After a solid weekend series win against Central Michigan last week, Ohio (24-13 overall, 7-5 Mid-American Conference) had a solid week of rest before heading on the road to Munice, Indiana, to take on Ball State in another big MAC series.
Ball State has struggled this season, with an overall losing record and a 2-7 record in the MAC before the series against Ohio.
The Bobcats took a tough loss in the first game, losing 7-6 in a nail-biter before bouncing back a few hours later to pick up a win and split the Friday games.
The next day, they closed out the series win with another tight game, pulling through 8-7 after being down 4-0 early.
Let’s take a close look at each game this weekend.
Friday
Ohio entered the first game Friday with graduate student pitcher Skipp Miller on the mound. After a tough performance, the star pitcher allowed six earned runs on eight hits, and her season stats took a hit, dropping her ERA to 3.74.
Ball State started the game hot, getting to a 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI single from Grace Spencer, but a two-run home run from graduate student infielder Rylee McDaniel put Ohio on top.
Junior infielder Brenna Farmer also delivered with a two-run double in the third inning to make it 4-1 in favor of Ohio.
An Ella Whitney home run brought the Cardinals back into it, but a sac fly the next inning from senior outfielder Belle Hummel gave Ohio a 5-3 lead.
Whitney was back up to bat and delivered a sac fly to cut the lead to one, and then Spencer came through for Ball State once more with a massive three-run blast to give Ball State the lead.
Brenna Farmer scored one with a sac fly in the seventh, but Ball State closed it out for a big win in game one.
Ohio’s win in the second game on Friday was a little more stress-free. The offense exploded for three home runs and a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The game started with another two-run home run from McDaniel in the second inning, her second of the day and fifth of the year.
Ball State responded right back with yet another home run from Spencer, who delivered her third of the afternoon.
The two teams were scoreless for three innings until Ohio came through with a huge three-run advantage in the sixth inning. Senior infielder Shelby Westler had an RBI double before junior catcher Kylie Gorsuch crushed a two-run home run to make it 5-1.
Senior infielder Colleen Bare delivered another Bobcat blast, a solo home run to pad the lead even more. Ball State’s Grace Spencer wasn’t done yet and hit her second home run of the game and fourth of the day to make it an interesting seventh inning, but Ohio was able to hold on for a 6-3 win.
Saturday
The Bobcats had to fight for their series win on Saturday, as the Cardinals jumped out to a 4-0 lead through four innings after three RBI singles and a sac fly.
Ohio’s offense was weak for the first four innings, but a six-run explosion in the fifth inning gave the Bobcats the lead.
The first two runs came from Ball State errors, as Farmer walked with the bases loaded, bringing in a run before a wild pitch brought home Alexis Book.
Sophomore infielder Sydney Young then stepped up and blasted a three-run home run to give Ohio a one-run lead. Soon afterward, junior outfielder Izzie Wilson blasted a solo shot to add an insurance run.
Ball State responded again, as another single and another sac fly tied the game back up in the bottom of the fifth inning.
It was Alexis Book who was the hero for Ohio. Brook drilled a massive two-run home run over the right field wall to give Ohio a two-run lead.
Ball State drove home one more run with a solo home run in the seventh inning, but Miller was able to get the save and secure another MAC series win for Ohio.
