Feb. 15, 2008

Box Score |  Season Opener 

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Ohio (1-0) softball team opened the 2008 college softball season Friday morning with a 4-2 win over Atlantic Coast Conference foe Boston College (0-1) in game one of the Pirate Invitational.

Michelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) struck out four batters as she won her first start of the season in the pitching circle. Sauter allowed just five hits, while not walking anyone.

Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) gave Ohio an early second-inning lead as she led off with a single to center field, advanced to second on a sac bunt, stole third then scored on an illegal pitch. Senior Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio) then scored on an RBI single by Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) to put Ohio up 2-0.

Ohio added another pair of runs in the sixth as Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) reached first on an error by BC's first baseman. She then advanced to second on a sac bunt and scored on a throw as Waters singled to second base for her second hit of the game. Waters then stole second and was batted home on a single by Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) for a 4-0 Bobcat lead.

The Eagles didn't score until the bottom of the seventh after Amanda Booth led off with a single up the middle and later scored on a single from teammate Amy Tunstall. Allison Koois scored the Eagles' second run after coming in to pinch run for Renee Ramos. Koois scored on an error while Tunstall was stealing second.

Waters finished the game with two hits, two RBI and a stolen base. Petrich finished with two hits and two stolen bases, moving her up a spot on Ohio's all-time career steals list.

The `Cats are slated to face Maine at 12 p.m. to conclude day one of the tournament.