March 23, 2007
ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio softball team won one of two games on the opening day of the Stanford Invitational.
Ohio defeated Portland State in game one, 2-1. Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) scored Ohio's first run in the bottom of the third inning. At bat, Waters singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She reached third on a fielder's choice then scored on a single RBI from Kelly Rodriguez (Miami, Fla.).
Candace Saucedo scored Ohio's second run in the seventh inning after Allie Farrington (Wilton, NH) singled up the middle. At bat, Saucedo singled to left field, advanced to second on a sac bunt and stole third to score.
"I'm excited for Allie to come off the bench and get a game winning hit. She did a really good job of paying attention all game and applying what she learned when she got the opportunity," said Head Coach Jill Matyuch.
Michelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) gained the win as she pitched her sixth complete game of the season. Sauter pitched 7.0 innings, allowing only one run and three hits. She struck out four batters along the way. All together the `Cats had eight hits, each from different players.
The Bobcats didn't score a run in game two, falling to Long Beach State, 8-0. Ohio totaled four hits in the game, one each from Rachel Denham (West Chester, Ohio), Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska), Meagan McCutcheon (Mogadore, Ohio) and Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio).
Long Beach State scored first in the opening inning and held a 1-0 advantage until scoring seven runs in its half of the fourth. The game ended in five innings.
"In game two, we just really had one bad inning," said Matyuch.
Natalie Armstrong (Murrysville, Pa.) took the loss for Ohio after starting the game and putting in four innings of work in the circle. Armstrong struck out two batters and allowed two runs and four hits.
Ohio will return for day two of the Stanford Invitational tomorrow against Stanford and UC Davis.
