PORTSMOUTH – Softball split its doubleheader with the University of the Cumberlands on Monday afternoon. After the Patriots (13-26, 10-16 MSC) took the first game in extra innings with a 5-2 win in the ninth, the Bears (24-17, 16-14 MSC) bounced back with a 9-1 run-rule shortened victory in six innings to earn the daily split.
Neither side was able to score until the fourth inning of the opening game when Abbey Barrett (SR/Franklin Furnace, Ohio) led off the bottom half of that inning with a double. She would score one batter later when Hannah Dittoe (SO/Pickerington, Ohio) singled home the first run of the game. However, the Patriots would answer back with a run of their own in the sixth with a leadoff single that moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. That tying run scored on a one-out single.
Cumberlands took its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh. The Patriots got their leadoff runner on base with a hit by pitch and moved her into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. That run then scored on a two-out single. This time it was the Bears turn to answer back. Heidi Hall (FR/Greenwich, Ohio) worked a free pass to start the bottom half of the seventh. The Bears ended up with runners on second and third after Kelsey Jenkins (JR/Wheelersburg, Ohio) laid down a bunt that was misplayed. Kirsti Yates (SR/Chillicothe, Ohio) then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, knotting the game at 2-2 and forcing extra innings.
Each team recorded a pair of singles in the first extra frame but neither side could do anything with the runners on base. The Patriots would start the ninth inning with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt moved those runners into scoring position with one out. Shawnee State issued an intentional pass to load the bases and got the next batter to strike out. However, back-to-back two out singles from UC would score three runs and prove to be the difference as Shawnee State went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.
After a tough first loss to open the day, Shawnee State wasted little time offensively in the second game as Yates led off the Bears' half of the first with a home run. Holly Brabson (SR/Piketon, Ohio) then worked a walk, while Barrett reached on an error. Dittoe then singled home two runs, while Tara Duncan (FR/Lancaster, Ohio) drove in the Bears' fourth and final run of the inning, prompting UC to go to the bullpen with nobody retired in the first. However, the Patriots would escape without further damage.
The Patriots only run of the game came in unearned fashion as a leadoff hit by pitch to start the fifth inning moved all the way to third on a bunt that was misplayed before another sacrifice bunt scored that runner.
To cap off the game, the Bears scored five times in the final two innings to force a run-ruled shortened game. Barrett led off the fourth inning with a single and scored on Dittoe's ninth home run of the year. Jenkins started the sixth inning with a walk, while a walk to Yates but two on. Holly Brabson singled home one run, while another scored as the ball got away in the outfield. Dittoe then scored Brabson to put the run-rule in effect with a sacrifice fly later in the inning.
Tara Prater (SR/Hilliard, Ohio) picked up the win with six innings of work as she allowed just two hits and the one unearned run. She evened her record at 3-3 overall with the victory in the circle.
Softball will be back at home tomorrow with another MSC doubleheader as Georgetown comes to Portsmouth. That doubleheader will start at 2 p.m. at Boone Coleman Field.
