March 1, 2008

Box Score

ELON, N.C.- The Ohio softball squad split a pair of games at the Golden Corral Phoenix Classic Saturday afternoon on the campus of Elon University .

The Bobcats dropped a 6-5 decision in eight innings to the Pirates of Seton Hall University before knocking off the host Phoenix 2-1.

"We did a great job of jumping on top in each game," said Ohio head coach Jill Matyuch. "Courtney Waters ( Eagle River, Alaska ) showed a lot of maturity in the box. She made great adjustments. For the most part, we were competitive and answered challenges and I think we learned from our untimely mistakes."   

In the Seton Hall contest, Ohio broke out on top with four runs in the first inning. They dented the plate on a two-RBI double by senior third baseman Kristen Salvatore ( Kirtland, Ohio) and a two-run single by junior Allie Farrington ( Wilton, N.H. ).

The Pirates shaved the lead to 4-1 on an RBI single by Michelle Reed.

SHU knotted the game at four with three runs in the bottom of the sixth frame on a wild pitch, an RBI groundout by Ashley Constantini and an RBI-double by Brittany Schillizzi.

The Bobcats seemingly had the game in hand when sophomore designated hitter Deanna Hartsough ( Santa Ana, Ca.) put Ohio ahead 5-4 on an RBI-single in the top of the eighth. However, the Pirates scored the game-winning runs in the bottom half by virtue of a passed ball and an RBI-single by Reed.

Waters scored a pair of runs for the Bobcats, while junior catcher Jordan Paden ( Walla Walla , Wa.) also had a pair of hits. Freshman pitcher Emily Wethington (New Palestine, Ind.) took the loss in relief to drop to 2-1. She tossed 1.1 innings with three hits and one walk with one earned run and two strikeouts. SHU's Kim Schweitzer picked up her first win of the season (1-3) when she went the distance, tossing all eight frames with seven hits and two walks to go with five strikeouts and three earned runs.

Waters and sophomore center fielder Shalene Petrich ( Chehalis, Wa .) combined for five hits to lead the Bobcat hit parade, but it was Salvatore's two-RBI single in the first inning that made Ohio's two runs stand up in the win over Elon. The Phoenix got its run in the third inning on an RBI-double by first baseman Pam DelPizzo.

Wethington avenged her game one loss with a solid five and two-third outing in game two. She yielded two hits and one run with six strikeouts and seven walks. Elon's Carol Lilley suffered her first loss (2-1) when she allowed seven hits and two runs over 4.1 innings with two strikeouts and two walks.

Both teams fielded the ball well, making no errors.

"Our outfield did everything that a great outfield does," Matyuch said. "They hit their cuts, threw runners out, kept the ball in front of them and made nice diving plays."

Ohio is now 4-3 on the season.

The three teams will be back in action tomorrow as well with the Bobcats taking on Seton Hall at 1 p.m. and Elon at 3 p.m.