Softball team finishes Triangle Classic 3-2

The Ohio softball team began its season with a bang, picking up a second place finish in the Silver Bracket of the Triangle Classic.

After losing its first game 6-0 to Virginia, the Bobcats (3-2) won three in a row to put them into the final game.

Ohio recorded just one hit against Virginia and committed three errors. Pitcher Heather Hagen picked up the loss with one earned run in four innings of pitching.

“We just didn’t get the job done against Virginia,” assistant coach Andrea Costa said. “They just hit the right pitches and capitalized on all our errors.”

Ohio recovered from the shutout against Virginia by defeating the University of North Carolina-Greensboro 8-4 Friday.

Hagen and catcher Kim Stinson began the Bobcats’ scoring in the second inning with one home run each. Ohio scored one more run in the third inning, two runs in the fourth inning and three in the sixth inning.

Pitcher Kristie Howe earned the victory for the Bobcats, pitching 4 2/3 innings. Pitcher Val Wood picked up her first save of the season, pitching the rest of the game.

Ohio recorded 10 hits for the game.

Hagen picked up her first win of the season against Liberty Saturday. Hagen pitched five innings and struck out six batters.

The Bobcats scored three runs in the second inning and one in the third to give them a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Flames attempted a comeback in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, but Wood stopped Liberty’s scoring at three runs to pick up her second save of the season.

Third baseman Kelli Bankert led Ohio with three hits. Hagen and catcher Georgia Villard each had a two hits and an RBI. The Bobcats had 11 hits.

With the win against Liberty, Ohio advanced into the semifinals against George Mason Sunday. The Bobcats picked up the 8-1 win against the Patriots to advance to the finals of the Silver Bracket.

“We really started swinging the bats and not letting any pitches go by against George Mason,” Costa said. “We took advantage of their pitchers mistakes.”

In the final game, the Bobcats were shutout for the second time for the weekend against the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. The Spartans collected two runs in the first inning and one run in the second, third and fourth innings to give them the 5-0 victory.

Spartans pitcher Amber Watson pitched six innings, giving up just one hit and striking out three Bobcats.

“We were a little disappointed in the end,” Costa said. “We ended the tournament with six errors in the 5-0 loss. We were expecting to come out 4-1, but three wins is good.”

Hagen was named to the All-Tournament Team after her performance.

Ohio is back in action March 1 in the Plant City Strawberry Fest Tournament in Plant City, Fla.

 

—Jenny Hugenberg