April 18, 2007

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) hit a home run in each game of Wednesday's doubleheader as Ohio lost both decisions to Marshall, 7-2 in game one and 11-3 in game two.

With the losses Ohio falls to 18-22 on the season while Marshall improves to 24-22.

Rodriguez led the Bobcat offense going 3-for-6, which extends her hitting streak to a season-high nine games. She also had four RBI.

"Kelly has tremendous pop and she's just hitting the ball really well right now," said Head Coach Jill Matyuch. "I hope she keeps it up."

Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) and Allie Farrington (Wilton, NH) also contributed offensively. Szalejko extended her hitting streak to three games after going 3-for-6 while Farrington was 2-for-2, including a home run in game two.

Game one started with both teams scoring a run in the first inning. Szalejko led off with a single to left field and later scored on a RBI single from Rodriguez.

The Thundering Herd scored another run in the top of the second inning for a 2-1 lead that they kept until the fifth inning, where they scored four runs to extend the lead to 6-2.

The Bobcats scored again in the seventh inning with a home run by Rodriguez.

Michelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) took the loss for the `Cats after pitching 4.1 innings. She struck out two batters and allowed six run and 11 hits. Zoe Heim (Ann Arbor, Mich.) pitched the last 2.2 innings of the game, allowing four hits and one run. She also struck out four batters.

Ohio didn't score a run until the fourth inning in game two while Marshall posted six runs throughout the first three innings.

Rodriguez hit a two-run home run to put the `Cats on the scoreboard, scoring herself and Candace Saucedo (Ontario, Calif.). Farrington homered in the bottom of the sixth for the `Cats final run of the game.

Natalie Armstrong (Murrysville, Pa.) took the loss, allowing six runs and six hits in two innings of work. Saucedo pitched four innings, allowing three hits and five runs. She also walked four batters.

"We didn't have an answer for their offense today," said Matyuch. "There was just no answer."

The Bobcats will be on the road this weekend, facing Akron on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.