April 13, 2008
Box Score
Courtesy of Ohio journalism student Eva Grippa
ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio's power hitting took over as the Bobcats defeated Akron, 5-3, to sweep a two-game weekend series Sunday afternoon at the Ohio Softball Field.
With the win, the Bobcats improved their overall record to 18-15 and 5-5 in the Mid-American Conference. The Zips fell to 13-29 overall and 2-8 in the MAC.
Ohio scored five runs and had five hits and two errors in the game, while Akron finished with three runs, seven hits and two errors. Freshman Emily Wethington (New Palestine, Ind.) and sophomore Deanna Hartsough (Santa Ana, Calif.) smashed home runs in the game, including Hartsough hitting the first one of her career.
Wethington hit her fourth homer of the season with one runner on base to put Ohio up 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth.
Akron led off the fifth with a single to center field by junior Alex Feltes. Feltes led the Zips in hits with three on the day. Two batters later, pinch hitter Jessica Davidson drove in Akron's first run of the game on a single to left field.
Hartsough's three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth stretched Ohio's lead to 5-1. Lead-off hitter Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) reached first after being hit by a pitch, and pinch hitter Candace Saucedo (Ontario, Calif.) followed with a single to center field. Hartsough, coming off a two-hit game yesterday, went deep over the right field wall, driving in Waters and pinch runner Kristen Salvatore (Kirtland, Ohio).
The Zips threatened with a late-game rally in the top of the seventh. The Zips loaded the bases with two outs and senior Katrina Moffett drove in two runs on a single to right field. Junior Cali Stratton grounded to shortstop Amanda Sacks (Chugiak, Alaska) to end the game.
Wethington pitched a complete game and got the win for Ohio, improving her overall record to 9-6. She gave up seven hits and struck out four on the day. Christina Swierz took the loss for Akron, giving up five hits and striking out three in a complete game.
Ohio will hit the road next weekend for a doubleheader at Central Michigan on Friday and single games at Eastern Michigan on Saturday and Sunday.
