April 15, 2006

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team concluded its six-game home stand with a 3-3 record after splitting a doubleheader with Buffalo. The Bobcats won the opener 7-1 but dropped the back end 2-0.

Ohio moves to 22-24 overall and 6-6 in Mid-American Conference action following today's action. The Bobcats have now split all six of their two-game sets against MAC foes.

Ohio got on the board first in the opening contest, scoring a single run in the bottom of the third. Marian Davis (Brighton, Mich.) was hit by a pitch to open the inning and stole second base to move into scoring position. Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) followed with a double to the left-center field gap to plate Davis and give the Bobcats the early lead.

The Bobcats increased their lead with three runs in both the fifth and sixth frames. In the fifth, with one out, Davis walked and moved to second on a fielder's choice with Waters taking first. After Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) forced Davis at third with a fielder's choice, Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio) reached on an error to load the bases.

Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) followed with an RBI single to left to score Waters. Ohio put two more runs on the board with a Shannon Weidner (Pickerington, Ohio) two-run single to go up 4-0.

After Buffalo cut Ohio's lead to 4-1 with a run in the top of the sixth, the Bobcats countered with three runs in their half of the inning. With one out, Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) reached on an error and advanced to second on the throw. Davis and Waters then laid down consecutive bunt singles with Sacks scoring on Waters' effort.

With runners on second and third and two outs, Catlette singled to knock in two more runs and give Ohio the game's final score of 7-1.

Michelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) earned the win for the Bobcats, throwing a complete game three-hitter while striking out eight Buffalo batters.

Weidner, Waters and Catlette led the Ohio offense with each hitter knocking in two runs.

In the second game, Buffalo grabbed the early lead with a run in the top of the first inning. The Bobcats fell behind 2-0 after the Bulls scored another single tally in the fourth frame.

The Ohio offense put runners in scoring position in four different innings and hit a lot of balls hard but was unable to push a run across.

Sauter took the loss for the Bobcats despite pitching only the first frame. She falls to 11-9 with the loss. Candace Warden (Hagerstown, Md.) pitched six solid innings in relief, allowing only one run on three hits while striking out six.

Szalejko, Rodriguez, Waters, Emily Futscher (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Robin Miller (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) all tallied hits for the Bobcats.

The Bobcats will be back in action Tuesday when they play former MAC rival Marshall on the road in a doubleheader. The first game of the twin bill is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.