manage one run. However, the Bobcats had one glaring issue: their fielding. Central Michigan started to get some extra chances with drops and miscommunication from the Bobcats, which partially led to this defeat.
“We just got to see the ball in our glove better,” Hall said. “We just need to be a little bit more IQ savvy on defense and just finish some plays there.”
Both teams remained tied at one apiece until the top of the fourth inning, where Central Michigan got three runners to home plate for control of the game. Ohio was able to answer, getting a score from Izzie Wilson, but the team quickly subsided and wouldn't score again until the sixth inning, where Farmer hit a home run to bring up the score.
However, Ohio wouldn’t score again as Central Michigan padded its lead with a run in the top of the seventh inning, and Ohio had a chance to score some runs. However, good pitching and a questionable call led to an early exit at the mound, giving the victory to Central Michigan.
“It's unfortunate when we have schools like us that can’t get a replay,” Hall said. “But those things happen all over the field all the time, and one specific play can’t affect us. The game is put together through seven innings.”
