March 8, 2011
Final Stats
ATHENS, Ohio- Emily Wethington made Bobcat history on Tuesday, setting the school’s all-time record in career strikeouts when she fanned Marshall’s Bri Anna Hope in the first inning of a doubleheader against the Marshall Thundering Herd. The New Palestine, Indiana native pitched a total of 12 innings throughout the two games, earning a complete-game victory in the first and going five innings in the second. She also accounted for two hits and three RBI on the day. Ohio won the first game, 5-2, but lost the second one by a score of 6-2.
Wethington currently sits at 439 career strikeouts, 14 beyond former record-holder Michelle Sauter’s mark of 425, a total that was established from 2005-08.
With the series split, Ohio now sits at 6-6 on the season while Marshall is 10-10 to this point.
Both teams played a scoreless first two innings of game one, but the Bobcats lit up the scoreboard in the bottom of the third to grab a 5-0 lead. Jillian Van Wagnen (Lorain, Ohio) began the rally, singling as the leadoff batter and then proceeding to steal second base. She scored as a result of Alexis Joseph’s (Alvin, Texas) single to put the ‘Cats up 1-0. Joseph then crossed the plate two plays later, just before Lauren Gellerman (San Diego, Calif.) blasted her second home run of the year, a two-run bomb that gave Ohio a 4-0 edge. An unearned run by Sara Clark (Ontario, Calif.) was the final Ohio score of game one.
Marshall tried to answer back but Wethington shut the door after allowing two runs in the top of the fourth inning.
The Thundering Herd came back in a big way to start the second game, scoring six runs in the first three innings. Victoria Marvin and Bri Anna Hope each played a big part in this game for the visitors, as both players drove in two runs apiece. Ohio fought back with two runs of its own in the bottom of the third inning, but runs by Joseph and Erin Lashley (Pickerington, Ohio) weren’t enough to make a comeback as the Bobcats lost by a final score of 6-2. Marshall’s Erika Bennett pitched very well in this contest, only allowing three hits in the complete-game effort.
Ohio will host Morehead State for a two-game series on March 16. Game times are set for 1 pm and 3 pm.
