April 29, 2011
Game 1 Final Stats | Game 2 Final Stats
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Ohio University softball team swept a Mid-American Conference (MAC) doubleheader at Buffalo's Nan Harvey Field on Friday afternoon. The Bobcats took game 6-5 and erased a five-run deficit in the process, and took game two 8-4 from the Buffalo Bulls. With the wins Ohio improved to 19-19 overall and 8-6 in the MAC.
Senior Emily Wethington (New Palestine, Ind.) went 4-for-8 at the plate and hit two home runs in game two. She tallied three RBIs and two runs scored as well. Classmate Melissa Bonner (Kings Mills, Ohio) totaled three hits, three runs and two RBIs. She also earned the win in game, one and tallied her second save of the season in game two.
In game one, Ohio erased a 5-0 deficit over the final four innings of the game. Buffalo scored all of its runs in the first three innings and included a three-run home run by Jessica Griffin in the third.
The Bobcats got on the board in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs to cut the deficit to 5-2. After Bonner and Wethington led off the inning with back-to-back base hits, senior Sara Clark (Ontario, Calif.) drove in both runs with a double to center. The duo of base runners executed a double steal during Clark's at bat. Freshman Alyssa Wolfe (Junction City, Ohio) was pinch-running for Wethington.
In the fifth, Ohio brought the Buffalo lead to one, 5-4, when senior Paige Kemezis (Hackensack, N.J.) doubled to left field. She scored junior Alexis Joseph (Alvin, Texas) from second on the play. Kemezis scored from second during Bonner's at bat. Bonner reached on a fielding error by second baseman Andi Saucier.
Despite leaving the tying run at third in the top of the sixth after an 81-minute rain delay, the Bobcats won the game in their last at bat. Bonner drove in the game-tying run on a single through the right side, which scored Joseph. Bonner came around to score on a wild pitch during freshman Raven King's (Alpine, Utah) at bat. Bonner gave Ohio a 6-5 lead.
Bonner set down the Bulls in order in the seventh on three pitches. She improved to 3-5 on the season and pitched 4.2 innings of relief. She allowed just two hits and struck out three batters. Bonner did not allow a run.
Wethington accounted for the three of the first four runs for Ohio with a pair of home runs in the second and third innings of game two. She hit a solo shot to lead off the second and one-out, two-run shot in the third. After three innings, the Bobcats led 4-0.
After Buffalo (10-31, 5-9 MAC) cut the lead to 5-3 in the fifth, Ohio tacked on three insurance runs in the seventh. Two runs scored on wild pitches during the frame, while freshman Alexandria Basquez (Elk Grove, Calif.) used an RBI groundout to score sophomore Biz Eyrise (Brookfield, Wis.). The Bulls got a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh to arrive at the final tally, 8-4.
The Bobcats will continue their eight-game road trip on Saturday at Kent State. Due to looming inclement weather, the teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
