After finishing on the wrong side of a no-hitter Saturday, Ohio recovered Sunday on its way to splitting a home series with Buffalo.
A two-run home run over the center field scoreboard from junior right fielder Adrienne Gebele in the first inning set the tone for the game, as the Bobcats defeated the Bulls 6-3.
“It was just a mental adjustment more than anything,” coach Jodi Hermanek said. “We knew we were going to see the same pitcher because she was successful against us (Saturday). We just had a different day.”
Hermanek said the first-inning bomb was a momentum changer, after Ohio failed to seek out any hits the day before.
“I was really proud of Adrienne being able to get out early and take the wind from out of their sails and put the confidence arrow in our direction,” she said.
Ohio scored two more runs and was in control until the top of the fourth, when Buffalo loaded the bases with only one out. A double up the middle scored two runs, cutting Ohio’s lead to 4-2. And then on a close play at the plate, the umpire ruled a Bull was not tagged out at home, which brought Hermanek off her feet to argue the ruling.
The Bobcats got out of the jam with a 4-3 lead, and then added three more runs later in the game.
“Adversity wasn’t necessarily something we could control,” Hermanek said. “It was based more on some umpire calls but…we needed to play through it. They were within one run but we didn’t let it take us off our game plan.”
Perhaps the most interesting play of the day came in the bottom of the third inning.
With runners on first and second, freshman third baseman Casie Hutchinson hit a grounder to Buffalo second baseman Ryleigh Fitzgerald, setting up a fielder’s choice.
But when Fitzgerald threw the ball to third for a force out, she clocked Ohio second baseman Alexia Cortez, who was heading for second, in the back of the helmet.
“It can only happen to little ninja ‘Lex Cortez,” Hermanek said. “In pregame, she was going for short fly balls and she had the trainer walk her off after face-planting into the dirt … and then she was hit in the back of the head on the base paths. Her head was well-used today.”
Ohio was scheduled to play four games at Ohio Softball Field this weekend, but rain canceled a doubleheader against Kent State on Friday.
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Fast Facts:
Saturday: Buffalo 4, Ohio 0
Sunday: Ohio 6, Buffalo 3
-The Bobcats are now 19-15 overall and 4-2 in MAC play.
