Bobcats Shut Out Wright State in Doubleheader

April 25, 2007

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team (20-24) rode two solid pitching performances and a balanced offense to a doubleheader sweep of visiting Wright State (17-27) on Wednesday. Scores went 8-0 and 1-0.

"These two wins feel good," said Head Coach Jill Matyuch. "Confidence can be so fleeting sometimes, so at least we'll feel good for a couple days and hopefully keep the ball rolling."

Game one starter MIchelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) and game two starter Candace Saucedo (Ontario, Calif.) threw complete games, combining to surrender zero runs over 13 innings.

Offensively, Ohio was led by Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio), who went 4-for-7 with two runs. By recording three hits in game one and one hit in game two, Szalejko extended her hitting streak to a team-high seven games.

Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) and Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) also had big days for Ohio, both going 3-for-6 with two RBI. Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) and Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) both went 2-for-4.

Rodriguez and Saucedo both hit home runs for the Bobcats. Rodriguez hit her fifth homer of the season in game two while Saucedo hit her first career home run in game one.

"Kelly's focus has been on seeing the ball," said Matyuch. "She's done a lot of drills on her own and has hit through the ball a lot better than I have ever seen. She's just a strong young woman, so the fact that she's hitting through the ball a lot longer is good for us."

Rodriguez said, "It feels good. It's brought my confidence up after having a bad weekend at Akron and it also helps my team, so it's a win-win situation."

In game one, Ohio finished with eight runs on 14 hits and one error. Wright State finished with no runs, four hits and three errors.

The Bobcats took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Szalejko led the inning off with a single to center field and scored on a RBI double by Saucedo.

Ohio extended its lead to 7-0 after scoring six runs in the sixth inning. After the Bobcats loaded the bases on three singles, Petrich hit a two-RBI single bringing home Waters and Sacks. Saucedo then hit a two-RBI single to score Szalejko and Petrich and later scored on a single by Rodriguez. Marian Davis (Brighton, Mich.) singled at bat and scored Ohio's sixth run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Saucedo closed out the game with a walk-off home run in the sixth inning.

"It's nice to join the home run club," said Saucedo. "I've been waiting for one all season. It definitely feels good and hopefully I'll have a few more. I'm glad to have been able to help my team out in that way."

Both teams had six hits and one error in game two. Ohio scored the game's only run after Rodriguez homered over the left field fence in the fourth inning.

The Bobcats return to MAC play this weekend with a doubleheader at Northern Illinois on Friday followed by single games at Western Michigan on Saturday and Sunday.