March 10, 2006
Box Score
Rock Hill, S.C. - The Ohio softball team was down to its last out in both games today but came back to defeat UNC Greensboro 6-5 and East Tennessee 3-2 in nine innings at the first day of the Winthrop Tournament.
The Bobcats opened the day with a thrilling, seventh-inning win over UNC Greensboro. Trailing 5-4 going into the top of the seventh, Ohio needed some late game heroics and Kristen Salvatore (Kirtland, Ohio) and Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) were up to the task.
Ohio was down to its last out when Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio) singled to start the rally. Robin Miller (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second and set the table for Salvatore. Salvatore singled to right center to score Catlette with Miller and Salvatore both moving up a base on an error. Szalejko followed and came through with her second game-winning hit in the last two weeks when she plated Miller with a single to center.
Candace Warden (Hagerstown, Md.) sealed the deal for the Bobcats, putting the Spartans down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win. Warden pitched the final five innings, allowing one earned run on four hits, to improve to 2-3 on the season.
The Bobcats got on the board early, tallying a run in the top of the first. Szalejko led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Shannon Weidner singled to score Szalejko and give Ohio the early 1-0 lead.
After the Spartans scored two of their own in the bottom the first and another run in the third, the Bobcats closed the gap to 3-2 with a single run in the fourth inning. Catlette led off with a walk and moved to third on a Salvatore double. Szalejko scored Catlette with an RBI groundout.
Ohio and Greensboro each posted two runs in the fifth frame. Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) led off with a double and scored when Weidner reached on an error, with Weidner advancing all the way to third. Emily Futscher (Cincinnati, Ohio) tallied her team-best 12th run batted in with a sacrifice fly to left.
Four Bobcats recorded two hits to pace the Ohio offense. Szalejko went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, Catlette went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Salvatore went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Ohio's nightcap against East Tennessee State saw solid pitching performances from both teams, with the Bobcats pulling out the win in the bottom of the ninth. Ohio was held scoreless with only two hits in trailing 1-0 through the first six frames. The Bobcats were once again down to their final out before rallying to send the game to extra innings.
Futscher reached on an error with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and scored one batter late when another Buccaneer error allowed Futscher to score all the way from first base.
After allowing a run in the top of the eighth, the Bobcats tallied another two-out run to prolong the game. Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) started on second as part of the international tiebreaker rule. McKelvey remained on second through two outs before Szalejko came through again, plating McKelvey with a single to tie the game at two.
Warden, who entered the game in the eighth inning, held the Buccaneers scoreless in the top of the ninth to set the stage for more clutch at-bats from the Bobcats. Catlette started on second base and advanced to third on a Rodriguez sacrifice bunt. One out later, Futscher singled to score Catlette and give Ohio a 3-2 win.
Warden earned the win, her second of the day, to improve to 3-3 on the year. She pitched two innings and allowed one unearned run two innings. Zoe Heim (Ann Arbor, Mich.) put forth a strong effort on the mound, allowing only one earned run over seven solid innings of work.
Ohio has now played five extra-inning contests through its first 16 games. The Bobcats are 3-2 in those contests and improve to 9-7 overall on the year.
The Bobcats will be back in action tomorrow when they play Pittsburgh at noon.
