Softball falls to Ohio, 6-1

Pitt softball (17-12-1) traveled to Athens Wednesday to take on Ohio University (15-12) in a non conference matchup. Pitt baseball was scheduled to take on West Virginia University in the 156th Backyard Brawl in Morgantown, but the game was canceled due to rain.

In Ohio, the Bobcats shut down the Panthers’ offense, winning 6-1 in a quick matchup.

The Panthers got off to a sluggish start, as junior pitcher Taylor Rahach got tagged early for two runs in the first inning. Rahach was removed in the second inning after senior first baseman Mikayla Cooper clobbered her team-leading sixth home run to put Ohio up 4-0.

The offense couldn’t tally any runs in the first three innings as the Bobcats’ senior ace Danielle Stiene mowed down the Panthers, striking out five.

Ohio added its fifth run of the game — its first run off senior pitcher Kayla Harris — in the bottom half of the third inning as redshirt junior outfielder Michaela Dorsey drove in her second run of the game, and 20th of the season.

Pitt finally got on the board in the fourth inning after junior second baseman Alexis Solak hit her first home run of the season to cut Ohio’s lead to four.

But the Bobcats reclaimed a five-run lead soon after, as junior third baseman Alex Day slugged her sixth home run of the season, leaving her and Cooper tied for the team lead.

The Panthers were unable to answer. Ohio’s Stiene allowed just one run on one hit with 10 strikeouts and just two walks in what was her 10th win of the season and eighth complete game.

Rahach recorded her third loss of the year after pitching 1 1/3 innings, allowing four runs — three earned — on four hits, one walk and no strikeouts.

Pitt gets back into ACC play this weekend as Duke visits Pittsburgh for a three-game set beginning Friday, March 30, at 5 p.m. at Vartabedian Field.