Ohio softball experienced highs and lows in its weekend series against Miami.
Over the course of the three games, Ohio lost the final two — the last game by a very wide margin. While the series itself was not a bad one for Ohio as it held its own against one of the best programs in the conference, the final game left a foul taste in Ohio’s mouth.
Here’s how the weekend went:
Friday
Game one
The doubleheader got off to a great start for Ohio as it defeated Miami 4-2.
The Bobcats were led by a stellar pitching performance by Skipp Miller. The sophomore went all seven innings, throwing 102 pitches in the process and allowing a meager five hits.
The day got off to a rough start as the RedHawks jumped all over Miller for a solo home run by Allie Cummins as well as an RBI double to put a quick pair of runs on the board. The Bobcats came right back with a crooked number, doubling the output of their rivals for a four-run bottom of the first inning. The runs were all manufactured, highlighted by two-run singles by Emma Hoffner and Sydney Grein
That was the only offensive output for each team as Miller found a good groove. Miller gave up just one hit over the final six innings and helped produce 10 outs in a row.
Game two
While the pitching and defensive performances were the key reasons for Ohio getting the win in the first game, those were also the reasons for its downfall in the second. Ohio’s 7-6 loss featured multiple comeback attempts by Ohio, however its pitching could not hold off Miami. Ohio surrendered five home runs in the defeat.
Game two, much like the first game, saw Miami get on the board first. A pair of solo shots by Holly Blaska and Jenna Golembiewski in the second inning put Miami up 2-0 for the second consecutive game. Ohio responded with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning to cut the deficit in half.
However, Miami was not done putting runs on the board. Riley Coyne hit a two-run home run to add to the Miami advantage. Ohio, like the inning before, responded with a massive rally to take the lead on Grein’s three-run home run.
The RedHawks did not lose hope, though. Allie Cummins launched her second home run of the day, this one a two-run shot to give her team the lead. In the epic back-and-forth affair, the Bobcats looked to their best player to tie the game. Annalia Paoli did so on a solo home run to tie the game at six apiece.
Kylie Coffelt had a rough day, surrendering all six runs to that point. Ohio coach Jenna Hall elected to bring in Keegan Moore, the No. 3 pitcher on the staff to avoid further damage. Moore helped right the ship, pitching a clean game until the seventh inning when Riley Coyne hit her second home run of the game, giving Miami a 7-6 lead that it did not relinquish.
Game 3
The weekend can be thought of as something of a progression for Ohio. It got off to a great start by winning the first game. The second game, although a loss, was a valiant effort. The third game, though, was a complete annihilation. Miami defeated Ohio 14-1 in the rubber match of the series.
Ohio started Miller for the second time on the weekend, hoping that she could claim a pair of victories over Miami. The results were far from that expectation, though. Out of the five innings that were played, the first four saw Miami put runs on the board. Cummins hit her third home run of the weekend while Blaska hit her second as well.
The game got out of hand even more after Miller exited. Moore returned to relieve, but she was unable to stop the bleeding as she gave up four more runs. Hall was desperate to collect some outs that she brought in Ellie Greene, who had not pitched in a month.
The Bobcats did tack on a run in the fourth inning, but the game was over at that point.
