Despite high expectations in coach Jenna Hall’s second season at the helm, Ohio softball has seemingly exceeded them so far. After a shaky opening weekend against some talented opponents, Ohio has been able to win nine of its last ten games, including four wins in five games in the Frost Classic hosted by UT Chattanooga. The whole weekend was a great showcase for Ohio and the overall strength of the team, both in the circle and at the plate.
Game 1 vs. UT Martin:
On just her fourth pitch of the day, Ohio Pitcher Mikie Lieving gave up a leadoff home run to Kaci Fuller. That was just about all the standout freshman gave up in her start. Lieving twirled five innings of three-hit ball, with the only blemish being the leadoff home run to Fuller. Once she got out of the first frame with the lone run surrendered, the Ohio offense gave her all the support she would need as CiCi Keidel singled down the left field line, bringing home two runs and putting Ohio on top, 2-1.
From there, Lieving suffocated UT Martin’s offensive attack. The only true threat posed to the Ohio lead came in the bottom of the third when UT Martin loaded the bases with two singles and a walk. Like a veteran, Lieving was able to escape the jam by picking up a strikeout and inducing a groundout, preserving the lead for Ohio.
Like in the top of the second, Ohio rewarded its pitcher with an insurance run. Shelby Westler continued her hot start to the season as she ripped a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Brenna Farmer. The 3-1 lead for Ohio was handed off to ace Skipp Miller in the sixth when Ohio was looking to shut down a potential rally for UT Martin. Miller, efficient as always, retired the side without allowing the inherited runner to advance past second base. Likewise in the seventh, Miller got a 1-2-3 inning to close out the win for Ohio and start the weekend off strong.
Game 2 vs. Georgetown:
While the first game on Friday showed off some of the shutdown pitching for the Bobcats, the subsequent game showcased the talent on the offensive side of things. A slow first few innings had the game shaping up to be a pitchers’ duel between the Hoyas and Bobcats. However, the Hoyas jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when a line drive was caught at shortstop and the throw to second base in an attempt to double off the runner went into right field.
Regardless, Ohio would shake off the defensive miscue and erupt for 6 runs in the top of the fourth. With one out and the bases loaded, Farmer doubled to bring home a pair of runners before Keidel singled home another. Tori O’Brien joined the party, collecting one of her four hits in the game and driving in another 2 runs. Finally, Ohio’s most dangerous hitter, Annalia Paoli, singled home O’Brien to cap off the 6-run frame.
Again, Miller entered the game in the sixth inning but gave up a run in her first inning of this outing. Ohio’s offense went back to work and put the game out of reach, scoring 4 more runs in the top of the seventh. The trio of Famer, Keidel and O’Brien all singled to drive in runs before Yasmine Logan reached on an error that brought home another. Between Farmer, Keidel and O’Brien, hitting 8-9-1 in the Ohio lineup, they plated eight of the ten runs against Georgetown.
Game 3 vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi:
The winning streak was now at seven games and Ohio looked as formidable as ever. Nonetheless, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi proved to be just as tough. Ohio’s starter Lieving pitched two innings, giving up 3 runs in the process. Two straight singles to lead off the third was all it took to knock Lieving out.
However, Lieving would be off the hook when Ohio tied the game in the fourth. Izzie Wilson stroked a 2 run single to the right-center gap before Westler tied the game with a single. Moore was pitching well to that point but buckled in the sixth when 2 unearned runs gave Texas A&M-Corpus Christi a 5-3 lead that it would not relinquish, snapping the winning streak for Ohio.
Game 4 vs. UT Chattanooga:
Looking to start a new winning streak, Ohio faced off against the host team, UT Chattanooga. After not starting a game to this point, Miller made sure that she was all her team needed to emerge victorious, throwing a complete game shutout. Miller scattered five hits across her seven innings of work. Ohio got 4 runs in the second after Keidel reached on an error, scoring 2. O’Brien drove in another run and then Westler roped another RBI single.
Miller got some insurance runs in the sixth as a wild pitch drove in a run before Wilson brought home another on a single and a pickle play allowed a third run to score, making it 7-0, Ohio. Miller needed just 112 pitches to complete the game and got Ohio back in the win column.
Game 5 vs. Valpo:
With the final game on tap, Ohio came out firing offensively in the first inning, putting up a crooked number on the board with four in the first. Emma Hoffner got the scoring started with an RBI single and Wilson tripled for another two runs to come home. Finally, Westler capped off the frame with another RBI single, giving Ohio a 4-0 lead before Valpo had a chance to respond.
However, Valpo would respond with a four-run frame of its own in its half of the first. Facing Ellie Greene, Valpo feasted with a two-run single followed shortly by a two-run triple tying the game. In need of some innings, Ohio turned to Lieving again. The freshman gave Ohio exactly what it needed, going an additional 4.2 innings, calming the storm in the process and stopping the bleeding. At the same time, Ohio’s offense went cold for the first extended time all weekend. Finally, Ohio broke through in the seventh as Farmer drove in the go-ahead run on a single and Miller pitched a scoreless inning and two-thirds to preserve Ohio’s win.
