Heading into this season, it was safe to say that no one knew what to expect of the Ohio softball team in 2004. Coming off what could only be described as a disappointing campaign in 2003, the Bobcats headed into the new season unsure of what kind of team they would be, as they featured a lineup with plenty of experience - 11 returning letterwinners - but full of questions as well, as nine players would take the field for the first time in an Ohio uniform.

But, instead of letting the combination of youth and experience become a distraction or an excuse, Ohio came together as a team and finish the season fifth overall in the conference and earn a spot in the MAC Tournament, a goal that most thought was unattainable for this team.

“I know it’s hard to say we had an outstanding year by looking at our record alone,” head coach Roanna Brazier said. “However, we went from last place to fifth in a conference that’s full of good teams and that’s a huge accomplishment. We stepped it up when we needed to in order to get to the MAC Tournament and we played good games against good teams, which says a lot about the drive and desire of this squad.

Tournament Time
Ohio started the season with a trip to San Diego to compete in the Campbell/Cartier Classic in Poway, Calif., Feb. 20-22. The Bobcats wasted little time in proving they were for real, falling in a close, 1-0 contest against national power Long Beach State in the first game of the season. Ohio would remain competitive in the opening weekend, losing close contests against Hawai’i and Cal State Northridge before rains washed out the last two games against Fresno State and Oregon.

The Bobcats took part in three more tournaments during the early part of the season, participating in the East Carolina Pirate Clash March 5-7, the Winthrop/Ringor Invitational March 12-14 and the Buzz Classic March 19-21. Ohio would finish the tournament portion of their schedule with a 5-16 mark, but had some memorable moments along the way. Senior Erin Chapman had one of her best games as a Bobcat against Winthrop at the Winthrop/Ringor Invitational, as she went 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs and four RBIs in the Bobcats 9-7 eight-inning victory over the host Eagles. Freshman Kelly Rodriguez made her first career home run count, as she hit a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Austin Peay 2-0 in the final game at the Buzz Classic.

“We had a good mixture of competition in our tournament games this year,” Brazier said. “When you play a tough schedule like we did, it only makes you better for conference play. You need to play the best to become the best.”

MAC Madness
Following a four-game road trip against Emory, Georgia Tech and Georgia State that took place after the Buzz Classic, Ohio returned north to begin conference play against Kent State March 27-28. The Bobcats fell in the first two games of the three-game set 4-2; 4-1), but recovered and scored a 2-1 victory, thanks in part to a two-run home run from Chapman in the first inning.

“Kent was our turnaround weekend,” coach Brazier said. “We knew we had it in us, but the Kent weekend proved to us that we could actually put it all together. The last game against Kent really boosted us for Marshall.”

After playing their first 26 contests of the season on the road, the Bobcats finally got to play at home with a doubleheader against archrival Marshall on April 6. Falling behind 1-0 in the first inning of game one, Ohio rallied for two runs in the third on a home run from senior Kiersten Scrima and after Marshall tied the game in the top of the fourth, came back with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning for a 3-2 victory.

Game two provided the Bobcats an opportunity to show the home crowd what this team was made of. After the Thundering Herd put up four runs in the first inning, it appeared the two teams would split the doubleheader. Chapman had other ideas though, as she smacked a pair of two-run home runs in the first and third innings to tie the game. The score would remain deadlocked at 4-4 until the bottom of the seventh, when sophomore Robin Miller stepped to the plate and won the game in the most unusual of fashions, taking a pitch in the leg to score Rodriguez from third and sweep the doubleheader.

Ohio continued its winning ways in the first game of its three-game series at Ball State on April 9, taking game one 6-2. Sophomore Emily Futscher was the offensive spark for the Green and White, hitting a three-run home run as part of a four-run third inning. The winning streak came to a halt, as the Cardinals won the next game 3-2, and took the series finale by a 4-3 count.

Marshall added to the Bobcats slump when it made its return visit to Athens to complete the season series. Despite going to extra innings, the Thundering Herd took game three, 5-1, to avoid the series sweep and extend the Ohio winless streak to three games.

The Bobcats had no time to feel sorry for themselves, as a critical series against Buffalo began just three days after the Marshall contest. Game one of the series against the Bulls was a true pitchers duel, as junior Kerri Harley and freshman Natalie Armstrong, along with Buffalo’s Stacey Evans, combined to allow just one run on eight hits, while only 16 batters reached base during the contest. Harley got the start for Ohio and went five innings and surrendered just three hits. Armstrong came in and went the rest of the way, keeping the Bulls hitless over the next seven innings while striking out eight batters.

The two teams played 11 scoreless innings before the international tie breaker rule as put into effect, placing a runner at second at the start of the inning. Buffalo looked to take the lead on a sacrifice fly to right field, but Rodriguez nailed the Bulls runner at the plate to end the inning. Ohio took advantage of its opportunity in the bottom half of the inning as Chapman singled to right field to score Scrima to win the game 1-0. The Bobcats used the momentum gained in game one to take game two 2-1, scoring both of their runs in the second inning, but missed an opportunity to sweep the series, falling in the finale 2-1.

