Softball Rallies to Split Historic Twinbill with No. 2 Madonna

LIMA, OH - UNOH softball had a tough hill to climb Saturday afternoon that was made more difficult by a 9-0 loss to No. 2 Madonna in the first of two games at Racer Softball Field. Unphased by the run-rule loss, the Racers rallied in the nightcap to pick up the program's highest ranked victory ever, 3-2, handing the Crusaders their first loss in conference play since April 27, 2023. In the last four meetings UNOH is 3-1 against Madonna, who was ranked in the top ten all four times, and are 4-3 against all top ten teams in their last seven matchups. The win also clinches a post season berth for the Racers and guarentees the program a spot in the WHAC Tournament for the eleventh time in twelve seasons (there was no post season in 2020 due to COVID-19).

Game one started badly for the Racers who gave up eight total runs in the first two innings. They could never recover from the early deficit managing just two total hits, registered by Tayler Braun and Olive Staal, as Madonna finished off the game in five innings. 

Lanie Wooten (11-12) took the loss after just an inning and a third that saw eight runs score on six hits while walking an additional five batters. Chloe Scott took over in the second and finished out the game with one run on two this with three strike outs and two walks.

Senior slinger Karsyn McGlothen (7-3) kept the powerful offense in check in game two helping her team overcome three errors that cost two unearned runs to earn the win. She struck out three and walked two while scattering six hits over seven innings.

The Racers struck first after a double and a single set up a sacrifice fly from Cecilia Campbell in their first at bat of the game. The Crusaders threatened in the top of the second but were denied the opportunity to get on the board. Neither team could get the offense going again until the fifth when Madonna tied the game with a sacrifice fly of their own. UNOH answered with their best inning of the day stringing together four hits and a stolen base at home that plated their final two runs. Tayler Braun was responsible for both runs bringing in the first with a RBI single through the left side before working herself around to score the eventual game winning run. The Crusaders turned a couple base knocks into a second unearned run in the sixth but were retired in order in their final at bat to cap an impressive win for the Racers.

Breanna Cobb finished 2-3 in the game with a run scored and the team's only extra base hit of the day. Morgan Piotrovsky also went 2-3 in game two and was joined by Tayler Braun, Hailee Edgell and Mackenzie Brandt who all recorded a hit.

With just four games left in the regular season, UNOH sits fourth in the WHAC standings and will try to improve their position against the team in sixth with the final two home contests of the season on Sunday, April 12, against UM-Dearborn.