Bobcats Use the Long Ball to Ground Falcons

Friday, April 21

Athens, OH

2:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Ohio

Sami Parave v Buffalo April 15 2017 Larry Clapper photo

Senior Sami Parave had an RBI single in game two (Larry Clapper photo)

Photo by: Larry Clapper

April 21, 2017 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Ohio captures both ends of Friday's DH

By: ATHENS, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

Madison Claytor and Morgan Geno each homered in both ends of Friday's (April 21) doubleheader, as host Ohio University swept the Bowling Green State University softball team at the Ohio Softball Field. The Bobcats held the Falcons to a single run in each game, winning by scores of 7-1 and 4-1.

With the wins, Ohio improves to 29-14 overall and 10-7 in Mid-American Conference play. The Falcons drop to 23-25 and 9-8, respectively. Through Friday's play, BGSU is third in the East Division standings, and the Falcons are sixth overall in the MAC.

Ohio's first three runs in each game came via the long ball. Geno opened the scoring in the first game with a two-run shot in the first inning, while Claytor added a solo homer in the second frame for a 3-0 Ohio lead.

In the nightcap, Claytor's two-run second-inning dinger erased a 1-0 BG lead, while Geno hit a solo shot in the third.

LINKS
GAME ONE STATISTICS: HTML | PDF
GAME TWO STATISTICS: HTML | PDF

Meanwhile, Ohio pitchers Savannah Jo Dorsey and Danielle Stiene held the Falcons to just two runs and five total hits in the two games. Dorsey, who entered the week ranked second in the entire nation in strikeouts, was not exactly sharp, walking six hitters, uncorking three wild pitches and needing 131 total pitches to get through the game. But, Dorsey allowed only three hits and struck out 14 batters in her complete-game win.

In the nightcap, Stiene walked three Falcons and hit a batter, but allowed only two hits and struck out 10.

BGSU batters struck out as many as 10 times in only three of the season's first 46 games, before whiffing a season-high 14 times in Friday's opener and 10 times in the next game.

"We struggled to make contact and get hits against Ohio's pitchers today," said BGSU head coach Sarah Willis. "But, we definitely had some chances on offense, and we didn't take advantage of those chances. We need to bounce back in the final game of the series, because every game is important as we battle for positioning in the East Division and in the MAC Tournament race."

Eight different players had a hit for Ohio in the opener, while only two Falcons hit safely. Sophomore Alex Sorgi was 2-for-4 in the game, while redshirt junior Aspen Searle had BG's other hit. But, both teams left nine runners on base in the game.

The Falcons got a pair of first-inning baserunners in the first inning, as senior Haley Schrock drew a one-out walk, and redshirt junior Chelsea Raker worked Dorsey for a base on balls with two down. With Raker at the plate, Schrock went to second on a wild pitch, and when Dorsey's ball-four pitch to Raker got away, Schrock advanced to third. But, the Ohio pitcher was able to get an inning-ending strikeout.

Ohio scored in each of the first four innings of Friday's first game. In the home half of the first inning, Alexa Holland walked with one out, and Geno followed with her first homer of the day and her ninth of the season.

After BGSU was retired in the second, Claytor's one-out homer off of BG starter Meredith Miller gave the hosts a 3-0 advantage. Then, three-straight singles gave the 'Cats a four-run lead, and sophomore Kiley Sosby entered the circle. Sosby got Geno to hit a fly ball to center for the second out. A walk to Alex Day loaded the bases, but Sosby struck out Natalie Alvarez to end the inning.

BG got on the board in the third, as freshman Taylor Blevins reached on an Ohio error, then advanced to second on another Dorsey wild pitch with two outs. Searle followed with a single to center, cutting the Bobcats' lead to 4-1. But, Ohio would answer in the bottom of the inning.

Jamie Wren doubled with one out in the bottom of the third, then scored on Claytor's two-base hit. Another hit and a walk loaded the bases with two down, but Sosby got Geno to hit a popup back to the circle.

Junior Laine Simmons and senior Sami Parave each walked in the fourth, but a strikeout ended the threat. Then, in the bottom of the inning, Day singled, Alvarez was hit by a pitch and MacKenzie Brunswick's double scored both runners.

Brunswick's hit was Ohio's last of the game. Sosby walked the next batter, but then retired the next two hitters, with Brunswick caught stealing between those two outs. She set down the side in order in the fifth, and worked around a two-out walk in the sixth.

But, despite getting four baserunners over the final three innings, the Falcons could not cut into the deficit. Sorgi led off the fifth with a base hit and promptly recorded her team-leading 15th stolen base of the year. She took third on a one-out passed ball, but after Searle walked to put runners at the corners, Dorsey struck out the next two hitters.

In the seventh, Sorgi picked up her second hit with a one-out infield single, and sophomore Hannah Giammarino drew a pinch-hit walk. Giammarino, who started the first 39 games of the season, then missed seven-straight games due to injury before making a pinch-hit appearance in each end of Friday's twinbill. But, with runners at first and second, Dorsey again posted back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

Both Miller and Sosby allowed five hits in the game. Sosby, in her longest outing since Feb. 18, allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings of relief work.

In the second game, sophomore Brooke Parker worked around a pair of first-inning walks, striking out the side before her team took the lead in the second inning.

Raker led off the inning with a walk, and pinch-runner Briana Combs promptly went to second on a passed ball. Simmons' sacrifice bunt moved the senior to third base, and junior Katee HInkle was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners.

Hinkle then stole second base, but Stiene got a strikeout for the second out of the inning. But, Parave came through with a single to center the plated Combs.

But, Ohio responded in the bottom of the inning. After a single and a fielder's choice, Claytor homered to give the 'Cats a 2-1 advantage. Geno's solo shot gave Ohio a two-run lead with one down in the third.

The next batter, Day, doubled to left-center and continued to third after a BG error, but Parker got Alvarez to ground out to Schrock at third, with Day forced to hold, then induced Wren to hit an inning-ending fly ball to right.

BG was retired in order in the fourth inning, and Stiene set down the first two Falcons in the fifth. But, Sorgi walked, ans Schrock singled to left. The runners moved up on another passed ball, but a foul pop to the catcher ended the threat.

And, in the sixth, the 'Cats added to the lead. A leadoff single, a fielder's choice, a walk and an infield roller loaded the bases with one out. Parker got Alvarez to hit a grounder to Schrock, who threw home to force Holland. But, everyone was safe on Wren's ground ball toward short, with a run scoring.

Parker worked out of another jam in the sixth. An error and a single put runners at the corner with one down, but the BG soph got pinch-hitter Casie Hutchinson to hit a grounder back to the circle. Mikayla Cooper took second, but Taylor Saxton was forced to hold at third as Parker threw Hutchinson out. Then, Parker struck out Geno to end the inning.

But, Stiene worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to close out the win.

Parker allowed four runs (three earned) and seven hits in her complete-game effort. She walked three batters and struck out four, throwing 63 strikes among her 93 total pitches.

Due to rain in the Saturday forecast, the Falcons and Bobcats have moved the final game of the series to Sunday (April 23). That contest is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. start at the Ohio Softball Field.