Ohio hasn’t scored a run in the past 25 of innings in Mid-American Conference play.
The last time the Bobcats scored was when sophomore shortstop Amanda Dalton drove in sophomore second baseman Alexia Cortez to score a game-winning run against Miami. Since then, Ohio has left 22 runners on base including nine in Sunday’s game against Akron, which seized its opportunities and won 9-0.
Despite the final score line, the Bobcats (26-22, 10-6 MAC) were in the game until the bottom of the sixth when Akron held just a 3-0 lead. But the Zips proceeded to score six runs to end the game by way of mercy rule.
Sophomore pitcher Savannah Jo Dorsey kept Ohio in the game until the sixth, including getting herself out of multiple jams with the help of her defense. With nine strikeouts, Dorsey also extended her single-season strikeout record to 224 on the year.
“She was doing her thing early in the game and threw effectively early,” coach Jodi Hermanek said. “She really buckled down in certain situations and the defense made the plays behind her. Later on in the game I don’t think that we were as tight and as crisp. We had some opportunities to get out of innings that we let go.”
That came in the bottom of the sixth after Dorsey loaded the bases, when she looked like she might yet again get out of the jam. That was until freshman catcher Madison Claytor had a throwing error attempting to pick off a runner, which scored from third base. Dorsey proceeded to walk the next batter.
Hermanek then pulled Dorsey in favor of junior Lauren McClary, who threw just three pitches. Pitch one was a ball, pitch two was a single to centerfield scoring the second runner, and pitch three resulted in a three-run home run to leftfield to end the game.
As of late, the Bobcats haven’t been their usual selves as their defense has allowed other teams back into games. They haven’t been getting it done at the plate as well. Their clutch hitting that they has given them countless wins earlier in the season has essentially disappeared in their last two conference series.
“We have to believe in ourselves and relax to take the pressure off of trying to do too much too hard at the plate,” Hermanek said. “We just have to get in an easy mentality and just have some fun with the game. We’re going to be at the tournament no matter what playing for a championship opportunity. In the meantime we just need to relax and feel good about the work that we do and playing together as a team.”
The Bobcats might very well find that missing link. Ohio is 6-1 at home this season and will look to close out the regular season strong with a pair of home series against Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.
“Coming home for us will be a great way for us to close out our conference season,” Hermanek said. “I think it will allow us to take a breather when we have finals week and relax and to have a full week of practice Monday through Thursday… We just need to make sure that we prepare for Friday against Western Michigan and not try to not get consumed in our entire weekend of tasks.”
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