May 2, 2009
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio - One inning bit Ohio Saturday, and it proved to be the difference as Akron broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the fifth frame to squeak out a tight 3-0 win over the `Cats.
In what promised to be a close-fought series with the league's top two offenses coming in, it was pitching that stole the show. Both Ohio (21-23, 11-10 Mid-American Conference) and the Zips (32-21, 11-9 MAC) struggled to get much momentum going throughout the day. Akron managed to take advantage of a walk and a hit batter while sneaking in two hits to eventually score the only runs of the afternoon in the fifth for the win. While not necessarily accounting for much in the way of a victory, the Green and White can find some silver lining in keeping the Zips, one of the nation's top base stealing teams at 2.46 steals a contest, without a theft on the day.
The `Cats' offense struggled to get its footing against the Zips' Andrea Arney throughout the contest, recording just two hits, its lowest output of the season. Freshman Alexis Zambrana (Alvin, Texas) and Melissa Bonner (Kings Mills, Ohio) both singled to account for the Green and White's only hits of the day. Despite turning in a strong effort in the circle, Bonner (8-10) took the loss in the circle. Deanna Hartsough (Santa Ana, Calif.) saw her season-best 11-game hitting streak snapped.
Neither squad managed to get a runner past first base through the first two innings. Ohio had a chance to put the first score on the board in the third inning. Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) reached on an error with two outs and then stole second, her 11th theft of the season, to put the middle of the `Cats' order on deck. Akron forced a groundout to end the threat, however.
The Zips nearly scored in the third when they loaded the bases with two outs, but Bonner kept responded with a huge strikeout to slam the door and keep the action scoreless. The next inning and a half went quietly, before Akron finally delivered the first blow of the contest in the bottom of the fifth. After Ohio gave up a one-out walk and hitting the next batter, the Zips' Cali Stratton doubled to score the first run of the game. Akron would get two more runs in the inning on a sacrifice bunt and another single. The `Cats went down in order the next two innings as the Zips came away with the win.
Ohio will look to rebound and pick up the split tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
