Racer Bats Overwhelm Cleary in Two-Game Sweep

LIMA, OH – UNOH (17-12, 6-2) picked up two more wins Tuesday, April 4, thanks to a powerful offensive performance against Cleary (6-23, 0-8). The Racers blanked the Cougars in a 9-0 run-rule in game one before hanging their highest run total of the season in a 16-9 win in game two.

Game 1: UNOH 9 Cleary 0 (5 Innings)

The Cougars led off the game with a single, but it would be their only hit of the game. The Racers did all their damage in the first two innings with four in first and five in the second. The first two batters for UNOH walked and Anna Ankney brought in the first with a single to left. Dani Keighley scored the second off a sac fly and Zoe Johnson finished off the inning with a two-run shot. Three straight singles opened the home second and the Racers plated their fifth run of the game. Tess Denning followed with a three-run bomb and Zoe Johnson went up the gut for the third triple of her career putting UNOH up 9-0. The Racers could only get one more hit the rest of the game but the damage was done and game finished in five.

Zoe Johnson was 2-2 with a season high three RBI and Tess Denning also finished with three RBI off her home run.

Carlie Hanes (10-5) earned her fourth complete game shut out and second one-hitter of the season. Hanes walked two while striking out four over her five innings of work.

Game 2: UNOH 16 Cleary 9

Cleary got on the board first in game two with a lead-off double and a single to go up 1-0. UNOH used a couple errors and an RBI single to take the lead 2-1 after one. The Racers took control in the bottom of the second plating seven more runs. An error, a walk and a sac bunt got the scoring started before Chloe Goulter and Sidney Unger linked back-to-back singles that brought in two more. Anna Ankney doubled for another and Dani Keighley hit a RBI ground out that scored one. Zoe Johnson rounded out the scoring with her second home run of the day giving her homers in back-to-back games for the first time in her career.

The Cougars trailed 9-0 entering the third but wouldn't go away quietly. Cleary pieced together a five-hit inning and cut the lead to 9-4. The Racers' offense continued to muscle through the Cougar defense getting two runs back in the home second. After lead-off walk, Chloe Goulter laced her first career triple and Tess Denning brought her home with single to left. Cleary kept trying to fight back bagging two in the fourth and one in the fifth making it a three-run game, 11-8. Tess Denning deflated those hopes with a three-run bomb over the left field fence putting the Racers up 14-8. After Cleary got one back in the sixth, it was Tess Denning again this time finding the left center gap bringing in two more. The Cougars couldn't threaten in the seventh giving UNOH their sixth straight victory.

Tess Denning went 3-4 and finished off a nine-RBI day with six in game two, the most of her career. Chloe Goulter was a perfect 4-4 while scoring five times, both career bests. Anna Ankney was 3-5 with two RBI extending her hit streak to seven and 18 of the last 19 games. Ankney also added on to her league lead with two more doubles giving her 13 this season.

Jaylyn Mullenax eighth start of the season going three innings while giving up six runs, five earned, off ten hits with no walks and no strikeouts. Karsyn McGlothen (3-3) earned the win with two and two-thirds of relief work. McGlothen gave up three runs, two earned, off five hits with one walk and Carlie Hanes finished off the final inning and a third without giving up a hit.

The Racers play games five and six of a ten-game home stand on Saturday, April 8, against Lourdes. First pitch slated for 1:00 PM.