April 12, 2008

Box Score |  Akron Series 

Courtesy of Ohio journalism student Eva Grippa

ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio recorded 11 hits and won its second straight game, defeating Akron 6-2 Saturday afternoon at the Ohio Softball Field.

With the win, the Bobcats improved their record to 17-15 overall and 4-5 in the MAC. The Zips fell to 13-28 overall and 2-7 in the MAC.

The Bobcats will face the Zips again tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Sophomore Deanna Hartsough (Santa Ana, Calif.) knocked in the Bobcats' first run in the bottom of the first with a single to center field to score sophomore Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) for a 1-0 Bobcat lead that held until the Zips scored two runs in the top of the fourth.

Ohio's offense answered Akron's rally with four runs in its half of the inning. Hartsough, senior Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) and senior Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) all doubled in the inning. McKelvey's double knocked in pinch runner Paige Kemezis (Hackensack, N.J.) for the Bobcats' first run. Sacks' double scored another two runs for the Bobcats, and freshman Jordan Paden's (Walla Walla, Wash.) single batted in Sacks for the final run of the inning.

The Bobcats added another run in the fifth when Sacks batted in McKelvey, who finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs. Sacks finished 2-for-3 with a run and three RBI. Hartsough had a hit in both her plate appearances, going 2-for-2.

Senior pitcher Michelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) held the Zips scoreless for the rest of the game and recorded the win as the relief pitcher, improving her season record to 9-7. She struck out one and gave up five hits in four innings pitched. Freshman Emily Wethington (New Palestine, Ind.) started the game in the circle and gave up one hit and no runs in three innings pitched. Christina Swierz took the loss for the Zips. She allowed 11 hits, six runs, and struck out seven.