May 11, 2007

Box Score

MIDLAND, Mich. - The Ohio softball team finished its run in the MAC Softball Tournament with an 8-3 loss to Eastern Michigan Friday night.

Eastern Michigan scored two runs in the top of the first inning to start the game, including a home run by Lindsay Schmid over the right field fence.

Marian Davis (Brighton, Mich.) responded with a home in the bottom of the first to put Ohio on the scoreboard for the first time. It was Davis's second homer of the season and fifth of her career.

The Eagles then scored four runs in the top of the third and was held to just one run in the fourth inning after relief pitcher Candace Saucedo (Ontario, Calif.) came in and struck out back-to-back batters with bases loaded.

Ohio scored another run in its half of the fourth inning after Davis singled to left field and later scored on an RBI single by Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska).

Saucedo struck out back-to-back-to-back batters in the fourth, holding Eastern Michigan scoreless in the inning with no hits and one left on base.

Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) hit an RBI single with one out in the bottom of the fifth to score pinch runner Danielle Kelley (Franklin, Tenn.) and cut the Eagles' lead to four at 7-3.

Saucedo put on another back-to-back strikeout performance to hold the Eagles scoreless in the top of the sixth.

Eastern Michigan scored a run in the top of the seventh for win.

Saucedo struck out six batters in pitching only 3.1 innings in relief. She allowed just one earned run.

"I was just trying to get the ball where it needed to be," said Saucedo. "I wasn't even thinking about strikeouts. I was just trying to get them to ground out because they had a couple of big hits when I first came in and I wanted to eliminate that as much as possible."

Starting pitcher Natalie Armstrong (Murrysville, Pa.) took the loss for Ohio, allowing seven runs and five hits in 3.2 innings of work.

Davis and Petrich were 2-for-3 in the game, with Davis scoring two of Ohio's runs.

The Bobcats end the season with 27-31 overall record.