“Game one against Buffalo was one of the biggest games of the year,” Brazier said. “One more loss and we wouldn’t have made the tournament.”

After taking two of three from Buffalo, Ohio traveled to Toledo on April 21, where it squeaked past the Rockets, 3-2 in game one of its doubleheader versus the Rockets before scoring to a 5-3 victory in game two. The Green and White cranked out 15 hits on the day, with Scrima accounting for four of those hits that included a double and a triple. Senior Sarah Melvin proved unstoppable on the base paths, stealing four bases while scoring four times.

Following the Toledo series, the Bobcats played host to the most important of its conference series in 2004 as Miami came to town for a three-game set April 24-25. The RedHawks came into the weekend a top the East Division with an 11-4 record and looked to solidify their postseason standing. Ohio quickly let Miami know that it had postseason plans of its own, as it swept both games of the doubleheader on Saturday, winning game one 3-2 in eight innings, before take game two 1-0.

In game one, the RedHawks took a 2-0 lead before Ohio battled back and tied the game to force extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Miller once again found herself in familiar circumstances, as she took her stance in the batters box with a chance to win the game with the bases loaded. Just like the last time she was presented with the situation, she was hit by a pitch that scored the winning run. Game two saw Ohio take a 1-0 lead in the first inning and hold on the rest of the way, as Armstrong and Harley combined for their second shutout of the season.

In the series finale, Miami got on the board in the second when Leslie Macedo hit a two-run home run to put the RedHawks ahead 2-0. The lead was short lived, as Futscher hit a two-run blast of her own in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game. Ohio and Miami would remain tied until the bottom of the sixth, when senior Georgia Villard singled to put the Bobcats up for good to sweep the series finale, 4-2.

“Three things were in our favor that weekend,” coach Brazier said. “First of all, it’s against one of our biggest rivals, so we needed no extra incentive. Second, it’s at home, and with our facilities, it’s a huge advantage to us to play at the Ohio Softball Field. Third, we played well against good competition this season, and Miami was certainly good competition.”

With the sweep, all Ohio needed to do was win two of its final seven conference games. With contests against Akron, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois – three teams that were all but mathematically eliminated from postseason play – it appeared to be a foregone conclusion. It was a task that proved to be harder then it sounded.

The Bobcats began the quest for the postseason at Akron May 1-2. Ohio fell in the opener 2-0 and was tied 2-2 with the Zips in game two when the rains came. The inclement weather forced the game to be delayed twice, first to Sunday morning and then again to Monday. The delay did not do the Bobcats any favors though, as they lost game two 3-2 in eight innings before suffering an 8-3 setback in the finale. A mid-week doubleheader with Eastern Michigan on May 5 was next on the docket, and the road woes continued for the Green and White, as they fell 2-1 in game one and lost 9-2 setback in game two.

Heading into the final series of the regular season against Northern Illinois on May 8, the postseason scenario was simple: win and you’re in, lose and stay home. The Bobcats had no intention of the later occurring, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first three innings of game one. Chapman provided the home fans with some history, as her solo home run in the third tied her with junior Jennifer Tisevich for the single-season home run record with seven.

Despite being down 5-0, the Huskies rallied and look the lead in the seventh when Toni Del Toro hit a two-run single to give NIU a 7-5 lead. The Bobcats hopes of a postseason trip seemed to be fading when they had two outs and only one on when the Huskies walked Melvin and Tisevich to load the bases and face Chapman. With the season on the line and the hopes of the team on her shoulders, Chapman kept the team’s tournament hopes alive in the best way she knew how, sending an offering from Amy West sailing over the right field fence for her first career grand slam and a 9-7 Ohio victory.

In game two, the Bobcats scored runs in the first and third innings and held off a late push from NIU to take the game 2-1. The Bobcats had it made to the MAC tournament, but their celebration was delayed, as the Huskies protested a call in the fifth inning. If the NIU protest was successful, the game would have been cancelled and Ohio would have fallen behind Buffalo and been out of the tournament. The protest was later dropped, and the Bobcats would head to Akron as the fifth seed in the conference tournament.

“We had a lot of confidence going into the last weekend,” Brazier said. “It was unfortunate that it had to come down to the last weekend when we had a chance to secure a spot (in the MAC Tournament) earlier on, but the excitement was there and we had people step it up when we needed them to.”

Back at the MAC Tournament
With the fifth seed, Ohio faced a familiar opponent in the first round of the MAC Tournament in the form of fourth seed Miami. Having been swept in the season series, the RedHawks were out for revenge, and they found it early on, scoring three runs in the first and adding one run in the second. Miami added runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth to negate a late Ohio rally to take the game, 7-2.

