May 7, 2007

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team wrapped up the regular season in winning fashion with a doubleheader sweep, 8-0 and 6-1, of Dayton on Monday.

Ohio (25-29, 10-12 MAC) batted .360 as a team and totaled 14 runs on 18 hits and 14 RBI.

Freshman Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) led Ohio's offense, going 3-or-5 with two runs, an RBI and a double. Junior Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.

Sophomore Allie Farrington (Wilton, NH) and senior Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) were both 2-for-6. Farrington also hit a double, scored two runs and totaled two RBI. Rodriguez scored one run, hit a double and led the team with three RBI. Senior Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) scored two runs and batted one batter in.

"Today was feel good day," said Head Coach Jill Matyuch. "We wanted to feel good about what we were doing and make sure that everybody got a little playing time."

Katlyn Mallette (Taunton, Mass.) and Zoe Heim (Ann Arbor, Mich.) got wins in the pitching circle for the Bobcats. Mallette pitched three innings of relief in game one, allowing zero runs on two hits. She also struck out two batters. Heim pitched four innings of relief in game two, striking out seven batters, allowing zero runs and zero hits.

"Zoe was phenomenal," said Matyuch. "We were getting the low strike call and she's our go-to pitcher when it comes to that. She did a great job."

The Bobcats head to Midland, Mich. this week for their second straight appearance in the MAC Softball Tournament. The `Cats are the No. 7 seed and will face No. 2 Eastern Michigan in the first round on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. The tournament is from May 9-12 at Currie Stadium.

"It's good to know the layout of the tournament so we can plan ahead a little bit," said Matyuch. "It's an advantage playing Eastern right away, because they probably feel pretty good about beating us. It's hard to take three in one season, so hopefully we have the percentages on our side."

Eastern Michigan beat Ohio 5-1 and 6-1 in back-to-back games last weekend.

To keep track of the Bobcats in the MAC tournament visit the tourney site - 2007 MAC Softball Tournament Website. Live stats will be available.