March 14, 2008
Box Score | Day One Winthrop Invitational 
ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Ohio softball team split day one of the Winthrop Adidas Invitational with a loss to Winthrop, 2-0, and a win over North Carolina A&T, 2-0.
"We gained some good experience today," said Head Coach Jill Maytuch. "We competed very well in our opener versus Winthrop. They are a great team and it was a well played game. Sometimes you just end up on the losing end of those. I was happy to finish the day with a win."
Senior pitcher Michelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) earned her second win of the season as she pitched a complete game to lead the Bobcats to victory against North Carolina A&T. It was Sauter's first shutout of the season and the eighth of her career. She allowed only four hits and struck out seven batters.
"Michelle gave us seven strong innings," said Matyuch. "We were able to put some pressure on the NC A&T defense."
Seniors Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) and Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) scored runs for the Bobcats in the victory. With two outs in the top of the third, Waters reached on an error by the Aggies' second baseman, advanced to third on a single from Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.), and scored on an RBI single by freshman Melissa Bonner (Kings Mills, Ohio).
McKelvey scored Ohio's second run in the top of the fourth. McKelvey led the inning off with a single to left field. She then advanced a base on the next two batters before scoring on a passed ball.
In game one earlier in the day, the Bobcats where shut out by tourney host Winthrop, 2-0.
Sauter and freshman Emily Wethington (New Palestine, Ind.) saw action in the pitching circle, pitching three innings apiece. Wethington started the game, allowing six hits and two earned runs. Sauter closed out the game with no hits, no runs and two strikeouts.
The 'Cats are slated to play Fairfield at 11 a.m. and Albany at 3 p.m. tomorrow in day two of the invitational.