The loss pitted Ohio against second seed Kent State in the losers’ bracket on Friday. After trading runs in the first inning, the Bobcats took a 4-1 lead in the second, scoring three runs. The lead would not hold on this day, as Kent responded with four runs in the third and added an insurance run in the seventh. The extra run proved to be the difference, as Ohio scored once in its final at-bat and looked to tie the game, but Kent State foiled the comeback attempt and ended the Bobcats’ season.

“Getting to the tournament was very important for our freshman and sophomores in terms of introducing them to that kind of environment,” coach Brazier said. “But it was big for our seniors as well. After a season like last year, we didn’t know what to expect this year and making the tournament was such a positive way for them to leave Ohio knowing that they led the team to an accomplishment that only six out of 13 teams in the MAC achieve.”

Individual Performances
The 2004 season saw its fair share of great individual performers. Chapman, a Great Lakes All-Region first team selection for the second season in a row, led Ohio with a .326 batting average, one triple, eight home runs, 37 runs batted in and a .553 slugging percentage. She was a first-team All-MAC selection after batting .344 in conference play with six home runs, 23 RBI, a .703 slugging percentage and a .476 on-base percentage. Chapman set the school record for most home runs in a season with eight and also made her way onto the single-season runs batted in and walks lists. She finished her career as the school’s all-time leader in home runs (22) and runs scored (104) and made a spot for herself in the top ten in the hits (172), doubles (32), triples (6), runs batted in (97) and stolen bases (41) categories as well.

“Chapman is one of those players that if you want something done, she’ll get it done for you,” Brazier said. “You want the ball hit to her or have her up to bat because she has the drive and inner confidence to be successful and it showed this season.”

Scrima, like Chapman, made the most of her final season with the Bobcats, earning second-team All-MAC honors after posting career-highs with a .303 batting average, 53 hits, 13 doubles, four home runs, 17 RBI’s, 80 total bases and a .457 slugging percentage. She played in all 51 games this season, earning the start in all but one of those contests.

“Scrima picked it up for us this year,” coach Brazier said. “She wanted to have a strong senior season, not just for herself, but for the team as well. Every at-bat, she had confidence that she was going to get a hit and most of the time she did.”

Also finishing their careers this season were Melvin and Villard. Melvin batted .270 with 38 hits, three doubles, one triple and nine RBI. She led the team with 12 stolen bases and finished her career fifth on the school’s all-time stolen base list. Villard started 45 games in her final season with the Bobcats, all in the catchers position. She recorded 21 hits, three doubles, one home run and a career-high 10 RBI

“On and off the field, this group of seniors is going to leave a big hole,” coach Brazier said. “They had leadership abilities, were role models for our younger players, and had a lot of pride for Ohio University and the Green and White. I just can’t say enough about them and they are going to be missed.”

Making the transition from a role player to an everyday starter, Miller played all 51 games at first base with the Bobcats during her sophomore season. She was named to the All-Tournament Team at the MAC Tournament where she went 3-for-7 (.429) with two RBI in two games. Miller set the school record for walks in a season with 27 base on balls, leading the Mid-American Conference in that category. She finished the season with a .309 batting average and 42 hits - including eight doubles - and 22 RBI.

“Having Robin in the lineup allowed us to project Chapman and Tisevich, which was big for us,” Brazier said. “Her production at the plate this season caused others to produce and that made a huge difference in our offense. In the field, she was impossible to get a ball by and the team knew that she would be able to make a play on any ball thrown to her.”

From the circle, Armstrong made an impressive debut during her freshman season, leading Ohio with 129 innings pitched, a 2.12 ERA, 80 strikeouts and four combined shutouts in 42 appearances. She led the Mid-American Conference with seven saves and posted a 7-6 record on the season. Armstrong’s 42 appearances tied her for second most on the school’s single season list for appearances made by a pitcher.

“We couldn’t have gone anywhere this year without Armstrong,” the coach said. “It was comforting to know that if any of our pitchers got in trouble it was ok, because Natalie would come in and take care of business. I had no idea that she would contribute in her freshman season, but the impact she had on this team this year was incredible.”

The Future
Although Ohio finished the season without accomplishing its goal of winning the MAC Championship, the Bobcats can look back to the 2004 campaign as a season of successes. For a squad that struggled through a disappointing 2003 season and came into 2004 as an afterthought in the always tough Mid-American Conference, Ohio came together as a team and preserved through a tough tournament schedule to take the MAC by surprise and earn a place in the conference tournament.

Despite the loss of a tremendous senior class that featured everyday players in Chapman, Melvin, Scrima and Villard, Ohio has a lot to look forward to in 2005. With the return of its entire pitching staff and a majority of its lineup, and all the lessons learned and experiences gained in 2004, next season is already shaping up to be one to remember for the Green and White.

“Our pitching is only going to get better,” coach Brazier said. “They improved a lot this year and I can only imagine what they will be like next year. We will be a very defensively sound squad and we have some big sticks returning to our lineup. With everyone coming back and the addition of our newcomers, next year can be a great year.”