Eagles Split Double Dip with Bobcats in Athens

ATHENS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University softball team split a doubleheader with Ohio University Friday, May 3, in Athens, Ohio. The Eagles (16-32-1; 6-13 MAC) dropped the first game, 6-5, in eight innings, before topping the Bobcats (25-26; 8-12 MAC), 6-1, in the second game of the double dip.

Game One

Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) made the start for the Green and White, tossing 5.1 innings. Ignowski surrendered two runs on seven hits while striking out a season-best 10 batters before giving way to Lindsay Rich (Perrysburg, Ohio-Perrysburg). Rich (5-6) was touched for four runs, three earned, on five hits in two innings of work while being saddled with the loss. Lauren McClary started for Ohio and threw the first four innings. McClary allowed one run on four hits, while striking out five. Savannah Jo Dorsey (13-9) tossed the final four innings and surrendered four runs on seven hits.

Katy Blaharski (Carleton, Mich.-Airport) extended her hitting streak to 16 games with a 2-for-5 performance in the loss. Courtney Nicholson (Navarre, Ohio-Canton Central Catholic) and Courtney Loe (Temperance, Mich.-Bedford (West Liberty)) each had 2-for-4 games. Jenn Lucas (Pinckney, Mich.-Pinckney) launched her third home run of the year with a pair of RBI, while Amanda Herron (Columbus, Ohio-St. Francis De Sales) also hit her third round-tripper of 2013, with two RBI. Lauren Wells (Lowell, Mich.-Lowell) went 2-for-3 with an RBI for EMU.

In the top of the second, Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles) led the inning off with a single to left field but was put out at second when Herron hit into a fielder's choice. Lucas later walked to put Herron at second. Wells then ripped a single to center field, scoring Herron and giving EMU a 1-0 lead.

The Eagles added a pair of runs in the sixth to take a 3-0 advantage. Loe hit a one-out single and was run for by Myranda Barnes (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Belleville). In the next at-bat, Lucas roped a homer over the left field fence for a two-run shot, putting Eastern up, 3-0.

Ohio was able to get the offense going in the bottom half of the sixth. Alexandra Basquez led off the inning with a single and later moved up to third on a double from Caitlin Colvin. With runners at second and third EMU made a pitching change, lifting Ignowski for Rich. Rich got the first batter she faced out on a grounder but hit the next batter she faced to load the bases. After getting the second out with another grounder, Kaylin Clarke stepped to the plate in a pinch hit role. Clarke knocked a double to right center field to clear the bases and tie up the game at three runs apiece. Lauren Gellerman singled to left in the next at-bat to put Ohio on top for the first time in the game, 4-3.

With their backs against the wall in the top of the seventh, the Eagles responded. Nicholson led the inning off with a single to left before getting moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. Coquillard struck out to set the stage for Herron. With two outs, the Columbus, Ohio native ripped a ball to left field clearing the fence and putting EMU back up by a run, 5-4, it was her third home run of the season.

Raven King hit a one-out triple in the seventh to setup Amanda Dalton's infield single to tie up the game at five runs apiece, forcing the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, Tessa Bailey led off the inning with a double, marking the end of the day for Rich and a re-entry from Ignowski. A passed ball moved Bailey to third before Erin Lashley flew out the left field bringing Gellerman back to the plate. The Bobcats' No. 3 hitter singled to center field to give Ohio the win, 6-5.

Game Two

The Eagles came back in the second game to win, 6-1. Wells (2-18) was the pitcher for EMU tossing seven strong innings, allowing one run on seven hits, with nine punchouts. McClary (2-3) made her second start of the day, throwing just 1.1 innings and allowing three runs on two hits, and was saddled with the loss. Kaylin Clarke tossed the next 2.2 innings and surrendered two runs on four hits, while Dorsey finished out the game and let up one run on two hits.

Blaharski lost her hit streak in the final game of the doubleheader, ending at 16 games. Herron went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Lucas went 2-for-4 with her second homer of the day. Lucas completed the game with four RBI. Loe was had the other RBI for the Eagles while scoring a pair of runs.

The Eagles opened up the scoring again in the nightcap of the doubleheader. Amanda Stanton (Homer Glen, Ill.-Lockport Township) led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Loe came to the plate with one out to draw a walk, bringing Lucas up to the dish. Lucas slapped her second homer of the day over the left field fence to put EMU on top, 3-0.

Herron added a run in the third when she hit her second long ball of the day. It was a solo shot with one out to put Eastern on top, 4-0.

The Eagles then extended their lead to five in the fifth inning when Herron singled to leadoff the inning before Barnes lifted Herron as a pinch runner. A pair of walks moved Barnes to third and she scored when Loe hit a fly ball to center field which was deep enough to score Barnes on the sacrifice.

The Bobcats finally got on the board when Gellerman hit a round-tripper to dead center field and brought OU within four, 5-1.

The Eagles re-gained the five run lead in the seventh when Loe hit a two-out double and was singled in by Lucas in the next at-bat putting the Green and White up, 6-1, where the score remained through the end of the contest.

EMU concludes the 2013 regular season this weekend, May 4-5, when they head to Akron, Ohio for a two-game set with the University of Akron Zips. Game time Saturday, May 4, is set for 2 p.m., while the finale on Sunday, May 5, is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

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Team Stats

Katy Blaharski

Courtney Nicholson

Courtney Loe

Lauren Wells

Eastern Michigan Athletics