April 9, 2010
Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio - Sara Clark tallied four total hits and drove in three runs on the day, and freshman Caitlin Colvin tossed a complete-game shutout in game two to lead Ohio softball to a sweep of Western Michigan, 5-2 and 4-0, Friday at the Ohio softball field.
After getting swept by the Broncos in three games last year, the `Cats picked up some revenge and repaid the favor Friday afternoon. Clutch hitting mixed with strong defensive play from the Green and White paved the way as Ohio (8-21, 3-1 MAC) extended its conference winning streak to three games.
WMU (6-16, 1-5 MAC) came out strong and put the first run of the day on the board with a two-out single from Gracie Barstad that plated Lexi Jager. Clark (Ontario, Calif.) landed the go-ahead blow in the bottom of the frame with a big single off the left field wall that scored Alexis Zambrana (Alvin, Texas) and Shalene Petrich (Chehalis, Wash.), who had both reached via walks.
Melissa Bonner (Kings Mills, Ohio) came back strong and kept the Broncos silent through the next few innings, scattering just two more hits through the sixth inning. A big bottome of the sixth for Ohio helped put the game out of reach as the `Cats scored three runs in the frame. Bonner brought in Jordan Paden (Wallla Walla, Wash.) for the first run with a double to left. Zambrana capped off the frame with a big two-run single that scored Jillian Van Wagnen (Lorain, Ohio) and Bonner. The Broncos came back with their second run of the game in the seventh, but the `Cats would not allow anything more to take the win.
Clark finished 2-for-3 with her double and two RBI to pace Ohio, while Van Wagnen came in 2-for-4 with her team-leading 11th stolen base of the season. Zambrana recorded two RBI, while Bonner added an RBI and picked up the win after striking out three in a complete-game effort.
The `Cats carried their strong play from game one over into the second game, plating three first-inning runs with two outs. Petrich reached on an infield single, and Emily Wethington followed with a double to right to score Petrich. Clark then struck again with a huge triple to right herself. Paden finished off the scoring with a double of her own to right that plated Clark.
Colvin (Bonney Lake, Wash.) was near dominating as stymied WMU with eight strikeouts while scattering five hits. She got a little help from her defense along the way. Petrich provided perhaps the play of the day in the fourth. Following a pair of Bronco singles and a stolen base that put runners on second and third with two outs, WMU's Meghan Thomas lined a ball to left center that looked sure to drop. Petrich came over and made a diving grab to snag it right before it hit the grass. She then quickly got up and doubled up the runner at second. Colvin struck out the next hitter to take the wind out of WMU's sales.
Freshman Lauren Gellerman (San Diego, Calif.) landed Ohio's fourth run of the day in the sixth with a huge blast to right center for the first homer of her career. Colvin then put the Broncos down in the seventh, including a big strikeout to end things, to complete the sweep for the `Cats.
Petrich and Clark each finished 2-for-3 for the game, with Clark picking up her first triple of the season to go with her RBI. Wethington and Paden each drove in a run. The win gave Colvin both the first win and first shutout of her career.
Ohio will continue its weekend home slate as it welcomes Northern Illinois for a two-game series, beginning tomorrow at 2 p.m.
