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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Ohio softball team (20-15, 10-3 MAC) returned to action on Friday afternoon (April 7), falling to Central Michigan (15-17, 5-4 MAC) in the series opener, 6-0, inside Margo Jonker Stadium.
The defeat snapped the Bobcats 10-game winning streak and nine-game MAC win streak.
Overall, Ohio did not score a run on one hit and committed three errors, while CMU scored six runs on 10 hits and did not commit an error.
Individually, freshman
Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) recorded the Bobcats' lone hit, while freshman
Belle Hummel (Cincinnati, Ohio) drew a walk and sophomore
CiCi Keidel (Hilliard, Ohio) was hit by a pitch.
In the circle, redshirt freshman
Skipp Miller (Bradford, Ohio) got the start, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing six runs, three earned, on 10 hits, while walking three and striking out five. Freshman
Keegan Moore (South Point, Ohio) pitched 0.2 innings, and did not allow a run or a hit, while striking out one.
Central Michigan threatened in the bottom of the first inning, loading the bases with two outs. However, Miller was able to get the final batter of the inning to strikeout, sending the game to the second still scoreless. After CMU stranded to runners in the bottom of the second, Ohio got its first baserunner of the game after Keidel was hit by a pitch. She then moved to second on a ground out and then moved to third on a wild pitch, followed by Hummel drawing a walk. However, despite Hummel stealing second to put runners in scoring position with two outs, Ohio was unable to capitalize, sending the game to the bottom of the third with the game still scoreless.
CMU took the lead in the bottom of the third innings, scoring two runs on one hit and two errors to take a 2-0 lead to the fourth inning. CMU added on in the bottom of the third, scoring on another Bobcats' defensive miscue, taking a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning.
The Bobcats looked to get on the board in the top of the fifth when Westler reached on a one-out single up the middle. However, the Bobcats were unable to capitalize, sending the game to the bottom of the inning, trailing 3-0. CMU added on in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs on three hits to take a 6-0 lead going into the top of the seventh.
The Bobcats looked to rally in the top of the seventh, but the Ohio offense was unable to generate any momentum, falling to CMU 6-0.
Up next, the Bobcats wrap up the three-game series with CMU on Saturday, April 8 with a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m.
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