Softball Stumped by Ohio State and Oakland

COLUMBUS, OHIO- The Merrimack softball team lost to The Ohio State University Buckeyes and the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies on the first day of the Ohio State tournament on March 7th.
 

Game 1 Score: Oakland 5, Merrimack 2

Game 2 Score: Ohio State 17, Merrimack 1
 

Game 1 Recap

McKayla Kortes and Gabby Kaduson would get the offense going in the top of the 1st with singles of their own. The sophomore catcher would steal a base soon after to move into scoring position. Emma Prahin would get things rolling for the Warriors in the 2nd inning with a double in the right field gap. Ellen Hubbard would have a clutch double in the 3rd inning, prompting Sam Russalesi to come to the plate and drive in the senior right fielder for the Warrior's first run of the game. Ellen Hubbard would come back up in the 5th and plop another double in the left field gap. She would then give the Warriors another run by stealing home in that same inning. Although the Warriors would find ways to get on base and score runs, they fell short to the Oakland Golden Grizzlies 5 to 2 on Friday.

The first inning would see a lot of action from the Warriors. Ellen Hubbard would start off with a single to center field. Thiana Brito and MaKayla Kortes would follow by reaching on fielder's choices. Caity Lemay would hit a ball all the way to the warning track that was very close to going out, but ultimately stayed in the yard. In the top of the 3rd, Ellen Hubbard would continue her offensive hot streak and poke a single into right field. Thiana Brito would then provide a single of her own. In the top of the 4th, Samantha Sosnovich would reach on an error to spark the Warriors offense. Sofia Palyan would come to the plate and hit an RBI double to get the Warriors on the board. Ellen Hubbard would try to get some more offense going in the top of the 5th with a single to left field. Thiana Brito would cause chaos on the base paths with a single and a stolen base. Despite the Warrior's late push, they were outscored by the Buckeyes on Friday night. 

Game 1 Notes and Numbers

• Ellen Hubbard was 2 for 3 with clutch doubles in the 3rd and the 5th innings. She also stole home in the 5th inning.

• Emma Prahin was 2 for 3 with two doubles.

• Sam Russalesi provided the first run of the game.

• Gabby Kaduson singled and stole a base.

• Ellen Hubbard was 3 for 3.

• Sofia Palyan had an RBI double.

• Thiana Brito was 1 for 3.

The Warriors will resume their slate of games in the Ohio State Tournament tomorrow, March 8th, when they play the University of Texas Longhorns at 10:30AM. 
For continuing coverage of Merrimack Athletics visit merrimackathletics.com . Follow Merrimack softball on Instagram and Twitter @merrimacksb .