April 19, 2006

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - Katlyn Mallette (Taunton, Mass.) and Candace Warden (Hagerstown, Md.) combined for a six-hit shutout of Big Ten member Indiana in leading the Ohio softball team to a 1-0 defeat of the Hoosiers.

Mallette, in her first start of the year, mowed through the Indiana lineup, surrendering only four hits in five innings of work to earn her first win of the year. Warden pitched the final two frames for Ohio, allowing only two hits while striking out three batters to pick up the save. The save is the first this season for a Bobcat hurler.

In a game that did not showcase either team's offensive attack, Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) provided all the firepower the Bobcats would need.

Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio) walked to lead off the second inning. One out later, Sacks laced a double to left-center field gap and Catlette came all the way around from first to score and give Ohio the 1-0 lead it would not relinquish.

Indiana threatened in the sixth inning, loading the bases with only one out. But Warden preserved the win for the Bobcats, striking out the next two Hoosier batters to retire the side.

The Hoosiers looked as though they might rally in the top of the seventh but a stellar defensive play from first baseman Robin Miller (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) made sure that would not happen.

With a runner on first and nobody out, Indiana attempted to move the runner up with a sacrifice bunt but Miller made a diving grab of the bunt, catching the ball before it hit the ground, and doubling the runner up off first. Warden punched out the final Hoosier batter to give the Bobcats the 1-0 victory.

Ohio improves to 23-26 on the year with the win. Indiana falls to 21-21-1 with the loss.

The Bobcats will be back in action tomorrow when they host non-conference foe Cleveland State in a doubleheader. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m.