March 6, 2009
Final Stats
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ohio softball's hot-hitting attack from last weekend was unable to continue Friday, as it ran smack into a Bradley pitching buzz saw that blanked the `Cats (7-7) and handed them a 6-0 setback on the first day of the University of Louisville Tournament Friday evening.
Five different Bobcats tallied hits on the day, including sophomore Jordan Paden (Walla Walla, Wash.), who doubled in two trips to the plate to extend her hitting streak to five games. Candace Saucedo (Ontario, Calif.) and Paige Kemezis (Hackensack, N.J.) also finished 1-for-2 for the Green and White, while Melissa Bonner (Kings Mills, Ohio) and Alexis Zambrana (Alvin, Texas) each went 1-for-3. Freshman Jillian Van Wagnen (Lorain, Ohio) picked up the first stolen base of her collegiate career as well. Sophomore Emily Wethington (New Palestine, Ind.) was saddled with the loss in the circle and fell to 4-5 on the young season.
After scoring 20 runs and knocking out 22 hits in two wins last weekend, Ohio entered the contest hitting .330 as a team. The Braves were obviously not impressed, as they rode the arm of Ashley Birdsong and a pair of runs in each of the second, third and fifth frames to come away with the win.
Neither side did much through the first inning and a half, as Wethington and Birdsong kept the opposing offenses off balance. Bradley finally struck the first blow of the action in the bottom of the second, when it plated two runs on a two-run single from Lauren Kelly to take a 2-0 lead. Bonner singled to open the Bobcats' half of the third and advanced to second on a sacrifice from Paden. The Braves came right back and retired the next two Ohio hitters to thwart the `Cats' hopes of cutting the lead.
Bradley put up two more runs on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning on a big two-run double from Jacqueline Vitale. Two more Brave tallies in the fifth put the score at 6-0 in favor of Bradley. The Green and White would not go quietly, however, as it looked to start a rally of its own in the sixth when Paden led off the inning with her double to right center. Zambrana reached on an infield single two batters later, but Paden was called out at third. Saucedo walked and gave way to Van Wagnen to give Ohio runners in scoring position with two outs. The Braves once again forced a big out to halt any Ohio chances. The `Cats were unable to get anything going in their portion of the seventh to help Bradley walk away with the win.
Ohio will look to rebound tomorrow when it returns to the diamond to take on Tennessee Tech. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m. ET. Live stats will be available via OhioBobcats.com.
