The Ohio softball team is coming together at the right time. Facing a team ahead of it in the standings, Ohio responded by sweeping a three-game series with rival Miami.
Ohio (17-23 overall, 11-6 Mid-American Conference) won three games. The first game was a 3-2 comeback win in eight innings. The second was a 1-0 pitchers duel and the final was a 4-2 victory.
Absolutely huge
Ohio coach Roanna Brazier said of the wins. We did what we were supposed to; we had great pitching all the way around. We weren't outstanding hitting the ball but we got enough hits to win.
The pitching was highlighted by Natalie Armstrong (6-5). In the three games, Armstrong went seven shutout innings, picking up two wins and her sixth save of the season.
Can't say enough about her Brazier said. She just wants the ball
and she's so full of excitement out there.
In game one of the series, Miami (19-22-1, 11-7 MAC) jumped ahead 2-0, but Ohio came back in the fifth inning by scoring two unearned runs on two Miami errors and a passed ball.
The score remained tied until Ohio won it in the eighth. Kiersten Scrima, Sarah Melvin and Erin Chapman singled to load the bases with one out. First baseman Robin Miller stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and was hit by a pitch to force in the winning run. It was the second time this season Miller had ended the game by being hit with a pitch.
I saw the ball coming inside and I was like
'This is fine
' didn't think it was going to hit me
Miller said. Then all of a sudden it just scraped across my leg
and I thought 'Huh
this happened again.'
Miller went 6-for-8.
The second game was all about pitching and defense. Chapman drove a run home in the first inning on a sacrifice fly, and that was all the support that pitchers Katlyn Mallete and Armstrong needed.
Mallete (2-4) made her first start in nearly a month and turned in five shutout innings.
I just felt really good (Saturday)
Mallete said. I had a great defense behind me. I'm 100 percent confident in them. I was just trying to hit my spots.
Armstrong pitched the final two innings, giving up no hits, to save the win for Mallete.
Ohio completed the sweep yesterday with the 4-2 victory. Infielder Emily Futscher got Ohio going, blasting a two-run home run to leftfield in the second inning to tie the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Chapman and Miller singled and with two outs advanced to second and third. Catcher Georgia Villard came through in the clutch, hitting a single up the middle to plate both runners.
Miami put two runners on in the seventh, but Armstrong got the last out on a fly out to Chapman in centerfield to complete the sweep.
Ohio has won five in a row and seven out of eight. The Bobcats have sole possession of second place in the MAC East Division. They trail Kent State by two games.
The Bobcats play next in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Friday at Youngstown State.
