Feb. 10, 2007
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team won its first game of the season against Coastal Carolina on the second day of the Carolina Classic hosted by the University of North Carolina.
After being down 5-1 in the fourth inning, Ohio held Coastal Carolina scoreless in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings before scoring three runs in a tiebreaker for the 8-7 victory over the Lady Chanticleers.
"I am so proud of our complete team effort today," said Head Coach Jill Matyuch. "Two goals that we set for the game were to increase our mental toughness/competitiveness and to play pitch to pitch. It is so important to take one pitch at a time and make it count. Clearly, based on our effort and intensity, our players took this to heart."
Senior Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) started on second base for the Bobcats in the tiebreaker. Rodriguez scored a run after junior Kristen Salvatore (Kirtland, Ohio) singled to right center field. Junior Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) singled to right center and junior Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) hit to center field to score Salvatore and McKelvey to win the game.
"Mo's (McKelvey) pitch hit RBI triple really helped turn the momentum our way," said Matyuch. "Our team did not let that be the only spark. We really strung together a number of great at bats. I was so happy for AJ (Sacks). What an exhilarating finish!"
Freshman Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) continued to shine in her collegiate debut by scoring the Bobcats first run of the game in the first inning. Petrich stole home off a SAC bunt from Candace Saucedo (Ontario, Calif.). The first inning ended with Ohio ahead 1-0.
Coastal Carolina took the lead 2-1 in the second inning and both teams were scoreless in the third but the Lady Chanticleers scored three runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-1 lead.
The Bobcats tied the game in the seventh inning after holding Coastal Carolina scoreless in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
In the fifth, freshman Deanna Hartsough (Santa Ana, Calif.) walked and McKelvey hit a triple to score Hartsough. Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) hit to second with a RBI to score McKelvey. Petrich singled to right center field and Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) hit a hard ball back to the pitcher to end the inning.
In the sixth inning Ohio scored one run. Saucedo doubled to right center field and Rodriguez doubled to left center field with an RBI to score Saucedo. A run by the `Cats in the seventh inning forced the determining tiebreaker.
Sacks opened the seventh with a double to right center field. Waters singled to left center field and after a walk by Petrich, Szalejko singled to left center field to score Waters.
The Bobcats will conclude the Carolina Classic tomorrow against North Carolina at 12:30 p.m.
