May 9, 2008

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio - With an 8-0 shutout win over Western Michigan Friday afternoon, the Ohio softball team will play in the MAC semifinal round tonight at 7:30 p.m. against Bowling Green. The Bobcats and the Falcons faced off in the opening round on Thursday, the Falcons won 3-1.

Ohio scored five runs in the fourth inning and three runs in the fifth for the win. The Bobcats had five hits in the game with no errors, while the Broncos went scoreless with five runs and two errors.

The Bobcats kicked off the fourth inning, scoring three runs on three hits with no outs. Freshman Melissa Bonner (Kings Mills, Ohio) and senior Maureen McKelvey (Stow, Ohio) hit RBI singles, and senior Alicia Catlette (Mogadore, Ohio) hit a two-RBI single up the middle to score McKelvey and freshman pinch runner Paige Kemezis (Hackensack, N.J.) for a 5-0 Bobcat lead.

Ohio added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth for the shutout. Senior Courtney Waters (Eagle River, Alaska) scored on an RBI double by Bonner, sophomore Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Deanna Hartsough (Santa Ana, Calif.), and Bonner scored on an RBI single to left field by McKelvey.

Bonner and McKelvey finished the game 2-for-3. Bonner scored two runs and had two RBI, while McKelvey scored one run and had two RBI. Petrich and Catlette had a hit each. Petrich also scored two runs, along with Waters.

Senior Michelle Sauter (Chehalis, Wash.) earned her 15th pitching win of the season. Sauter pitched a complete five-inning game, giving up five hits and striking out four batters. Kyla Sullivan pitched a complete game for the Broncos, falling to 15-10 on the season.