April 25, 2008

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team returned to conference play Friday afternoon splitting a doubleheader with Northern Illinois at the Ohio Softball Field. The Bobcats won game two with a 6-0 shutout after dropping a close one to the Huskies in game one, 5-4.

The Bobcats are now 21-20 on the season and 6-10 in the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies are 12-24 overall and 6-8 in the MAC.

After striking out four batters as the starting pitcher in game one, senior Michelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) became Ohio's all-time strikeouts leader with 391 in her career. Sauter surpassed Heather Hagen, who held the record for six years with 388.

Sauter pitched the first 4.1 innings of the game, allowing five runs on five hits. Freshman Emily Wethington (New Palestine, Ind.) came in and pitched 1.2 innings and walked two batters. Sophomore Candace Saucedo (Ontario, Calif.) pitched the last inning, giving up only one hit.

Northern Illinois had two pitchers in the circle, starting with senior Taryn Hagemann. Hagemann pitched five innings and gave up five hits and four runs before freshman Joreigh Landers came in and pitched the last two innings. Landers allowed two hits and walked one.

Both teams scored in the first inning with the Huskies starting with two runs in the top and the Bobcats with one run in the bottom. Ohio senior Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) hit an RBI-double to center field to score sophomore Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.).

The Huskies scored three more runs in the fifth inning to pull ahead 5-1. The Bobcats scored three runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth but it wasn't enough for the win.

With bases loaded, McKelvey was walked at the plate, bringing Petrich home for the first run of the inning. Petrich finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs. Senior Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio) drove in Ohio's second run with an RBI-single to left field that scored freshman Melissa Bonner (Kings Mills, Ohio). With bases loaded again, freshman Jordan Paden (Walla Walla, Wash.) was walked and pinch runner Sara Clark (Ontario, Calif.) was sent home.

The `Cats scored six runs and had eight hits in game two to shut out the Huskies, who finished with three hits and three errors. Petrich and senior Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) had two runs apiece in the game. Petrich also had two hits, while Bonner finished with a game-high three.

Wethington took the pitching win for the Bobcats. She is now 10-8 on the season. Wethington allowed zero hits, zero runs and struck out five. Saucedo pitched the first 3.1 innings in her first start of the season and 10th of her career. Landers pitched a complete game in taking the loss for the Huskies. She allowed eight hits, six runs and five walks. She struck out one.

Ohio will continue to play this weekend in a two-game series with MAC opponent Western Michigan. The `Cats and Broncos will face off on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.