For the first time this season, Ohio has swept a Mid-American Conference opponent, after winning both games against Akron this weekend.
Freshman pitcher Savannah Jo Dorsey’s solid pitching led the Bobcats (23-22, 6-8 MAC) to a pair of victories. The right-hander recorded a win in both games, while striking out 22 batters in 14 2/3 innings pitched.
“(The sweep) was huge,” Ohio coach Jodi Hermanek said. “Each game at this point means a lot to our future success and it was big to come out here and get these two wins.”
Because of Dorsey’s dominant performances, Akron (18-22, 4-10 MAC) struggled at the plate and scored just two runs on the weekend. Dorsey did not allow a run until the bottom of the seventh inning in the second game.
Fueled by all-around solid play, Ohio won 6-0 Saturday, while Akron recorded just three hits at the plate.
The Bobcats homered three times, with senior designated hitter Chelsea Hortman beginning the action with a solo home run in the second inning. She finished the game 3-for-3 and 3 RBI.
Seniors Lauren Gellerman, a catcher, and Caitlin Colvin, a first baseman, also homered in the contest. Gellerman leads the team with 18 home runs, but Colvin is close behind the team-high with 17 dingers. Both totals rank among the top 10 players in the NCAA.
Freshman shortstop Amanda Dalton added three hits in the win, joining Hortman as the only Bobcat to record multiple base hits.
“Amanda had some amazing at bats all weekend long,” Hermanek said. “She really worked to get on base and didn’t try to do too much. She’s in a good spot right now and is really looking good at the plate.”
Dorsey tossed a complete-game shutout, while striking out career-high 12 batters in her winning performance Saturday, before returning to the circle Sunday to toss 7 2/3 innings and strike out 10.
Neither Ohio nor Akron scored until the top of the sixth inning, when the Bobcats took a 1-0 lead on Dalton’s RBI single to center field, which scored junior pinch runner Erin Lashley.
Akron did not back down, though, as the Zips tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh — forcing Ohio’s first extra-inning game of the season.
The Bobcats responded by scoring three runs in the eighth. Junior third baseman Raven King hit a 2-RBI triple, before scoring on Dalton’s sac fly.
Since ending their season-long nine-game losing streak Thursday, the Bobcats have won their past four games, but will not play again until traveling to play Western Michigan Friday.
“The teams that we’re going to face over the next few weekends are all in the chase for the conference championship tournament and we need to come out here and play as though we are 0-0 in the (MAC) season,” Hermanek said.
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