Feb. 11, 2007
ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team closed out the Carolina Classic with a 3-2 loss to tourney host North Carolina Sunday afternoon.
The Bobcats scored two runs, including junior Kristen Salvatore's (Kirtland, Ohio) first career home run. Freshman pitcher Candace Saucedo (Ontario, Calif.) took the loss for the `Cats, allowing one earned run on one hit in just 2.0 innings.
"I thought we played extremely well today," said Head Coach Jill Matyuch. "There were a few miscues that got in the way of us pulling that one out; however, we played very well."
All of Ohio's scoring came in the fourth inning. Salvatore kicked it off with a homer to center field. Junior Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) then grounded to third base and junior Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) struck out swinging. Junior Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) singled to right field then freshman Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) doubled and advanced to third on the throw with an RBI to score Waters. Senior Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) grounded out to third base to end the inning.
"It was great to see Kristen (Salvatore) hit the first home run of the season," said Matyuch. "There definitely were no doubts that ball was headed for the trees."
The Bobcats were 1-3 overall in the Carolina Classic, including an 8-7 win over Coastal Carolina. The `Cats return to the field next weekend in the Spartan Classic hosted by UNC Greensboro in Greensboro, N.C.
Ohio is scheduled to face Kent State and UNCG on Friday and Morehead State and Campbell on Saturday.
