May 10, 2007

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team defeated Western Michigan 5-2 in a second round elimination game of the 2007 Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament.

The Bobcats will play the winner of game eight (Central Michigan/Kent State) tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.

Natalie Armstrong (Murrysville, Pa.) pitched only her second complete game of the season in gaining the win for Ohio, striking out four batters and allowing only two runs on four hits.

All-MAC First Team member Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio) was 3-for-3 in the game with two RBI. Catlette got her first RBI on a double to score Marian Davis (Brighton, Mich.) in the top of the second. Her second RBI came in the sixth inning on a single to the shortstop to score Petrich.

"I talked to the coaches before the game and they stressed that it was important to have fun, stay relaxed and not to think so much in the box, so that's what I tried to do," said Catlette. "It was best for me to think about nothing else but swinging."

"Today's win gives us confidence going into tomorrow. We beat Central Michigan and Kent State during the regular season so we know we can win tomorrow."

Freshman Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) went 2-for-4 with one run and two RBI. Petrich had a game-high two stolen bases, bringing her season total to 29. In just one year Petrich has placed sixth on Ohio's all-time career steals list and is fifth on Ohio's all-time single-season steals list. Her 29 steals this season has helped the `Cats reach an all-time best 95 steals in one year.

Since breaking a 12-game hitting streak last weekend, Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) has built another streak that she extended to six games with one hit today. Szalejko is three hits away from becoming Ohio's all-time single-season hits leader. Szalejko also scored a run in the third inning on a two-RBI single by Petrich.

Other hitters for Ohio were Davis and Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Ohio). Davis was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, while Waters was 2-for-3 with one run and an RBI in the sixth that scored Davis. Waters scored a run on Petrich's two-RBI single in the third.

The win improves Ohio to a 26-20 overall record and a 7-12 all-time MAC tournament record.