March 5, 2010
Box Score
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Four costly errors mixed with a four-run Tennessee first inning doomed the `Cats as Ohio softball dropped a 6-0 contest to the No. 20-ranked Tennessee Lady Volunteers Friday in the first day of the Tennessee Classic.
After a very crisp weekend last week that saw the Green and White (4-10) record 24 runs on 40 hits over four games, Friday's opener against Tennessee (9-4) was nearly the opposite. The Lady Vols' Cat Hosfield tossed a gem, allowing Ohio just three hits on the day. The `Cats were never able get into the offensive flow or get the timely hits they needed.
Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.), Sara Clark (Ontario, Calif.) and Jordan Paden (Walla Walla, Wash.) each recorded hits on the day, while Alexis Zambrana (Alvin, Texas) stole a base and Jillian Van Wagnen (Lorain, Ohio) swiped two. Emily Wethington (New Palestine, Ind.) struck out four in three innings in the circle, but was handed the loss to fall to 3-3 on the year.
After a quiet Ohio top half of the first, the Lady Vols quickly capitalized on four Green and White Wild pitches and a pair of errors to score four runs, two of which were unearned. Tennessee only got one hit out of the inning, however. The Lady Vols struck again in the bottom of the second with another run to go up 5-0.
Hosfield was sizzling through the first three innings, giving up just one Ohio baserunner on a first-inning walk. Petrich broke up the no-hitter in the fourth with a leadoff single to left, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch to give the `Cats some hope. Tennessee would settle in and get Petrich at third on a fielder's choice while also forcing a groundout and getting a strikeout to thwart Ohio's hopes.
The Lady Vols took advantage of two more costly `Cat errors in the bottom of the fourth to add their final run of the contest. Van Wagnen reached on an error with two outs in the fifth and quickly put the pressure on Tennessee by stealing both second and third. Zambrana was then plunked by a Hosfield offering and quickly stole second to put runners on second and third. Tennessee forced a groundout, however, to end the inning.
Clark singled to open the top of the sixth for Ohio, and Melissa Bonner (Kings Mills, Ohio) followed by reaching on an error to start another potentially strong inning. Hosfield, however, was once again able to pitch her way out of danger and spoil things for the Green and White. Paden picked up her single to lead off the seventh, but it would come to naught as Tennessee was able to get out of the inning and take the win.
Raven Chavanne and Kat Dotson paced the Lady Vols with two hits apiece, while Hosfield struck out five in the shutout.
Ohio will look to rebound tomorrow when it takes on a strong Illinois State squad at 11 a.m. Following which, the `Cats will battle No. 15/13 Texas at 1:30 p.m. Live stats will be available at OhioBobcats.com.
