Feb. 18, 2006
Box Score
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Ohio softball team moved to 2-2 in the early goings of the 2006 season following a split in the second day of the Pirate Classic. The Bobcats fell to Elon 7-5 in today's opener but rebounded to topple Bucknell 8-4 in the day's finale.
The Bobcats jumped out to the early lead against Elon scoring three runs in the top half of the first inning. Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) walked and Emily Futscher (Cincinnati, Ohio) was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Meagan McCutcheon (Mogadore, Ohio) drove in her first collegiate run when she singles home Szalejko.
Robin Miller (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) followed with a walk and Futscher would later score on an error by the pitcher to give Ohio a 2-0 lead. Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) gave the Bobcats a three-run cushion with an RBI single.
The Phoenix gradually worked their way back into the game, evening the score at three in the sixth inning. The Bobcats answered with two runs of their own in the top of the seventh. Marian Davis (Brighton, Mich.) singled to get the offense started and Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) sacrificed her over. Szalejko gave Ohio the lead with a single and would later score on a passed ball to give the Bobcats a 5-3 edge. It wasn't enough, though, as Elon scored four runs in its half of the seventh to earn the win.
Candace Warden (Hagerstown, Md.) took the loss, pitching the final 1 1/3 innings. MIchelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) got the start in the circle, pitching 5 2/3 strong innings. McKelvey went 2-for-3 with a double in the loss.
Ohio showed the ability to bounce back from a tough loss in the 8-4 defeat of Bucknell. Zoe Heim (Ann Arbor, Mich.) earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the season. Heim pitched five innings, striking out eight while giving up two earned runs on six hits.
The Bobcat offense got started with two unearned runs in the bottom of the third. Szalejko led off with a walk and Davis reached on a hit by pitch. Szalejko would later score on a wild pitch while Davis scored on an error by the catcher for Ohio's first two runs.
Ohio tallied its first home run of the season when Maghan Lunsford (Centerville, Ohio) led off the fourth inning with her first career home run. Lunsford's long ball was just the tip of the iceberg as the Bobcats went on to score four more runs in the inning.
Rodriguez drove in Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) with a double and advanced to third on a single from Szalejko. Davis knocked Rodriguez in with a single and moved to second following a sacrifice from McCutcheon. McKelvey plated Szalejko with a sacrifice fly and Futscher scored Davis with a single to conclude the scoring for the inning.
The Bobcats scored a lone run in their half of the sixth inning to conclude the scoring. Szalejko drew a walk and scored her third run of the game on a RBI single from Davis. Davis went 2-for-2 on the game with two runs scored and two runs driven in.
Ohio will play Army tomorrow at 9 a.m. and will conclude the tourney with an 11 a.m. tilt with host East Carolina.
