April 6, 2007

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team lost two games to Bowling Green in Friday's doubleheader at the Ohio Softball Field. The Bobcats lost game one, 12-5, and game two, 5-3.

Ohio drops 14-19, 3-3 MAC going into tomorrow's game against Toledo, while Bowling Green advances 19-6, 4-2 MAC on the season.

Junior Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) was the spark for the Bobcat offense. Waters batted .800 in the two games and was 4-for-5 on the day (2-for-2 in game one and 2-for-3 in game two). She accounted for two of the Bobcats' eight runs and her three RBI was a team-high. Waters had Ohio's only triple and added a steal to her day totals.

"Courtney had a career day," said Head Coach Jill Matyuch. "She was phenomenal. She was impressive offensively and she made a diving catch defensively. I'm really proud of her effort."

Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) was 4-for-7 (.571) on the day and Kristen Salvatore (Kirtland, Ohio) was 2-for-4 (.500). Szalejko had a double while Salvatore totaled two runs.

Overall, the Bobcats hit .333 on the day, totaling eight runs and 20 hits.

"We had enough hits to win," said Matyuch. "We played well enough offensively to win, but defensively we didn't do our job."

Ohio will face Toledo tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Ohio Softball Field. The Bobcats round out the weekend against Toledo on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Saturday is the Dugout Cookout, with a $5 admission including a meal (chicken, hot dog, or sausage and Pepsi). Saturday is also Ohio Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day, with all Ohio University faculty and staff and their families, earning free admission with a valid ID.

Sunday is Fan Appreciation Day. Admission to the game is free for all fans.

Game One
Ohio was first to be on the scoreboard in game one with four runs in the bottom of the second inning. Waters tripled with bases loaded, batting in Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio), Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) and Marian Davis (Brighton, Mich.).

Bowling Green scored three runs in the top of the third inning but the Bobcats countered with a run in the fourth for a 5-3 lead. Waters led the inning off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice. Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) then batted Waters in with a single.

Bowling Green cut Ohio's lead to one, 4-3, with a run in top of the fifth inning before scoring seven runs in the sixth inning to take a commanding 11-5 lead. The Falcons closed out the game with a run in top of the seventh for the victory.

Candace Saucedo (Ontario, Calif.) took the loss for the `Cats, allowing three earned runs and two hits in relief. MIchelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) also saw time in the circle as the starting pitcher. Sauter allowed eight runs and seven hits in 5.1 innings of work while striking out five batters. Natalie Armstrong (Murrysville, Pa.) pitched 1.2 innings,allowing one run, four hits while striking out two.

Game Two
Ohio scored the first two runs of the second game in the first inning. Petrich and Salvatore each scored on RBI singles from Saucedo and Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.), respectively.

The Falcons countered with a run in the second inning and two in the top of the fourth for a 3-2 lead. Ohio tied the scored, 3-3, with a run in the fifth inning. Salvatore scored her second run of the game on a RBI single by Davis. Two runs in the top of the sixth inning sealed the win for Bowling Green as both teams were scoreless in the seventh.

Zoe Heim (Ann Arbor, Mich.) took the loss for the 'Cats after allowing an earned run and two walks. Armstrong started the game and pitched four innings, allowing three runs and three hits. She also struck out four batters. Katlyn Mallette (Taunton, Mass.) pitched one inning, allowing one run while MIchelle Sauter pitched one inning with one strikeout.