Feb. 18, 2007

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GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Ohio (1-7) softball team fell to tourney host UNC Greensboro (4-5) in eight innings on the last day of the Spartan Softball Classic.

The Bobcats ventured into an extra inning after knotting the game at 1-1 in the top of the seventh. Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) hit a triple and Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio) drove her in with a RBI single.

Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) started Ohio's half of the eighth on second base as part of the international tie-breaker rule. Waters advanced to third on a single and scored one batter later on a ground ball by Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.) to give the Bobcats a 2-1 edge. UNC Greensboro hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth inning for the win.

"We got a gutsy performance out of our team in terms of being able to come back in the top of the seventh inning and string some hits together," said Head Coach Jill Matyuch. "I think we got a great pitching effort from Natalie Armstrong and MIchelle Sauter, we were able to put up nine hits but it would be nice if we could capitalize on those hits with a little more run production."

Armstrong (Murrysville, Pa.) started and pitched four innings, giving up four hits and one earned run in taking the loss for the `Cats. Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) put in 3.1 innings of work in the circle, allowing two hits and two runs. Armstrong and Sauter combined to strike out six batters.

Ohio totaled nine hits, including Catlette going 1-for-2 with a RBI while Rodriguez added a RBI for a team of two. Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) and Marian Davis (Brighton, Mich.) each had two hits.

The Bobcats return to action next weekend in the Elon Tournament in Elon, N.C.