March 17, 2006
Box Score
Tampa, Fla. - The Ohio softball team opened the Speedline Invitational with a 4-1 loss to Purdue but rebounded to down George Mason 5-2 in the nightcap.
The Bobcats opened the invite with the 4-1 loss to Big Ten member Purdue. Michelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) gave Ohio a solid performance from inside the circle and the Bobcats outhit the Boilermakers 5-4 but it was not enough to take down Purdue.
Ohio got on the board first with a run in the top of the second. Emily Futscher (Cincinnati, Ohio) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second a sacrifice bunt. Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio) laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached on a throwing error by the Purdue pitcher, allowing Futscher to score from second.
Purdue evened the score with an unearned run in the bottom of the second and tallied a single run in the fifth inning and two runs in the sixth inning for the 4-1 scoring margin.
Sauter pitched all six innings, allowing four unearned runs on four hits, but took the loss. Purdue's Brooke Baker got the win with a complete game five hitter.
The Bobcats used a combination of power from the plate and power from inside the circle in defeating George Mason. Ohio went deep twice against the Patriots, the first time the Bobcats hit two long balls in one game since April 16 of last year, and Candace Warden (Hagerstown, Md.) provided the pitching.
The Ohio offense got started early by scoring a run in the first inning for the seventh time this season. With one out, Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) reached on an error, advanced to second on a passed ball and moved to third on a Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) single. Shannon Weidner (Pickerington, Ohio) plated Waters with a single to right to give Ohio a 1-0 lead. The Bobcats are now 6-1 when scoring in the first inning.
The Bobcats put three runs on the board in their half of the third inning, with all three runs coming with two outs. Waters started the rally with a double and scored on a Rodriguez double to give Ohio a 2-0 lead. Weidner followed with her first home run of the year, a two-run shot to left field to give the Bobcats a 4-0 edge.
Ohio allowed two runs in the bottom of the third but that would be all the Bobcat pitching staff would surrender. Zoe Heim (Ann Arbor, Mich.) pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings from the fourth inning to the middle of the fifth and Warden took care of the rest.
Waters provided Ohio's final run, connecting for her first career home run in the top of the fifth.
Warden earned the win to improve to 4-3 on the year. She pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six. Ohio's 2-3-4 batters, Waters, Rodriguez and Weidner, provided all the offense. The three combined to go 6-for-10 with all five runs scored and driven in.
The Bobcats continue to hover around the .500 mark, moving to 10-10 on the season.
Ohio will take the field again tomorrow with an 11 a.m. battle against host South Florida.
