For the final time this season, the Bobcats departed on a road trip and, despite struggles this year away from home, the team returned to Athens with a win.
Ohio (24-27) split a doubleheader with Wright State on Wednesday evening, losing the first game before coming back and returning the favor in the second with 17 hits on the day.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Bobcats had their backs against the wall from the beginning, as they allowed six runs in the first inning on their way to an 8-4 loss.
Wright State (22-30) brought 11 batters to the plate in the first inning, with only three reaching on hits. By committing three errors in the inning, the Ohio defense did not help out starting pitcher Kaylin Clarke, who allowed only three earned runs in her complete game performance.
Clarke pitched in place of Lauren McClary, who leads the Bobcats in innings pitched this season. Ohio coach Jodi Hermanek said she thought it was time for the rest of the staff to get work in.
“I’m really proud of our pitching today,” Hermanek said. “We hit well too, but just could not score in the first game and we dug ourselves in a big hole.”
Despite trailing 7-1, Ohio attempted a comeback in the top of the fourth by scoring three runs on four hits. Recording the big hit in the inning was Alexandria Basquez, who belted a two-run single to right, and Jillian Van Wagnen and Brooke Mogart scored.
But that would be all the offense the Bobcats could muster in game one as they recorded only two hits in the final three innings. Ohio had trouble hitting against Wright State ace Krystian DeWitt, who was able to pitch her way out of tricky situations despite allowing 14 base runners.
After dropping the first game, Ohio quickly bounced back and returned to its offensive form of late with a 6-2 win.
With consistent scoring in four of the seven innings, the Bobcats attacked the Raiders’ pitching all game. Leading the way for the Bobcats was first baseman Raven King, who belted her 12th home run of the year.
“We had a lot of defensive support in the second game and our hitters were making good contact,” Hermanek said. “I thought we adjusted well and were not about to lose two games.”
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