Falcons' bats explode, eliminate Bobcats

by Joe Arnold
Staff Writer

Having dropped a heartbreaking 5-4 loss in its opening game of the Mid-American Conference Tournament to Kent State on Thursday, the Ohio softball team sought redemption and a second chance against Bowling Green on Friday. The result was a disappointing, 10-inning loss and an early trip home.

Bowling Green, a two seed, handed Ohio (32-23) the 6-1 defeat, its second of the double-elimination tournament. The fourth-seeded Bobcats managed just one run off eight hits, while the Falcons (35-19) scored six runs on 11 hits.

Inability to hit with runners in scoring position doomed the Bobcats, Ohio pitcher Val Wood said.

"They didn't outplay us, but they did out-hit us," she said. "We couldn't string together our hits. We weren't able to score with runners in scoring position. For them, their hitting was contagious."

For the Bobcats, however, the hits seemed to find the Falcon infielders, Ohio coach Roanna Brazier said.

"We played an outstanding game," she said. "We were hitting the ball hard, but we were hitting the ball right at them. We didn't capitalize when we had runners in scoring position and the few mistakes that we did make, did us in. They got the hits when they needed to, and we didn't."

Bowling Green drew first blood in the game, plating a run in the top half of the seventh inning. The Falcons second baseman Angie Domschot began the inning by reaching on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, shortstop Libby Voshell doubled to left center scoring Domschot from first.

The lead would not last long, however, as Ohio pinch runner Randi Rico scored when Sarah Melvin lined a pitch into centerfield. A throwing error by the Falcons' outfielder Jenny Domschot allowed Rico to score and left Melvin on third with one out. Ohio's chance to win the game fell short, as centerfielder Sara Kraus and third baseman Kelli Bankert grounded out to end the inning.

The game remained tied at one until the Bowling Green half of the 10th inning, when the Falcons exploded for five runs off five hits and three Ohio errors. The Falcons scored the five runs before the Bobcats could manage a single out. Angie Domschot and outfielder Kandice Machain led the way for Bowling Green, each collecting two RBI in the big inning. Falcons third baseman Lynsey Ebel also collected an RBI.

Bowling Green's bats were finally able to catch up to Wood's pitches, Ohio pitcher Kasey Dowd said.

"We weren't outplayed," she said. "I think we just made a few mental and physical mistakes, and they were able to time Val up because they'd seen her a few times already. She threw a great game though."

The Bobcats could manage just one base runner in its half of the 10th, when second baseman Tiffany Bolton drew a two-out walk. The next batter, right fielder Erin Chapman, popped out to end the game.

Wood (16-5) was roughed up for six runs on 10 hits, four of them earned, in nine innings of work. Bowling Green's Jody Johnson picked up the win for the Falcons, pitching six innings and giving up only one run on three hits.

Despite the loss, the Bobcats showed resiliency to the end, Dowd said.

"It was characteristic of our team, though," she said. "We fought back tough to tie it at one in the seventh, but we just came up short at the end.

"This was the most exciting season of my four years here. We started off really well then hit a little lull during the middle of the season, but we finished really strong. It was a great year."

Having gotten a taste of tournament play this season, the Bobcats will be looking for a return visit next season, Brazier said.

"We ended the year on an upswing, and we didn't peak too early," she said. "We worked hard all year to get to where we finished. And next year we're definitely looking to win more than 32 games."