Ohio needed someone to finish Saturday’s game in extra innings. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the eighth, Morgan Geno stepped up.
Geno cracked a single to center field to bring home Alexa Holland. That hit secured an 8-7 victory for the Bobcats (•21-10, 3-0 Mid-American Conference) in the first game of Saturday’s double header against Bowling Green.
Ohio went on to win the second game 15-10, sweeping the series against the Falcons (10-16, 0-3 MAC) following Friday’s win.
The teams spent a little under six and a half hours at Ohio Softball Field on Saturday, as the first game got started at 1 p.m. and the second game wrapped up around 7:30.
Coach Kenzie Roark talked to the importance of the break between games for the players and allowing them to talk with their friends and family at the game.
“They get to have that time away from softball for a second,” Roark said. “Their peers are here, they’re in-between games, chatting with them, laughing with them, and when it’s time to play softball, they come back and they play softball.”
Game One
The Bobcats came off the first game quick, scoring two early runs in the bottom of the first thanks to a Charlee Pond single that drove in two runs.
Bowling Green took control of the game in the top of the second as they made it 4-2 in favor of the Falcons.
Ohio trailed 5-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth, but strong offensive play from the team such as a double from Deanna Cole and an RBI single by Katie Yun helped tied the game up at five.
Roark noted that putting the team into uncomfortable situations in practice has helped them prepare for situations like this. Being able to climb back into games is a trait she wants Ohio to have as it goes through the season.
Game Two
Heading into the top of the fifth of the second game, Ohio had both the momentum and the scoreboard in its favor, holding a 4-0 lead.
An eight-run inning for the Falcons changed that.
All eight run came off home runs, as Bowling Green hit three long balls in the top of the fifth to take an 8-4 lead.
The Bobcats needed a response, and they got in the bottom half of the fifth to the tune of a five-run inning. Yun got the inning started off with a lead-off home run and Cole gave the Bobcats the lead with a three-run home run.
Cole never had a doubt in her mind that Ohio could come back from the deficit.
“We do it every time. We always come back,” she said.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Bobcats kept adding to the score. Geno hit a grand slam that gave the team a 13-8 lead. With that homer, she is now tied for most RBIs in program history at 137.
The milestone gave Geno a moment to reflect on her time in Athens.
“I’ve had a great four years here,” she said. “I don’t want to leave. It’s pretty special because I love this place.”
On Deck
Ohio will play Northern Kentucky (7-18, 0-3 Horizon League) at the Ohio Softball Field on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 5 p.m.
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