Feb. 17, 2006

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Ohio softball team opened the 2006 campaign with a split on the first day of the Pirate Classic hosted by East Carolina. The Bobcats defeated Towson 3-2 in extra innings in the season opener but fell to Campbell 5-0 in the second game.

Ohio opened the season in dramatic fashion against Towson, going into a tiebreaker after finishing seven innings with the scored tied at one. Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio) began the eighth inning on second as part of the tiebreaker rules and Marian Davis (Brighton, Mich.) sacrificed Catlette over to third.

Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) gave the Bobcats the lead with a single to plate Catlette. Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) followed with a bunt single and Emily Futscher (Cincinnati, Ohio) gave Ohio a two-run cushion with an RBI single to score Rodriguez. The Tigers pushed one run across in their half of the eighth but the Bobcats held on to win the season opener.

Zoe Heim (Ann Arbor, Mich.) earned the win in relief, pitching 2 1/3 innings and allowing one unearned run. MIchelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) started the game, giving up six hits and one earned run over six innings of work.

The Bobcats trailed Towson 1-0 before evening the score in the fourth inning. Szalejko tripled and later scored on a wild pitch to give Ohio its first run of the season. Szalejko went 3-for-4 with a triple, stolen base and run scored against the Tigers.

Ohio squared off against Campbell immediately following its game with Towson. The Bobcats were unable to carry over the momentum from the Towson game in falling to the Camels 5-0.

Heim started in the circle, going three innings and giving up two home runs, in taking the loss. Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) led the offense with two singles in three at-bats.

The Bobcats return to action tomorrow with back-to-back games against Elon and Bucknell. Ohio plays Elon at 3 p.m. and follows with Bucknell at 5 p.m.