Although home runs might not guarantee victory, they have been a key to success for Ohio this season, as a Bobcat has gone deep in all but one of their victories.
Such was the case Saturday when the Bobcats (15-10) snapped their five-game losing streak by sweeping a doubleheader against Canisius. Ohio hit four home runs, while allowing two earned runs in two games.
With solid play in almost every aspect of the game, Ohio coach Jodi Hermanek is glad to see that her team has regrouped before it begins Mid-American Conference play next weekend.
“We got a big five-game monkey off our back and it was great to see the girls come out and really just have fun with the game,” Hermanek said. “I think we feel loose and free under pressure right now.”
The first game lasted less than two hours, as sophomore pitcher Lauren McClary made quick work of the Golden Griffins. She pitched a complete game shutout and finished with six strikeouts and just one walk in the 4-0 victory.
Senior catcher Lauren Gellerman scored two runs on a pair of hits, including a home run. She led the Bobcats offensively. Freshman shortstop Amanda Dalton was the only other Bobcat to record multiple hits, as she finished with two.
“I was excited to play today, especially because we haven’t won in a while,” Gellerman said. “It’s always good to have wins under your belt. We’re all feeling good and high and ready for MAC play to start.”
Canisius and Ohio’s pitchers each tossed efficient complete games in the first half of the doubleheader, in which hits came at a premium. The two teams combined for 18 hits in the second game.
Ohio scored seven runs on seven hits, as a trio of home runs paced the Bobcats to finish the sweep. Sophomore catcher Adrienne Gebele belted a two-run home run in the third inning before Gellerman and senior first baseman Caitlin Colvin hit back-to-back Bobcat blasts in the fifth inning.
Colvin’s 12th homer of the season places her just one away from tying the program’s single-season record of 13. As a team, Ohio now has 36 long balls, which is already the second-best season of all time, despite having played less than half of the regular season.
“I think today was a really good day for all of us,” Colvin said. “I’m happy with how I have done, but it’s definitely been a team effort and I’m excited to see where the rest of the season takes me.”
The home runs gave the Bobcats a 7-1 lead after five innings, but a throwing error by Gebele in the sixth shifted the momentum in favor of the Griffins, which scored four unearned runs in the inning before cutting the deficit to just one in the seventh.
However, the Bobcats prevailed for their first doubleheader sweep of the same team this season.
“Coming up into conference play, you have to win two games in a row,” Hermanek said. “To be where we want to be in the MAC, we have to come to people’s house and host people to win two games. It’s a hard feat to get to, but I know this squad can do it.”
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