Softball Closes Weekend with Loss to Ohio

Sunday, February 19

Athens, Ohio

11:00 AM

Rutgers University

0-4

Ohio

8-1

Rutgers

Ohio

Feb 19 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 19, 2017

Final Stats

ATHENS, OHIO - Despite the first collegiate home run for freshman Nicole Bowman, the Rutgers softball team fell to Ohio, 9-3, on Sunday morning at the Ohio Softball Field.

Although the Scarlet Knights (0-4) and Bobcats (8-1) remained tied, 3-3, through three innings, Ohio used a four-run rally in the fourth en route to the victory.

Bowman led RU with a home run and three RBIs in the contest. Senior Carly Todd added her third double of the season in the loss.

Ohio was paced by Alex Day and Mikayla Cooper with two hits each. Day also contributed a team-high three RBIs for the Bobcats.

Sophomore Whitney Jones (0-2) suffered the loss for RU, while Ohio's Desirae Villanueva claimed the win.

On a full count with two outs in the top of the first, Bowman found the prime opportunity to hit the first homer of her career, bringing in two runs for a 2-0 RU lead.

Ohio responded in the bottom half of the frame with two runs of its own on a hit and an error. The Scarlet Knights would catch a runner stealing to end the inning with the score knotted at 2-2.

Following a scoreless second for either side, two Ohio errors would help Rutgers load the bases to start the third. A sacrifice fly for Bowman would return the lead to RU by sending junior Meaghan Wells home for a 3-2 edge.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Bobcats used a four-run rally to take the lead, 7-3. After an RBI single for Ohio's Day tied the score, an RU miscue would allow another Bobcat run to cross. Despite senior Shayla Sweeney entering in relief, a two-RBI single for Morgan Geno would add two more runs to the Ohio lead, 7-3.

Although Todd would add a double in the top of fifth, the Scarlet Knights were unable to add a run. The Bobcats in turn responded with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the stanza. Sweeney regained composure with a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth, striking out the final batter.

However, the Scarlet Knight offense was unable to counter the late Bobcat rally.

UP NEXT
Rutgers travels to Fort Myers, Florida, for the FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational from Feb. 24-26. The Scarlet Knights will face host FGCU, Florida International, Hofstra, and Wisconsin.

KNIGHT NOTES
-Nicole Bowman and Carly Todd extended their hitting streaks to four straight games to open the season.
-Bowman registered her second multi-RBI game of the season, recording three RBIs against the Bobcats.
-Todd added her third double of the season, marking her second consecutive game with an extra base hit.

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