Feb. 8, 2009

Final Stats

LAS CRUCES, N.M.-Sophomore Emily Wethington (New Palestine, Ind.) posted a home run and picked up the win on the mound as the Ohio softball team moved to 2-3 on the season with a 10-9 victory over Cleveland State at the Hotel Encanto Invitational on the campus of New Mexico State University. The Vikings dropped to 0-4 on the season.

Wethington went 2-2 at the plate, which included a three-run blast that highlighted a six-run third inning for the Bobcats. Junior first baseman Deanna Hartsough (Santa Ana, Ca.) also had a big day at the dish with a 4-4 effort and a pair of runs scored. Freshman second baseman Brooke Morgart (Wayne, Ohio) and freshman shortstop Alexis Zambrana (Alvin, Tx.) also went 2-4.

The Vikings were led by second baseman Amanda Houchin, who went 3-for-4 on the day with a pair of home runs.

Wethington's record on the mound improved to 1-2 after she pitched the final six innings in relief of Bobcat starter Candace Saucedo (Ontario, Ca.). Wethington allowed five earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks. CSU's Brittany Bate suffered the loss in relief after tossing just one-third of an inning and yielding four runs on three hits with a walk.

The Bobcats dented the scoreboard first when center fielder Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) scored on an RBI single by Hartsough.

After the Vikings scored one in the top of the third to take a 4-1 lead, Ohio roared back in that decisive third inning. Zambrana began the scoring with an RBI double to center and then later scored on a CSU error to slice the margin to one. Senior right fielder Allie Farrington (Wilton, N.H.) then laced an RBI single to left before Wethington's big blow to center scored three more.

The Vikings cut Ohio's lead to 7-6 with a pair of fifth-inning runs, but Ohio pushed the lead out again by two more when freshman Lauren Histed (Shelby Township, Mich.) scored on Petrich's sacrifice bunt and an RBI-single to right by Morgart.

Saucedo sent Ohio's final run across with an RBI-single to left in the sixth and the Bobcats held off a furious three-run seventh inning rally by CSU to capture the victory.

The Bobcats will take on Charleston Southern Friday at 10 a.m. in Buies Creek, N.C. on the campus of Campbell University.