Feb. 20, 2010
Box Score
AUBURN, Ala. - Freshman Caitlin Colvin put the proverbial cherry on top of a great game with a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to boost Ohio to a 1-0 extra-inning win over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on the second day of the Tiger Invitational. Her single capped off a fantastic effort in the circle, where she fanned a career-best nine hitters while scattering just two SIUE hits in six innings of work.
It truly was a pitcher's duel, as the two sides combined for just four hits through the first seven innings. Despite her near-flawless effort in the circle, Colvin picked up the no-decision after coming out in the sixth inning. Melissa Bonner (Kings Mills, Ohio) (1-3) came on in relief and tossed the last three innings, giving up just one hit, to pick up her first win of the season. Colvin, Alexis Zambrana (Alvin, Texas) and Sara Clark (Ontario, Calif.) recorded Ohio's three hits on the day.
As strong as Colvin was through her six innings of work, SIUE's Erika Taylor was nearly equally as impressive as she held Ohio's high-octane offense to just three hits on the evening in a complete-game effort. In the end, however, the `Cats (2-6) were finally able to push through and get the timely hit they needed from Colvin to pick up the victory.
Zambrana opened the bottom of the first with a single, but the Cougars quickly regrouped and put down the next three hitters to end any Green and White hopes early on. Taylor continued her strong work as she silenced the `Cats until the seventh inning when Sara Clark (Ontario, Calif.) singled for Ohio's second hit of the game.
Clark's single came at a key time in the seventh as it put two Green and White runners on. Emily Wethington (New Palestine, Ind.) drew a pinch-hit walk with one out and was replaced by Jenna Giusti (Danville, Calif.). Clark then singled, and she and Giusti advanced on a flyout to put runners on second and third with two outs. SIUE managed to get the final out of the inning, however, to send the game into extra frames with the international tie-breaker coming into effect.
After Bonner was able to pitch Ohio out of a two-on, one-out situation, the `Cats had their chance to end it. Jillian Van Wagnen (Lorain, Ohio) moved to third with one out after a sacrifice bunt from Brooke Morgart (Wayne, Ohio), but Taylor managed to force a pair of groundouts to thwart Ohio's chances.
SIUE opened the ninth by moving its runner to third with just one away, but Bonner responded by getting a big strikeout and forcing a line out. Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.) was placed on second the start the bottom of the ninth and moved over after a sac bunt from Bonner. Colvin then laced her game-winning single to right to plate Petrich and give the Green and White the win.
The `Cats will conclude the tournament tomorrow when they take on Nebraska of the Big 12. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m.
