YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio-The Ohio softball team saw its five game winning streak snapped on Friday as it fell to Youngstown State 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader at McCune Field. The Bobcats returned to their winning ways in game two, rallying from a 6-0 deficit to win 9-6. Senior Sarah Melvin (Loveland) was 4-for-7 on the day with an RBI.

“We played excellent defense and had some timely hitting to get back into game two,” head coach Roanna Brazier said. “In game one, we had our opportunities, but we didn’t take advantage of them.”

Youngstown State (28-16) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning as Lacey Reichert doubled to right center and Amanda Berry homered to give the Penguins a 2-0 advantage. Youngstown kept up the pressure on sophomore starter Candy Warden (Fredrick, Md.) and added two more runs when Smith doubled to left center, scoring Char Kudlock and Kiisha Warfield.

Ohio (18-24) got on the board in top of the second when freshman Nikki Brooks (Chillicothe) reached on an error by the shortstop, scoring sophomore Robin Miller (Chagrin Falls) from second.

The Bobcats made it a 4-2 game in the top of the fifth when Melvin singled to right field, scoring freshman Marian Davis (Brighton, Mich.). Ohio had a chance to cut the deficit even further, as Melvin and senior Kiersten Scrima (Olympia, Wash) stood on second and third with one out, but junior Jennifer Tisevich (Canton) and Miller both grounded out to third base to end the threat.

A double by Scrima and a single by Melvin brought new life to Ohio in the top of the seventh as they had runners on first and third with one out. Penguin’s pitcher Kelly Murphy kept the Bobcats from getting any closer, as she struck out Tisevich and got Miller to ground out to third to end the game.

Youngstown jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first three innings of game two, scoring runs in each inning. The Penguins went ahead 1-0 in the first as Reichart hit a solo home run.

Youngstown added two in the second, using singles from Megan Bricker and Jenn Hartman to score both runs. The Penguin lead grew in the third, as they scored three runs in the frame. Reichart scored the first run of the inning on an error by Tisevich. Tiffany Patterson and Hartman added the last two runs of the inning on back-to-back singles.

Ohio stormed back, scoring runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The Bobcats got four in the fourth, as back-to-back errors by the center fielder and shortstop brought home Davis, Miller and sophomore Shannon Weidner (Canal Winchester). Freshman Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) scored the final run of the inning, coming home on a double by Scrima.

The fifth inning saw the Bobcats add three runs and take the lead as Miller hit a three-run home run with one out.

Ohio added insurance runs in the sixth, as Tisevich singled home Scrima and senior Erin Chapman (Beavercreek) grounded out to the first base to plate Melvin.


Warden got the start and went two-thirds of an inning, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks. Freshman Katlyn Mallette (Taunton, Mass.) pitched the next 4.1 innings, keeping Youngstown State off the board while surrendering three hits. She struck out one. Junior Kerri Harley (Hickory Hills, Ill.) pitched the final inning, keeping the Penguins off the board while allowing one hit.

Harley took the circle to start game two and went 2.1 innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits. She struck out one batter. Mallette went the final 4.2 innings, allowing no runs on four hits and two walks. She fanned three batters in the contest.

“Katlyn came through with a quality performance today,” Brazier said. “She had a solid outing in game two today and pitched well in game one.”

Ohio returns to conference play tomorrow when they take on Akron in a three-game series. The Bobcats and Zips get underway with a Saturday doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m. deficit