Feb. 9, 2007
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team opened its 2007 season with loses to East Carolina, 3-2, and No. 22 NC State, 7-0, on the first day of the Carolina Classic hosted by the University of North Carolina.
Freshman Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) made a highlighted debut in her Ohio uniform by scoring the first run of the season in an early meeting against East Carolina. Petrich kicked the game off with a walk and two stolen bases at second and third. Freshman Candace Saucedo (Ontario, Canada) reached on a fielder's choice with an RBI to score Petrich. The Pirates scored a run and the game remained tied at 1-1 until the sixth inning ended at 2-2.
"Shalene did exactly what we love for a leadoff to do and that is to get on," said Head Coach Jill Matyuch. "Shalene did a great job of getting to the next base and Candace did what we asked her to do in terms of just putting the ball in play so that Shalene could score. They both did not play like freshman today."
Ohio took the lead in the top of the sixth as junior Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) scored after coming in to pinch run for junior Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) at second base. The Pirates tied it up on a double in the bottom half. A base hit by the Pirates in the bottom of the seventh inning scored a runner at second to give the Pirates the 3-2 win.
Pitcher Michelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) took the loss for the Bobcats, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits over 6.1 innings. Overall, the Bobcats scored two runs on two hits and the Pirates scored their three runs on eight hits.
In game two, the Bobcats were unable to score against the nationally ranked Wolfpack of NC State. Three pitchers saw time around the mound for the `Cats, including junior Zoe Heim (Ann Arbor, Mich.) with the loss. Heim started the game and pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits. She also had two strikeouts.
"You can look at the scores and easily be disappointed," said Matyuch. "However we haven't had one practice outside all year and the defense played phenomenally. Debbie Szalejko, Amanda Sacks and Candace in particular had great defensive performances."
Debbie Szalejko (Beavercreek, Ohio) had one putout and one assist in game one against East Carolina. Sacks had two assists in game one and two putouts and strikeouts in game two against NC State. Saucedo totaled four assists on the day, including three against NC State. She also had two putouts against the Wolfpack.
Ohio returns to the field tomorrow for day two of the Carolina Classic. The `Cats will face Coastal Carolina at 12:30 p.m.
