Softball Caps Florida Trip with A Pair of Wins

MELBOURNE, FL - On the final day of the Space Coast Spring Games, UNOH softball took on (RV) NCCAA Dallas Christian for the second day in a row edging out the Crusaders by one, 8-7. The ten-game trip was capped by a first-ever meeting between the Racers and NCAA DII Saint Michael's where the Racers picked up their fourth straight win, 10-3.

While the second matchup against Dallas Christian produced five-times the runs, the margin of victory was the same with UNOH finishing off a back and forth battle 8-7 in extra innings.

The Racers scored first without a hit but the Crusaders used a two-run double to take the lead 2-1 after one. An error and a triple gave UNOH three runs in the second that were followed by one for DCC to make it a 4-3 game after two. The third and the fourth went scoreless before another triple got the top of the fifth going for the Racers adding a RBI single to go up 6-3. With just two outs left to save the game, the Crusaders were able to load the bases and work out a three-run frame sending the game into an extra eighth inning. A wild pitch and a sac fly scored two in the top and Dallas Christian could only get one back in the bottom giving UNOH their second win over the Crusaders in as many days.

Sydney Shaffer and Hailee Edgell each went 2-4 driving in one run a piece as Shaffer set a new program record with five stolen bases in the game.

Destiny Warren got her first career start and pitched six and a third innings allowing six runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Karsyn McGlothen (4-4) blew a save opportunity but earned the final decision with one unearned run given up on two hits over an inning and two thirds.

UNOH fell behind 3-2 early in their matchup against St. Michael's but took advantage of six Purple Knight errors to earn a comfortable 10-3 victory. 

An error, a wild pitch and a passed ball set up the first run of the game for UNOH coming off a sacrifice fly in the home first. Another sac fly added a second for the Racers in their next at bat but St. Michael's put up all three of their runs in the top of the third to hold a 3-2 lead after three. After the Knights were retired in order to start the fourth, things began to fall apart defensively as five errors sandwiched between two singles and a double turned the game in the Racers' favor. The series of mistakes turned into six-run frame for UNOH that made it an 8-3 game through four. For good measure, the Racers plated one more in each of their remaining chances to finish off the win.

Sydney Shaffer again finished 2-4 joined by Tess Denning with both logging one RBI. Shaffer won the day finishing 4-8 at the dish with two RBI posting seven stolen bases between the two games to take over the WHAC lead this season.

UNOH finishes their trip to Florida with a 6-4 record and will now return to Ohio to prepare for their conference opener at Defiance on Saturday, March 22.