Ohio Softball Falls to Western Kentucky on Final Day of Hilltopper Spring Fling

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BOWLING GREEN, K.y. – The Ohio softball team (3-6) wrapped up play at the Hilltopper Spring Fling on Sunday (Feb. 27), falling to host Western Kentucky (12-1), 5-4. 
 
Individually, Ohio scored four runs on eight hits and did not commit an error, while Western Kentucky scored five runs on seven hits and committed one error. 
 
Fifth year Brooke Rice (Mason, Ohio) went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while graduate student Megan McMenemy (Westerville, Ohio) also went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Sophomore Annalia Paoli (Point Marion, Pa.) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while fifth year Allie Englant (Long Beach, Calif.) added a hit and a run scored. Freshman Lauren Yuhas (West Mifflin, Pa.) registered a double. 
 
The Bobcats got the first hit of the game in the top of the first inning when McMenemy reached on a two-out single to right center. However, the Bobcats were unable to capitalize, sending the game to the bottom of the frame scoreless. However, WKU struck in the bottom of the inning, taking a 3-0 lead thanks to a two-out two-run homerun. 
 
The Bobcats led the top of the second off with a single Rice, however, Ohio was unable to push a run across. 
 
After WMU took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second, Ohio struck in the top of the third. With one out, Englant singled and moved to second on another hit from McMenemy. Englant then scored on an RBI single from Paoli, before Rice doubled, scoring McMenemy and Paoli, cutting the WKU lead to 4-3 going into the bottom of the frame. 
 
After a scoreless fourth inning, Western Kentucky added a run in the bottom of the fifth off a two-out solo homerun, increasing WKU’s lead to 5-3 after five full frames. 
 
The Bobcats got the run back in the top of the sixth inning. After Paoli led the inning off with a single to right, Emily Walker (Plain City, Ohio) entered the game as a pinch runner. After Walker stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, she later scored on a sacrifice fly from senior Caitlin Fogue (Columbia, Mo.) to cut the WKU lead to 5-4 going to the bottom of the sixth. 
 
After a scoreless bottom of the sixth inning from Western Kentucky, Ohio went to the top of the seventh with the hope of a rally. With one out, Yuhas doubled, however was thrown out in a rundown. After the out, the Bobcats were unable to get another runner on, falling by the final of 5-4. 
 
In the circle, senior Mackensie Kohl (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) pitched six innings, allowing five runs on five hits, walked two and did not record a strikeout. 
 
Up next, the Bobcats head to Athens, Ga. For the Bulldog Classic March 4-6. The three-day event is hosted by Georgia, with the Bobcats facing off with Appalachian State, Georgia and UMass. 
 
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