Softball team loses SWC matchup to Olmsted Falls, 6-1

It’s not as if the Avon Eagles aren’t getting hits. It’s more a matter of when they get those hits.

For the second day in a row Wednesday, Avon’s softball team struggled to hit safely in key moments. On Tuesday they managed to win anyway, taking a 1-0 decision over North Ridgeville, but on Wednesday the lack of timely hitting caught up to the Eagles as they dropped a 6-1 decision to host Olmsted Falls.

Now 6-6 overall and 5-4 in Southwestern Conference play, Avon managed five hits against Olmsted Falls hurler Ashley Scott. In each of the first two innings, the Eagles had a baserunner reach third base but left her stranded each time. Avon finally scored in the third inning but even then, the run was scored on an infield single by Averie Reichert.

“We just didn’t have timely hits,” said coach Jason Ochs. “We didn’t put the ball in play hard. We were on the bottom half of the ball or the top half of the ball, and we just weren’t driving the ball. Ashley (Scott) threw a nice game.”

Scott pitched a complete game, allowing one unearned run while striking out seven and walking one. She also had three hits and an RBI for the Bulldogs.

Avon countered with freshman pitcher Jordyn Smith, who allowed an unearned run in the first inning and then kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard until the sixth, when they exploded for five runs by putting together three hits and three walks, including a two-run double to left-center by Brooke Largent.

It was the fifth appearance for Smith, as Avon’s pitching duties are usually handled by Maria Young. Smith kept Olmsted Falls in check until the sixth inning, when she appeared to tire.

“Maybe there was a little bit of fatigue there,” Ochs said. “It was a few walks and then a timely gap shot by them. We have two pitchers that we believe in fully, and we have to give our pitchers run support. We didn’t do that tonight.”

The third inning may have been a turning point for the Eagles. With one out, Michaela Jankowski singled to center and then stole second. Jocelin Ochs hit a sharp grounder up the middle, and the shortstop got a glove on it and deflected the ball into short centerfield. Jason Ochs decided to be aggressive and sent Jankowski home, but she was easily cut down at the plate. The Eagles managed to score their run later in the inning, but there could have been more.

“It was a bad call by me trying to score a girl, trying to push the issue to score a run,” Jason Ochs said. “That’s a coach running us out of an inning.”

Scott then took control of the game, retiring 10 Avon batters in a row before allowing a leadoff single to Katie Heilmann to start the seventh inning. However, the next three batters all made outs to end the game.

“It’s very hard to win games in the Southwestern Conference,” Jason Ochs said. “You know, they practice, too, and they play hard, too. We just need to focus on our consistency. That’s all it is. We have yet to put together back-to-back games where we’ve been consistent.”

The Eagles will be in action again on Thursday when they host Berea-Midpark in another SWC matchup.