After going 1-1 in a two-game matchup against Stonehill College, Ohio (17-8) traveled to Huntington, W.Va., Wednesday evening to compete against Marshall (16-13) in a single-game contest. The result was Ohio coming up short 3-2.
For the game, Ohio scored 2 runs on seven hits, while Marshall scored 3 runs on five hits but committed three errors compared to Ohio’s zero. Starting in the circle for the Bobcats was freshman Anna Wise, who pitched three innings and allowed 3 runs on three hits, walked three and struck out four of Marshall’s hitters.
Coming after Wise was sophomore Mikie Lieving. Lieving pitched three innings, did not allow a run on two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out one. Many others for Ohio were exceptional in this game.
Senior outfielder CiCi Keidel recorded a double and an RBI, senior infielder Lauren Yuhas had one hit and an RBI, junior outfielder Belle Hummel had one hit, drew a walk and scored a run, while senior catcher Emma Hoffner recorded one hit and drew a walk.
Both junior infielder Shelby Westler and freshman infielder Abby Kennelly added singles, and sophomore infielder Brenna Farmer tallied up another double for Ohio.
Marshall showed its elite defense in the top of the first inning by not allowing any spark after Farmer reached on a double. Marshall would then take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
The Bobcats were close to tying in the top of the second after Westler doubled and Kennelly reached on a single to put Bobcats on first and third base, but Ohio did not capitalize off this scoring opportunity.
In the bottom of the third inning, Marshall took a 2-0 lead on a home run. They then added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI single.
Ohio finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth. Hummel got to second base on a Marshall error which then set up an RBI single from Yuhas for the Bobcats’ first run of the game.
Keidel then doubled, letting Yuhas cut the deficit to 3-2. Both the top and bottom of the sixth inning were scoreless, and Ohio was looking to rally back and possibly tie.
In the top of the seventh, Hummel reached third base when Keidel reached on an error. Keidel then stole second base just moments later, putting two Bobcats in scoring position with two outs.
However, Marshall came prepared for this game with their suffocating performance on defense, resulting in a 3-2 victory at home for the Herd.
